Albania
Located in the south of the Balkan region, the “Country of Eagles” is a wonderful Nation that has preserved its historical, artistic and cultural heritage as well as its old popular traditions; it’s a virgin land, not devastated by the industrial development, which still owns an intact and extraordinary beautiful nature.
Albania is a little bigger than Sicily, but it has a very varied territory.
Its coast stretches for more than 400 kms with fine sandy beaches; landscape is dominated by lemon and olive trees, giving it a typical Mediterranean aspect.
But Albania is also a Country of rivers and lakes, forests and mountains.
The Capital of Albania is Tirana, with a population of more than 700.000 inhabitants.
Located at the foot of Dajti Mountain, it has been inhabited since the Neolithic period.
The name Tirana comes from Tirkan, an ancient Castle which ruins still exist nowadays.
The town is characterized by wide and colourful streets and by a large central square.
The most famous city’s mouments, such as the old and beautiful Ethem Bey Mosque,
the Opera, the National Historical Museum and the Archaeological Museum can be found on this square.
Other important towns of Albania are:
Durazzo:
thanks to its excellent geographical position, it has become a very popular place for all those who like to swim.This “tourist soul” lives side by side with the old and commercial part of the town.
Scutari:
one of the oldest and most important cities in this country and in Europe, very interesting from a historical and cultural point of view; it’s surrounded by hills and by the homonymous lake. It’s the heart of a region still rich in traditions and with a typically balkanic climate.
Kruje:
located on the slopes of Sari-Salltiku Mountain, it’s a charming town, symbol of Albanian history. It has been inhabited since the 3rd century b.C.
Apollonia:
this very old town (it was founded at the beginning of the 7th century b.C.) was in Roman times a large and flourishing city.
Of great interest for archaeologists and tourists in general are its excavations.
To be visited: the Encircling Walls, the Monument of Agonothetes, the Library, the Odeon, the Portico, the House with Mosaics and the Church of St. Mary.
Berat:
it was declared a “Museum City” and was placed on the UNESCO list of world heritage.
It’s better known as the “City of one thousand windows”, as the house facades, attached one to another, are built out of windows. In the old part of the city there are many interesting religius buildings like Mosque and Byzantine churches.
Butrinti:
located in the south of the Country, it’s a very famous archaeological site, a repository of ruins representing the ancient Illyric, Greek and Roman settlings.
Algirocastro: also called “the town of one thousand steps” or “the stone town”, it is of particular interest for its native architecture.The houses in the old town have the form of medieval towers constituting a building ensemble with a characteristic architecture. The castle stands like a balcony over the town and from it the visitors can enjoy a very beautiful landscape. In the interior of the Castle the National Museum of Weapons is housed.
Algirocastro was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Elbasan:
the town has well preserved its old part and its citadel hosts an archaeological museum.
Korce:
located at the foot of Morově, it is famous for its houses built in the Ottoman-empire style, enclosed with decorated iron fences.
Valona:
it is the ancient Aulona, known as a very important crossroad and a port. There are very few traces left from the past, among which the beautiful Murat's mosque. To be visited: the Historical and Ethnographical Museum, where many archaeological remains have been placed.
Himara:
thanks to its crystal clean sea it is a very famous seaside resort and a very important tourist destination.
Saranda:
very estimable and charming tourist destination, also known as the “honey-moon town”, as many Albanian couples come here for their honey-moon.
