Tirana. The revived capital of Albania
Albania is a hidden gem in the Mediterranean. Rest on the clean beaches of the Adriatic, the tiny capital of Tirana, the most beautiful nature and cultural attractions, and also a generous cuisine. Everything about Albania from the Subtleties of tourism: maps, tours, photos and reviews of tourists.
- Tours for May around the world
- Hot tours around the world
Time difference with Moscow
− 2 hours summer −1 hour
- with Kaliningrad
- with Samara
- with Yekaterinburg
- with Omsk
- with Krasnoyarsk
- with Irkutsk
- with Yakutsk
- with Vladivostok
- with Severo-Kurilsk
- with Kamchatka
Climate
Albania has a mild Mediterranean climate with fairly hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The average July temperature on the coast is +28...+32 °С, in January - +8...+10 °С. High summer temperatures on the coast are easily tolerated due to the constantly blowing Mediterranean breeze. The tourist season lasts from May to September, but it is also comfortable to be outdoors in April and October. There are about 300 sunny days in a year. It rains in early spring and late autumn. In the mountains of Albania, the climate is much colder - in winter the temperature can drop to -20 ° C, and there is snow above 1000 m for most of the year.
Albania Maps
Visa and customs
Every year during the summer period, citizens of the Russian Federation can enter Albania without a visa for up to 90 days. For the rest of the year, a visa and medical insurance are required for the entire duration of the trip.
It is allowed to import any items for personal use into Albania, including jewelry, photo and video equipment. The import of local currency is strictly prohibited, but you can take foreign currency with you without restrictions. Tobacco, alcoholic beverages and perfumes are allowed across the border in reasonable quantities: up to 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco), up to 1 liter of strong alcohol, up to 2 liters of wine, from perfumes - a maximum of 50 ml of perfume or 250 ml of eau de toilette.
Pets will not be allowed in without a veterinary passport, a microchip and a certificate of vaccination against rabies.
It is forbidden to import weapons and explosives, drugs, pornography and any materials that offend national dignity. For the export of products made of precious metals, ancient coins and scrolls, antiques and art objects, you must present a document confirming the purchase. Antiquities - even stones from archaeological excavations - cannot leave the country: they will have to be content with copies of ancient artifacts sold everywhere.
How to get to Albania
There are 5 airports in Albania, but only one accepts international flights - them. Mother Teresa, 11 km northwest of Tirana. There are no direct flights from Russia, but you can easily get there with transfers. The cheapest tickets from Moscow are offered by Aegean Airlines: departure from Domodedovo, docking in Athens, travel time - from 5 hours 45 minutes. The same carrier has routes with two transfers in tandem with Olympic Air: almost a day on the road with stops in Thessaloniki and Athens.
Police - 19, fire service - 18, ambulance - 17.
Albanian beaches
The climate of Albania is subtropical Mediterranean, ideal for beach holiday. Summer is dry, hot, sunny - you just need to stock up on SPF products and choose a shore to your liking: on the Ionian Sea, the beaches are mostly rocky, popular with athletes and party-goers, on the Adriatic - sandy, suitable for families with children. Almost all are free, well maintained, not too crowded and very picturesque.
One of the most famous resorts Ionian coast - Saranda, the beginning of the "floral Riviera". There are several pebble beaches within the city, the water in the bay is clean, there is a pedestrian promenade with cafes and souvenir shops nearby, the infrastructure is developed - there are amenities, sunbeds, and scooter rentals.
Nearby is the town of Ksamil with bulk sandy beach and the dazzling blue sea - many wealthy Albanians build summer cottages here. Of the amenities, however, only sun loungers and umbrellas, but the coast is girded with a necklace of tiny uninhabited islands, which are easy to swim to yourself or on a catamaran.
Dhermi is an elite resort in the middle of a 5-kilometer beach stretching between the Karaburun peninsula and the monastery of St. Theodore. During the day you can ride catamarans and jet skis, in the evening you can dance at beach parties. Vlora is a resort boundary between two seas: there are sandy, pebbly and rocky areas, noisy and quiet, equipped and untouched by civilization.
A set of umbrella and sunbed costs an average of 300 ALL per day.
largest locality on the Adriatic coast - Durres, boiling sea port. It is better not to swim within the city, but in the suburbs, for example, in Cherret, the water is clean, the sand is well-groomed, there are no crowds, the air is saturated with the aromas of pines. The coast of Shengjin is also landscaped, framed by coniferous forests.
Not far from Tirana, Lalzit Bay splashes - warm, clear waters wash the coast from a soft white sand. And Pogradec stands on Lake Ohrid, in all respects reminiscent of the sea: the shore is sandy, the water is clear, the bottom is flat - expanse for kids and their parents.
The best photos of Albania
Diving
Albania is not as popular a dive destination as, for example, neighboring Italy and Greece, but this is a plus: there are few people, the water is clean and transparent, the prices are quite adequate. The most suitable time for diving is the period from May to September, but if you wish, you can dive at least all spring, summer and autumn.
The water temperature in summer is +23 ... +26 ° С, visibility in most locations is 10-15 m, the main beauties lurk at a depth of 20-30 m, some wrecks - even at 50 m. There are no strong currents, along the coast there are sites for both experienced divers and beginners. For the latter, by the way, there are several schools teaching in all popular destinations with the issuance of official certificates.
Among the underwater treasures of Albania are numerous caves, reefs and wrecks. The picturesque cape Kepi Rodonit near Shengjin, the waters of Himara sparkling in the sun, tiny islands off the coast of Ksamil - everywhere you can observe marine life, study the details of the sandy or rocky bottom.
The most popular place among fans of snorkeling, scuba diving and freediving is the coast of Saranda: it is there that the Italian cargo ship, which sank during the Second World War, and the 70-meter Albanian minesweeper rest. Off the coast of Vlora, the car ferry "Antonio" was flooded, not far from Ksamil - an impressive Chinese frigate. And in the national marine park "Karaburun-Sazan" there are sharks, sea turtles, dolphins and monk seals.
shopping
You can’t call Albania a shopaholic’s paradise, but you can definitely find a couple of pleasant souvenirs. It is enough to look at local markets and colorful shops bursting with all sorts of ethnics. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the products of artisans: wooden and bone figurines, woven and knitted napkins, dishes, copper and silver jewelry.
The most original knickknack is an ashtray in the form of a bunker: concrete structures similar to mushrooms and designed for one person are dug into the ground all over the country - the dictator Hoxha was obsessed with a threat from the outside and built 700 thousand mini-fortresses for his citizens.
The home collection of alcohol should be replenished with the prestigious award-winning Korcha beer, Skanderbeg cognac and rakija vodka, reminiscent of either Georgian chacha or Arabic arak. From edible souvenirs we recommend olives from Vlore, olive oil and fragrant spices from the south.
In Albania, they sell really high-quality Christmas decorations: handmade from thin glass, painted with traditional patterns, worth 120-4000 ALL. Even more status gifts are luxurious carpets produced since the 16th century (real ones - 16,000-30,000 ALL each), national costumes (the price is similar) and exquisite jewelry. But copies of ancient works, sold everywhere, are inexpensive - from 3500 ALL.
Most Albanian shops are open from 9:00 to 18:00, but tourist-oriented outlets are open longer and receive visitors even on weekends.
In Tirana, there are full-fledged shopping malls with clothes of international brands: for example, Tirana East Gate is one of the largest shopping centers in the Balkans. In Kruja, the old market is famous with perhaps the lowest prices in the country. And the end of February is the time of grandiose sales: discounts reach 70-85%!
Cuisine and restaurants of Albania
400 years of Ottoman rule were not in vain: Albanian cuisine is based on Turkish traditions. Rewritten in a new way, combined with Italian and Greek subjects in a very unusual gastronomic mix. In the north they prefer fish and vegetables, in the central regions - meat, in the south - seafood and vegetable products. All this is generously seasoned with fragrant spices.
Favorite breakfast - wheat or corn bread with butter, cheese or jam mixed with yogurt, tea or coffee. For lunch, you should try the lamb “tave kozi”, stewed until soft and baked in a mixture of eggs and Greek yogurt, or homemade sausages “chebapi” made from ground beef and lamb. Seafood dishes are good for dinner: sea bass with tomatoes, brodetto soup with crab, risotto with all sorts of additives that recently plied the coastal waters.
In Albania, there are cozy family restaurants with authentic cuisine and numerous eateries with European, Italian, South American menus. A snack in fast food costs 500-750 ALL per person, a 3-course lunch in an average-level institution - 1100-1800 ALL for two, dinner in a good restaurant with wine - from 2500 ALL for two.
From vegetables, boiled and canned corn is popular, from soups - cold "tarator" on kefir, from farm products - sheep's milk, the basis for tender cheese. The best snack for beer is fried meatballs "kefte". For dessert, you can take cannoli puff pastry from Sicily, caramel cream, kabuni rice pudding with sugar syrup, cinnamon and cloves, or the famous baklava. And from drinks it is obligatory to taste “bosa” from water, sugar and flour, wheat and corn.
Guides in Albania
Entertainment and attractions in Albania
Successive rulers, wars and truces, thaws and revolutions left timeless traces on Albanian soil. More precisely, sights: ancient amphitheaters and forums, medieval castles and fortresses, solemn mosques and monumental bridges.
The starting point is the main square of Tirana with government offices, a monument to the hero of the nation Skanderbeg (in fact, the square is named after him), the Efem Bey mosque, symbolizing religious freedom, and a clock tower with an observation deck. The largest Catholic church in the country - Cathedral St. Paul's with stained glass windows depicting Mother Teresa and John Paul II.
You can see Tirana in all its glory from Mount Dayti, 26 km east of the capital.
The Pyramid, a witness to the era of the dictator Hoxha, reminds of the sad past, and the ultra-modern Congress Palace returns to the present day. The fortress of Justinian dates back to the 14th century, the stone Tobacco-bridge with three arches dates back to the 17th-18th centuries. You can scroll through the rest of the pages of Albanian history at the National Historical (off. site in English) and the Archaeological Museums.
In Saranda, it is worth seeing the Butrint Museum-Reserve - ancient city founded by the Greeks in the 7th century BC. e., with an amphitheater, a baptistery, a cathedral and other monuments of great empires. In Durres, the oldest amphitheater in the Balkans flaunts: bloody battles were in full swing there already in the 1-2 centuries. The city itself began with a citadel founded in the 5th century by the Byzantine ruler Anastasius. The Fatih Mosque with a strict minaret was erected in honor of the Turkish conquering sultan, and only a few elegant columns remained from the Byzantine forum and the rotunda.
In the Venetian Tower, towering above the citadel of Durres, a trendy bar is now open.
In Shkodra, the Rozafa fortress on an impregnable rock, the Lead Mosque (liquid lead as a binder, many domes and not a single minaret) and the Orthodox Church of the Nativity are noteworthy. Above Vlora, the Muradiye mosque rises, reminiscent of the temples of Istanbul, and in the vicinity are the ruins of the ancient port of Apollonia. In Pogradets, the neo-Byzantine Resurrection Church, a snow-white mosque and the ruins of a citadel are noteworthy, in Gjirokastra - a powerful fort with a weapons museum and the Palorto quarter with colorful buildings, and in Korca - the Museum of Education in the building of the first Albanian school.
Holidays and events
Albanians celebrate the New Year with the whole world on January 1-2: textbook fireworks, parties and feasts - everything is as it should be. The same dates fall on the Calendar - the symbolic boundary of winter: once round loaves were baked in honor of him and all misfortunes were “burned” in ritual bonfires. Catholic Christmas on December 25 is also ranked as a national holiday: kids are waiting for gifts, the air is saturated with anticipation of a miracle.
January 11 - Day of the Republic, proclaimed after the expulsion of the Germans by the forces of the National Liberation Army. October 19 - Mother Teresa's Day: it was then that the legendary native of Albania was canonized. November 28 - Flag Day: red, like the blood of patriots, with a black double-headed eagle in the middle. And on November 29, the country celebrates the liberation from the fascist troops.
On December 5-6, St. Nicholas of the Winter is celebrated: fasting must be observed during the day, so the feast with the obligatory fried lamb begins late at night.
Albania celebrates Muslim and Christian holidays: Navruz, Kurban-Bayram, Uraza-Bayram, Good Friday, Easter, Orthodox Christmas. Cultural and sporting events are held several times a year: in Tirana, opera and jazz festivals, in Gjirokastra once every five years - a folklore festival with concerts, fairs and dance shows, and in mountainous areas - a large-scale climbing festival.
LANGUAGE OF ALBANIA
Albanian has two main forms - Tosk and Gegian dialects.
RELIGION OF ALBANIA
Sunni Muslims - 70%, Orthodox (Greek Orthodox Church) - 20%, Catholics - 10%. From 1967 to 1990, Albania was the only country in the world where officially, at the state level, atheism was proclaimed, many churches were converted into theaters and houses of culture. It is now the only European country with a Muslim majority.
GEOGRAPHY OF ALBANIA
The country is located in the southeast of Europe, in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. In the north and northwest it borders with Serbia and Montenegro, in the east - with the Republic of Macedonia, in the southeast and south - with Greece. The western border is washed by the Adriatic, the southwestern - by the Ionian Seas. Most of the country is mountainous and elevated, with deep, fertile valleys. There are several large lakes on the territory of the country, stretching along the borders with Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Greece. One of them - Ohrid - is the deepest in the Balkans (294 m.). Albania is one of the smallest countries in Europe - the total area of the country is about 28.74 thousand square meters. km.
CLIMATE OF ALBANIA
Subtropical Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The average temperature in July is from +24 C to +28 C, in January - +4 C in the north and up to +7 C in the south, the temperature strongly depends on the height above sea level. Precipitation (600-800 mm per year) falls mainly in autumn and spring. In mountainous areas the climate is colder (frosts down to -20 C), annual precipitation increases from 900-1200 mm. in the eastern, up to 2000-2600 mm. and more on the windward western slopes of the mountains. At altitudes of more than 1000 meters in mountainous areas, the snow cover lasts for several months. Best time to visit the country - September. The warm season lasts from May to September (July is the warm month, up to +38 C), but even in April and October the weather conditions can be quite favorable.
POLITICAL STATE OF ALBANIA
The state structure is a democratic republic. The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. The highest legislative body is the parliament (unicameral People's Assembly). The political situation in the country is quite complicated, Albania is involved in the conflict in Kosovo, there are a fairly large number of independent armed formations on the territory of the country and a rather difficult economic situation.
CURRENCY OF ALBANIA
Lek. US dollars and the German mark are free to circulate along with the national currency. Currency can be exchanged at banks and exchange offices, there is also a free convertible currency market, which usually operates on the street in front of post offices or the State Bank. Transactions on the street are considered legal. Cash is preferred in all cases, credit cards are not accepted, and the use of traveler's checks is also extremely limited. Some major banks exchange American dollar traveler's checks for cash without a fee, but this is rather the exception. Tipping is obligatory almost everywhere, in restaurants - 10%.
ALBANIA TIME
Behind Moscow for 2 hours.
MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF ALBANIA
Albania has a range of exciting natural objects that attract the attention of the traveler - rocky peaks and picturesque mountains overgrown with dense forests, beautiful beaches under the warm Mediterranean sun and azure-blue waters of the Adriatic. The coast of the country is magnificent and could seriously compete with Croatia and Italy. Besides the beaches of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Albania has a range of historical attractions to offer, the country's architecture is a frivolous mixture of religions, styles, cultures and landscapes, from ancient Greek period monuments to Muslim minarets, from idyllic mountain resorts, many of which were founded by the Romans, to monasteries of all denominations. The relics of one of the longest dictatorships in Europe are surrounded by citrus orchards, olive groves and vineyards. Dilapidated factories stand next to breathtaking mosques, ornate Greek Orthodox churches can be a stone's throw from pompous Stalinist-style palaces of culture.
Tirana, the capital of Albania since 1920, is compact enough and pleasant to explore on foot. Most excursions in Tirana start from the large open area of Skanderberg in the city center, bounded on the east by the heights of Mount Dajiti (1612 m.), The nearby market is also worth a detailed study - it is unlikely that anywhere else in Europe you will be able to visit a real oriental bazaar with all its attributes (including, attention!, a large number of market pickpockets).
National Museum History is the biggest and nicest museum in Albania, you will find it next to the 15-storey Tirana International Hotel - the tallest building in the country. A huge mosaic fresco covers the entire façade of the building. To the east of the hotel is the Palace of Culture, which has its own theatre, restaurant, cafe and art galleries, and clearly stands out against the background of the low buildings of the capital with its "Soviet" architecture. On the south side of the building is the entrance to the National Library, and opposite it is the dome and minaret of the Etem Mey Mosque, built in 1793 - one of the most expressive buildings in the city, and near the mosque - the clock tower of Tirana, built in 1830.
Along the banks of the Lana River, south of the capital, rise the white marble walls of the former Enver Hoxha Museum, which is sometimes used as a center for various exhibitions and in the future will turn into the largest disco in Europe. Further south, on Deshmoret e Combit Boulevard, is the ultra-modern Congress Palace and Archaeological Museum, which has a fantastic selection of exhibits from prehistoric times to the medieval period.
The attractions of Tirana also include the Museum of National Culture, the Museum of Natural History and an excellent art gallery. The city of Shkodra (or Shkodra, and in Italian - Scutari) is one of the oldest cities in Europe and the traditional center of the Ghegs cultural region. In 500 B.C. e. the Illyrian fortress that lay in its place already guarded the trade crossroads to the west of the city, where the rivers Buna and Drina merge. The city is adorned with the imposing Sheikh Zamil Abdullah Al-Zamil Mosque, and next to it is the Muzoe Popullo ("Public Museum"), which has an impressive collection of historical photographs, including those showing the country's recent "socialist" past, and also has an impressive archaeological collection, located on the lower floors. Shkodra was also the most influential Catholic city in Albania, and the imposing Franciscan church on Rruga Ndre Mjeda is now once again one of the country's main Christian churches. The legendary Rozafa Fortress is 2 km away. southwest of Shkodra, near the southern tip of Lake Skodar. Below the fortress lies the multi-domed Leaden Mosque, the only mosque in the city that escaped destruction during the Cultural Revolution of the 60s.
Gjirokastra lies 120 km. south of Tirana, this is a strikingly picturesque museum city, spreading along the slopes of the mountain above the banks of the Drina River. The city was well known as a large shopping center already by the 13th century, but the Turkish occupation, which began in 1417, led to its decline. However, by the 17th century, the city flourished again, and was famous for its multi-colored bazaar, where they traded in exquisite local embroidery, oriental silk and the famous Albanian white cheese. Above the Bazaar Mosque, located in the city center, rises the monument to Memedhu, erected in honor of the "renaissance" of Albanian education in the 20th century. The city is dominated by a gloomy 14th-century citadel, now a weapons museum. The buildings of the Ethnographic Museum and the old Turkish baths are located in the lower part of the city.
In Elbasan (54 km southeast of Tirana), the remains of Roman fortifications are still preserved, a fortress of the 15th century AD. which now houses a museum.
In Durres (Duraccio in Italian), 38 km. west of Tirana, an interesting ancient city, founded in 627 BC. e. Greeks. For many centuries it was the largest port on the Adriatic and the beginning of the famous Via Ignatia, going all the way to Constantinople, the ruins of the Byzantine and Venetian fortresses are still preserved here. Roman ruins and fortifications adorn this main industrial city and commercial port, the second largest city in Albania. Most excursions start from the Archaeological Museum, which overlooks the embankment near the port. Behind the museum are the walls of a 6th-century Byzantine city built after the Visigoth invasion in 481 AD. e., reinforced by round Venetian towers in the 14th century. Roman Amphitheater, built between the 1st and 2nd centuries BC. e., still looks quite impressive, and stands on a constantly sun-drenched hillside inside the fortress walls. old palace King Ahmet Zog is located to the west of the amphitheater, and in front of him rises a statue of the country's founder - Skanderberg and, in sharp dissonance, huge radar "dishes" installed by the Italian army. When you are in the city center, don't miss the Roman Baths behind the Alexandra Moisou Theater in the central square.
Kukes, 100 km. northeast of Tirana, lies above the high shore of the picturesque mountain lake Fierza, just below the top of the almost bald mountain Galiki (2486 m.). The old city formerly stood at the confluence of two rivers - the White Drina and the Black Drina, flowing from Lake Ohrid, but in 1962 the city was moved to its present site when the government built a hydroelectric dam and the river flooded its location. Now it is a very pleasant place to spend a few days enjoying the clean mountain air and the beautiful scenery of the reservoir, sandwiched by steep mountain slopes, and the local hotel "Tourismi" is one of the most luxurious hotels famous for one of the best restaurants in the country.
Berat, lying 122 km. southeast of Tirana, it is the second most important museum city in Albania after Gjirokastra, and is sometimes called the "city of a thousand windows" because of the many windows in its red-tiled buildings, as if specially turned "to the sun" to make it the rays were reflected in the glasses. By mountain range Above the city, over a rugged gorge, lies a 14th-century citadel that protected small Greek Orthodox churches such as the Cathedral of Our Lady, as well as the Church of the Holy Trinity and the Church of the Evangelists. On the slope below the citadel lies Mangalem - the old Muslim quarter, and a stone bridge with seven arched spans leads to Gorik - the Christian quarter. The city has several fine mosques - the Lead Mosque, the Royal Mosque, the Bachelor's (Bachelor's) Mosque and the Alveti Tekke ("lesser shrine") where Islamic dervish sects were located. Korca, 179 km. southeast of Tirana, main city oriental style, located on a high (869 m.) plateau near the Greek border, south of Lake Ohrid. This is the largest carpet weaving center in Albania, founded by the Greeks. Fine museums in the city include Muzeu and Artet Mesjetar Shqiptar (Museum of Albanian Medieval Art), Museum Historik and Muzeu and Arsimit Kombetar (Museum of Education). Many buildings of the old city were destroyed by earthquakes in 1931 and 1960, which knocked down minarets and destroyed many ancient churches, but some of the colorful buildings of old Korch survived, including a 15th-century mosque in the bazaar area, west of the Iliriy hotel.
The ancient ruins of Butrint lie almost on the southern border of the country with Greece, 160 km. south of Tirana, and are considered the pearl of the Adriatic coast. Virgil claimed that Trojans built Butrint, but no evidence of this has yet been found, although the site has been studied in detail by archaeologists. Nevertheless, the locals proudly continue to consider themselves descendants of the glory of Troy. For many centuries since the time of the ancient Greeks, Butrint was a fortified trading city with its own acropolis, the ruins of which can still be visited, baths and rest houses of the nobility. A little lower than the acropolis, in the thick of the forest, there is a theater dating back to the 3rd century BC. e. Nearby are public baths with geometric mosaics, and a little deeper in the forest is a wall of the 6th century BC. e. with Greek inscriptions and a baptistery decorated with colorful mosaics of animals and birds. Nearby, a large area is occupied by a triangular fortress built by the military leader Ali Pasha Tepelena in the 19th century. The Ionian coast of the country, especially the "Riviera of Flowers" from Vlora to Saranda, has the most beautiful sea coasts in this country. Albania has six National Parks, 24 reserves and natural monuments, but the protection of all these areas is carried out mainly on paper.
ALBANIA ENTRY RULES
Citizens of the EU, Australia, USA, Canada and several other countries do not need a visa. A visa can be obtained both at the consular section of the embassy, and at the border crossing by paying the price equivalent of the cost of a visa for Albanians to your country (or 30 - 75 US dollars, depending on the length of stay in the country).
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS OF ALBANIA
Import and export of foreign currency is not legally restricted, currency in excess of 2500 US dollars must be declared upon entry. It is allowed to export previously imported foreign currency during the year, national - no more than 3000 leks. The importation of weapons, pornographic materials and drugs is strictly prohibited, although the customs authorities often turn a blind eye to violations of these rules. The export of antiquities, including stones from archaeological sites, is prohibited. Allowed free export of copies of antique works, which are sold everywhere.
Decided to organize a holiday in Albania? Look for best hotels Albania, hot tours, resorts and last minute deals? Interested in the weather in Albania, prices, the cost of a tour, do you need a visa to Albania and would be useful detailed map? Would you like to see what Albania looks like in photos and videos? What are the excursions and attractions in Albania? What are the stars and reviews of hotels in Albania?
Republic of Albania- a state in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, on the coast of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The Strait of Otranto separates Albania from Italy. In the north and east it borders on Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, in the southeast - on Greece.
Most of the country is mountainous and elevated, with deep, fertile valleys. There are several large lakes in the country.
Albania airport
Tirana Mother Teresa International Airport
Albania hotels 1 - 5 stars
Albania weather
Subtropical Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The average temperature in July is from +24 C to +28 C, in January - +4 C in the north and up to +7 C in the south, the temperature strongly depends on the height above sea level.
Precipitation (600-800 mm per year) falls mainly in autumn and spring. In mountainous areas the climate is colder (frosts down to -20 C), annual precipitation increases from 900-1200 mm. in the eastern, up to 2000-2600 mm. and more on the windward western slopes of the mountains. At altitudes of more than 1000 meters in mountainous areas, the snow cover lasts for several months.
The best time to visit the country is September. The warm season lasts from May to September (July is the warmest month, up to +38 C), but even in April and October the weather conditions can be quite favorable.
Albanian language
Official language: Albanian
There are two groups of Albanian dialects - Gheg in the north and Tosk in the south. The basis official language Albania is assigned the Tosk dialect, which is spoken by the majority of the country's population.
Many residents understand Greek, Italian and some Slavic languages.
Currency of Albania
International name: ALL
One lek is equal to 100 kindarks. In circulation there are banknotes of 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 lek denominations of various modifications, as well as coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 lek. There are banknotes of the same denomination of three different issues, differing from each other in appearance.
US dollars and euros have free circulation along with the national currency.
Customs restrictions
Import and export of foreign currency is not legally restricted, currency in excess of 2500 US dollars must be declared upon entry. It is allowed to export previously imported foreign currency during the year, national - no more than 3000 leks.
The importation of weapons, pornographic materials and drugs is strictly prohibited, although the customs authorities often turn a blind eye to violations of these rules.
The export of antiquities, including stones from archaeological sites, is prohibited. Allowed free export of copies of antique works, which are sold everywhere.
Mains voltage
Tips
All tips (10%) and other additional payments are best left after the service, in case it was of acceptable quality. But you shouldn't deprive service personnel of tips - many of them work for a meager salary, receiving the main income from tips.
In restaurants, tips are usually given directly into the hands of the waiter after paying the bill, rather than being left on the table. In a taxi, the easiest way is to simply round the amount up.
Kitchen
Historical and geographical features, convenience coastline, favorable climate, multiple interactions with neighboring peoples have had a significant impact on the richness and diversity of Albanian cuisine. So, the Albanians highly respect fish and seafood dishes, many of which owe their appearance to ancient Greece, Ancient Rome.
Many dishes were brought by the Byzantines, Venetians, Arabs. As in neighboring Italy, here you can taste crab risotto or brodetto. From the Yugoslav cuisine, the Albanians borrowed such dishes as chevapchichi, rajnichi, pilav, and many types of moussaka.
Due to the warm climate in Albania, corn is grown in large quantities, which is used both in boiled and canned form for preparing a wide variety of dishes. In addition, flour is obtained from corn for the national dish “celje”.
In the highlands of Albania, sheep have been bred for a long time. They eat not only meat, but also sheep's milk, which has healing properties. It is fermented, added to various dishes, famous varieties of cheese are prepared from it.
Unfortunately, after the Second World War, the people of Albania were not lucky with the totalitarian communist regime established there, which had common features with the communist regime in North Korea, which led to the economic backwardness of the country and the impoverishment of the population. But when the consequences of these difficulties are finally overcome, Albania united with Kosovo will become one of the the best resorts peace.
Office Hours
Banks are open from Monday to Friday, from 08.00 to 16.00.
National features of Albania. Traditions
Albanians are one of the few peoples in the world who have a habit of confirming what was said not with a nod of the head, but with a shake from side to side. The negative gesture, respectively, looks like our "yes", that is, a nod of the head. In the capital and large cities, this is no longer common, but in the provinces you can encounter such behavior everywhere, which often leads to many misunderstandings between locals and tourists.
Tirana 19:28 12°C
small rain
The population of the country is 2,986,952 people The territory of Albania is 28,748 sq. km Located on the continent Europe Capital of Albania Tirana Money in Albania Lek (ALL) Domain zone .al Country calling code 355
Hotels
The level of hotels is traditionally divided by "star". Resort type hotels are being actively built in the coastal regions of the country. But private boarding houses and apartment rentals from local residents are still very popular. First, it's cheaper about 20 euros per day with meals), and secondly, this is a great opportunity to feel the flavor of local lands.
Most coastal hotels are family-run, swimming pools are rare, and the level of service is modest. The tourist infrastructure in the country began to develop quite recently, so even at the height of the beach season, you can always find a free room.
Climate of Albania:: Mild temperate. Cool, cloudy, wet winters. Hot dry summer.
Attractions
Albania attracts tourists with the warm Adriatic and Ionian seas and the rich heritage left by Greece, Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire.
The pride of the country is the cleanest beaches, delicious cuisine, original countryside and rich historical past.
The remains of Roman fortifications are well preserved in the city of Elbasan.(now there is a museum) and Turkish baths. The fortress of Kruja in Tirania is the main tourist attraction of these places. This is the former family estate of the national hero of the country, Skanderberg. But a tourist should come here not only for the sake of the fortress: beautiful mountain views open from the castle, and an amazing bazaar works nearby in the mornings: here you can buy not only souvenirs home, but also antiques: ancient coins, jewelry, dishes and even a gramophone!
City of Shkodra- not only the oldest city in the country, but throughout Europe. There are a lot of interesting things here: the mosque of Sheikh Zamil Abdullah Al-Zamil, the Rozafa fortress, the preserved Catholic cathedrals (once this city was the main Catholic center of the country), the Shkoder fortress built in the 4th century BC.
Terrain of Albania:: Mainly mountains and hills. Small plains along the coast.
Museums
The National Museum in Tirana is the main one in the country. As the name implies, its collection is dedicated to the centuries-old history of the Albanian people. The exhibits do not have English tablets, this is partially compensated by the rich and varied collection of the museum.
At the Art Gallery in Tirana you can look at the collection of paintings by Albanian authors. Although the artists are unknown to a wide circle, the collection is very interesting and covers a large time period: there are paintings of the 13th century, and there are paintings of the usual socialist realism style.
Burinti- the most famous archaeological museum under open sky in Albania. These are the remains of an ancient Greek city, with a well-preserved amphitheater.
Albania has resources like: Oil, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, forests, hydropower.
Resorts
The country has two areas where tourists from all over Europe come: the Ionian coast and Adriatic Sea. The Adriatic is less popular because the water is slightly cooler and the season ends earlier. The Adriatic coast is sandy, the Ionian coast is rocky and pebbly.
The main tourist cities are Durres, Vlora, Himara, Ksamil.
Money of Albania: The currency of the (national) Albania is Lek - ALL. It is equal to 100 kindars. In Albania, the standard banknotes are 5000, 200, 100, 500, 1000. In addition, the National Bank of Albania tries to issue coins with denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 leks. In addition, dollars and even euros on the territory of the state are freely distributed. They are used on a par with Leks.
Leisure
Albania has clean beaches and beautiful nature. Tourism in the country is not very developed, but this does not interfere with basking in the cleanest beaches, travel in the mountains, explore the local flavor and taste the national Albanian cuisine.
Albanian beaches amaze with cleanliness and beauty, many coasts have been noted for good ecology blue flag EU.
The country has recently opened up for tourists, here you can find wild beaches of both seas, untouched buildings and hotels.
70% of the country's territory is mountains. Skiing here is much cheaper than in Austria or Andorra. The capital, Tirana, is famous for the most intense nightlife in the country.
Transport
The main means of transportation in cities are buses and taxis. Travel is cheaper than in EU countries. Although gasoline costs about the same. There are many buses, but they do not follow the schedule, but from the moment when it is filled with passengers as much as possible. Most stops are made at the request of passengers, the bus can also turn off its route if someone asks to “throw a little more”.
The roads in the country are not very good and narrow. If you are going to the airport, leave with plenty of time: traffic jams will accompany you all the way. Tirana has separate bike paths.
Standard of living
Albania is the poorest country in Europe. The standard of living of the country occupies the penultimate place on the mainland, ahead of Moldova. According to official statistics, 25% of the population lives below the poverty line. At the same time, food is much cheaper than in Russia. Local residents are mainly employed in the service sector.
The main vacationers in Albania are Italians (at home it costs more than here). Many travelers compare Albania with Russia in the 90s.
Cities of Albania
The capital is the city of Tirana. Its architectural basis is old buildings, standing close to each other, connected by narrow streets, the legacy of the Ottoman Empire. The buildings of the last century are very similar to Soviet ones. Currently, work is underway to restore the city to its historical appearance.
The largest cities are Vlora, Shkodra, Durres.
Population
Coordinates
Qarku and Tiranes 41.3275 x 19.81889 Qarku i Durresit 41.32306 x 19.44139 Elbasan Qarku I Elbasanit 41.1125 x 20.08222 Qarku and Vlores 40.46667 x 19.48972 Qarku and Shkodres 42.06828 x 19.51258 Fier-Ziftsi Qarku i Fierit 40.71667 x 19.56667 Qarku and Korces 40.61861 x 20.78083 Qarku i Fierit 40.72389 x 19.55611 Qarku i Beratit 40.70583 x 19.95222 Qarku i Fierit 40.94194 x 19.705 Qarku and Tiranes 41.18556 x 19.55694 Qarku & Leges 41.63556 x 19.71306 Gyrocaster Qarkou and Gjirokastres 40.07583 x 20.13889 Patos Fshat Qarku i Fierit 40.64278 x 19.65083 Qarku i Durresit True, Albania could be called a mysterious country until recently - for 45 years it was in complete isolation from the whole world, but now it is being revived and, most importantly, this revival is happening without revolutions and bloodshed. The official name of the country - Republic of Albania. It is located in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula and borders Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia and Greece. It is separated from Italy only by the Strait of Otranto. Form of government- parliamentary republic. Flag- is a rectangular panel of red color with an aspect ratio of 5:7 with a black double-headed eagle from the coat of arms of Albania in the center. The red color of the flag is a symbol of the blood of Albanian patriots shed by them in the centuries-old struggle against the enslavers (primarily Turkish). The emblem of the eagle gained great popularity: according to legend, the Albanians considered themselves descendants of eagles, and the country itself in the Albanian language is still called Shkiperia - "Country of Eagles". Although after the death of Skanderbeg Albania fell under the Turkish yoke for four and a half centuries, the eagle and the red and black colors remained in the minds of the people as national symbols. Albania was already inhabited during the Upper Paleolithic ( about 2.5 million years ago). At the archaeological site Konispol caves found traces of habitation from the Paleolithic to the Iron Age. Later people formed here Illyrians(related Indo-European peoples who inhabited in ancient times the northwest of the Balkan Peninsula and partly the southeast of the Apennine Peninsula). Albania was populated by Illyrian tribes during the ancient period. Since the time of Philip II and Alexander the Great, the central part of the country was part of the state of Macedonia, and with its annexation to Rome in 146 BC. e. became part of the Roman province of the same name. Northern part from the II century BC. e. also became part of the Roman province of Dalmatia. In 1368, Durres headed the first ethnically Albanian prince in the history of the Balkans, who created here the medieval principality of Albania. Prior to this, state formations in the country were formed by representatives of other nationalities - the Romans, Greeks, Venetians and crusaders of various countries. Skanderbeg, or (1405-1468) - the leader of the anti-Ottoman Albanian uprising, the national hero of Albania, sung in folk songs. AT 1939. Italy brought a 50,000th corps into Albania and annexed its territory. Zogu emigrated to Greece. In 1941, by decree of the Italian King Vittorio Emmanuel, the Grand Duchy of Albania was established in the occupied Albanian territories, which also includes the territories of Metohija, central Kosovo and western Macedonia. Since 1943, a mass partisan movement has unfolded in the country, and the formation of a regular National Liberation Army has begun. In September of the same year, after the overthrow of Mussolini, fascist Italy capitulated to the Anglo-American troops and withdrew from the war, but on September 10, German troops entered the country. In 1945, after the parliamentary elections, in which the Communist Democratic Front received 97.7% of the votes, the country was headed by the 1st Secretary of the Albanian Labor Party. The monarchy was abolished, was proclaimed People's Republic Albania, the Constitution is adopted. During the 45 years of the rule of dictator Enver Hoxha, concrete bunkers were being built in Albania. Over 700 thousand small bunkers were built, one for every 4 inhabitants of the country. The whole country is literally strewn with them. The density of bunkers is 24 per square kilometer. Small bunkers were located in groups of 3 or more, in places where the enemy was most likely to attack. Now they can be found everywhere, including in cities, right in the courtyards of houses. Now the Albanians use them for personal purposes: a warehouse, a pigsty, a household room... For Enver Hoxha, a main bunker was built in his hometown of Gjirokastra, several hundred meters long. For the entire party leadership, shelters were made in the capital Tirana, on Mount Daiti. In addition to fortifications on the ground, two were built on the water: with two entrances and exits connected by a tunnel to the water and utility rooms. They were intended for shelter, repair and equipment of submarines. Albania partially hosts the three largest lakes in the Balkans - Skadar, Ohrid and Presla. It is also called Shkoder- this is largest lake Balkan Peninsula, located on the territory of Montenegro and Albania. On average, the area is 475 km², of which about 2/3 of the lake belongs to Montenegro, the rest belongs to Albania. On November 2, 2005, a reserve was organized on the lake. On the southeastern edge of the lake stands the Albanian city of Shkoder with an ancient fortress, a little to the north - the city of Koplik. The lake is navigable. The main occupations of the population are intensive fishing, agriculture, hunting and tourism. The lake is divided between Albania and the Republic of Macedonia. It has a depth of 289 m and unique flora and fauna, which is why it is under the protection of UNESCO. 50% of the lake is fed from underground sources, preserves a unique aquatic ecosystem, represented by more than 200 endemic species of global importance. These are biological species whose representatives live in a relatively limited area. Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa belong to a group of basins that were formed as a result of a geotectonic trough that occurred about five million years ago on the western side of the Dinaric Alps. There are only a few lakes all over the world, the origin of which is similar, the most famous of them are Baikal and Tanganyika. They live in the lake acne, in 2007 listed in the Red Book. The lake is divided between Albania, Macedonia and Greece. The lake consists of two freshwater lakes and is the highest located tectonic lake in the Balkans (at an altitude of 853 m). Since Lake Prespa is located 150 m higher than Lake Ohrid, the water from Prespa leaves through karst tunnels and emerges in the form of springs that feed the streams that flow into Lake Ohrid. The capital of the Republic of Albania, the main political, economic and Cultural Center countries. The city has a large open square, in the center of which is a monument to Skanderbeg on a marble pedestal. TID Tower is a high-rise building in Tirana. It is currently the tallest building in Albania (85 m). The Cemetery of the Martyrs is the largest mass grave in Albania, located on a hill overlooking Tirana. About 900 Albanian partisans and British marines who participated in the liberation of Albania are buried here. Erected in 1793, next to it is a clock tower built in 1822 by Ephem Bey. Initially, the tower was not high, but after its reconstruction in 1928, it reached a height of 35 meters. An amazing panorama of the city opens from the tower. In the evening, the tower is a beautiful sight; its mysterious glow can be seen from any outskirts of the city. Albania's national hero was born in this city Skanderbeg (Georg Kastrioti). Here is his museum and monument. The city is located on the shore of Skadar Lake. The main attractions of this city are Rozafa fortress and bridge. At present, the fortress is a ruin; it was founded in the 3rd century BC by the Illyrians. There is such legend: three brothers could not build a local fortress in any way - it collapsed all the time. And then they decided to sacrifice to heaven and strengthen the walls with blood. It was decided that the wife of the younger brother, the beautiful Rozafa, should be walled up. He couldn't tell her for a long time. But still he had to do it, and she courageously accepted it, saying: "Burn me up so that I can feed my child." She was immured alive in the foundation of the fortress along with her son. The fortress of Shkoder is named after her: the fortress of Rozafa. Similar legends tell tourists about many castles and fortresses in Europe. Several buildings and ruins of buildings have been preserved inside the fortress; for example, one of the barracks currently houses a small museum dedicated to the history of the fortress. In the museum you can see many ancient Illyrian coins, the remains of their ancient culture, as well as objects and paintings related to the time of the capture of the Balkans by the Turks, as well as many busts of Skanderbeg and other local heroes. The city is located on the right bank of the Shkumbini River. In Elbasan, a fortress of the 15th century has been preserved, which houses a museum. Also in the city there are Turkish baths of the XVI century, the Orthodox Church of St. Mary and the Museum of Partisan War. The richest historical city in Albania. Located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. The city was founded in 627 BC. e., he has a very interesting story, but, unfortunately, the scope of the article does not allow to tell it. Greek city-state in Albania. The ruins of ancient Apollonia lie 12 km away. from Fier (100 km south of Durres). The city was founded in 855 BC e. Greeks and was an important city-state of the Mediterranean. The Amphitheater, the colonnade of the shops of the Roman city center, the Odeon (II century AD), the portico (III century BC) with niches for statues, the "Mosaic House" with a fountain, the Bouleterion (I century AD), fragments of the fortress walls (IV century AD), the monastery of St. Mary (XII century AD) with the Museum of Archeology and byzantine church. Not far from Apollonia, on the road to Durres, is the majestic monastery of Ardenica. A city in southeastern Albania. Most of the inhabitants of the city are Orthodox. The main attractions are the Orthodox Cathedral, national park Drilon and its underground springs, Christian basilica of the 5th c. AD in the park. In 2008, the historic center of the city was included in the list world heritage UNESCO as an example of a well-preserved urban development from the time of the Ottoman Empire. Byzantine Church (Holy Trinity Cathedral)Modern Albania
head of state- the president.
Parliament a unicameral People's Assembly.
Chief Executive- Chairman of the Council of Ministers.
Territory– 28,748 sq. km
Population- 2 831 741 people Albanians make up 95% of the population.
Capital- Tirana.
Largest cities- Tirana, Shkoder, Vlora, Durres, Elbasan.
Currency- lek.
Economy- industrially undeveloped, agrarian country. One of the poorest countries in Europe. 58% of workers are employed in agriculture, 15% in industry, and 27% in the service sector.
In agriculture wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beet, grapes are produced; meat, dairy products.
In industry- food processing, textiles and clothing; wood processing, oil and metal ore mining, cement production, hydropower.
Religion- three main confessions: Islam, Orthodoxy, Catholicism.
Climate- subtropical Mediterranean and temperate. Summers are hot and dry; winters are cool and wet.
Administrative division- the territory is divided into 12 regions, which are divided into 36 districts and 373 municipalities.
Official language- Albanian.State symbols
The red cloth with a black double-headed eagle was the banner of George Kastriot, known as Skanderbeg, the hero of the struggle against the Turks and the founder of an independent state in 1443. It is quite possible that the eagle on the banner was chosen by him as a sign of the tradition according to which the Albanians are descendants of the eagle. According to another version, the eagle is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Byzantine Empire.
Coat of arms- represents a black double-headed eagle under the historical helmet of Skanderbeg with a crest in the form of a goat's head on a red shield.
The double-headed eagle as a symbol of freedom and independence has been known in Albania since the 15th century. It actually repeated the coat of arms of Byzantium, which, like the Albanian principalities, resisted Turkish aggression.
The same eagle on a yellow shield under a white six-pointed star was depicted on the coat of arms of the Kastrioti feudal family. One of the representatives of this family is a prominent statesman and military leader George Skanderbeg- led in 1443 the struggle for the unification of Albania and the preservation of its independence, and for a quarter of a century successfully repelled the Turkish invasions.
As a result of the popular anti-Turkish uprising in 1912, Albania managed to gain complete independence and international recognition, and the coat of arms of Skanderbeg became its coat of arms. Over time, the eagle on the coat of arms took its present form. In 1926, Skanderbeg's golden helmet appeared on the coat of arms.
After the liberation of Albania from the German occupation in 1944, the communists came to power, proclaiming a course towards building socialism. These changes were reflected in the flag and coat of arms, adopted in 1946, but in 1991 Albania returned to the traditional image of a black double-headed eagle on a red shield with the historical helmet of Skanderbeg with a goat's head crest.Story
In the Middle Ages during the division of the Roman Empire, the main part of the country became part of Byzantium, Dalmatia became part of the Western Roman Empire. At the end of IV - beginning of V centuries. was subjected to invasions of Goths and Huns, and from the end of the VI century. -Slavic tribes.
In the middle of the XIV century. (1336-1355) the whole territory of Albania was conquered by the Serbian king Stefan Dushan. After the fall of Byzantium in 1204, the crusaders created a small but strategically important Kingdom of Albania with its capital in Durres.
In 1381, the Turks penetrated the territory of Albania, and an intertribal war of the Topia clan against the Balsha clan began. Albania has become a field of conflict between the interests of the Venetians and the Turks. In 1385 Serbian and Albanian princes were defeated in the battle of Savra.
In the middle of the 15th century, resistance to the Turks was provided by national hero Skanderbeg. Here we will tell you more about it.Skanderbeg
He was the son of the Albanian prince John Kastrioti, but as a hostage he was given to Sultan Murad II and converted to Islam under the name of Iskander Bey, or Skanderbeg, and became famous fighting against the Ottomans. In 1444 he created the Leger League and defended the provinces of Albania against the Ottoman Empire for more than two decades.
He participated in many battles and showed such courage that the Turks called him Skander, that is, Alexander.
In 1443, Kastrioti raised an uprising in Albania, was proclaimed leader of the Albanians, defeated the Turks on the Black Drin, made an alliance with Hungary and forced Murad II to lift the siege of the Albanian city of Kruja. In November 1443 he was declared head of the Principality of Kastrioti.
When his family estate in Kruja was taken away from his family, Skanderbeg renounced Islam, converted to Christianity and raised an uprising. In 1444, he entered into a military-political alliance with Venice and the Albanian princes (the "Lega League") and launched a partisan war in Northern Albania.
In 1449 and 1451 defeated the troops of the Ottoman Empire and was recognized in 1461 by Sultan Mehmed II as the ruler of Albania, although Kastrioti resisted Sultan Mehmed II and, after the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, even concluded a peace favorable to Albania.
In 1463, with the blessing of Pope Pius II, Kastrioti broke peace with the Ottomans and again inflicted several very serious defeats on them. Mehmed II was about to move all his forces against him, but Kastrioti died of malaria.
In the city of Kruja there is a museum of Skanderbeg. In a well-restored old castle, there is an exposition telling about the life of the great Albanian commander and statesman, about the resistance of the Albanians to the Ottoman yoke. All of Europe followed their heroic struggle. However, no one was in a hurry to help them.
In the second half of the XVI century. the Turks completely ousted the Venetians from the territory of Albania, but the mountainous north of Albania retained some autonomy. The power there belonged to the councils of elders headed by bayraktars - the Guardians of the Banner. Islam gradually began to spread in Albania. Ottoman rule remained until the beginning of the 20th century, when during the First Balkan War the territory of Albania was occupied by the troops of Montenegro, Serbia and Greece. Turkey was defeated in the war, and Albania faced the threat of partition between rival powers.
As part of Turkey, Albania had sufficient autonomy. After the overthrow of Sultan Abdul-Hamid II in July 1908, Albanian schools and newspapers appeared. The issue of national autonomy and a unified Albanian alphabet based on the Latin alphabet was discussed. In 1909, a national liberation uprising against the Turks broke out in Albania. It lasted three years and ended with the declaration of independence of Albania in 1912. In 1912-1913, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Russia and France recognized first the autonomy, and then the independence of Albania from Turkey. These six powers determined the boundaries of the new state.
In the years World War I Albania has become the arena of hostilities. In April 1915, the Entente countries and Italy signed a secret treaty that ended the independence of Albania. Its territory by the end of the war was occupied by Italian, Serbian and Greek troops. In 1920, the Albanian National Congress again proclaimed the independence of the country and declared Tirana the capital of the state. The feudal-landlord group came to power in the country Zogu, who, with the help of Yugoslavia, England, France and Italy, suppressed the democratic movement and proclaimed himself first president and then king of Albania.
As a result of the general change in the military situation in the Balkans, the liberation struggle grew into a people's democratic revolution. On May 24, 1944, the Anti-Fascist National Liberation Council of Albania was created, which November 17, 1944 liberated Tirana, and then the whole country.
Until 1956, Albania maintained relations with the USSR, but after the 20th Congress of the CPSU, a policy of political isolation was adopted. In 1960, at a meeting of Communist Party leaders in Bucharest, Hoxha condemned Khrushchev's policy, and in December 1961 Albania severed diplomatic relations with the USSR, then withdrew from the CMEA and the Warsaw Pact Organization (1968). Subsequently, relations were maintained only with Maoist China and Romania. In 1978 there was a break in relations with the PRC.
In 1975, Albania remained completely aloof from world politics and plunged into the abyss of complete international isolation.
Small bunkers intended for infantry were not enough, many large ones intended for artillery crews were built. Such bunkers were located mainly along the sea line and along the borders. In the Durres area, you can still find such bunkers on the beach, converted into showers, cafes, changing rooms or just warehouses. Hotels have been built on some, and the space inside is used as a warehouse.
In addition to pillboxes, fortifications were built for manpower and equipment. Such structures were built mainly inside the mountains and hills. According to Enver's plan, heavy armored vehicles and infantry were supposed to be hidden there from air raids of a hypothetical enemy.
Now these terrible testimonies of human insanity are being dismantled, first of all, they are removed from beaches, cities, roads and those places visited by tourists. Gradually, the country takes on a natural look.
In April 1985, after the death of Enver Hoxha, Ramiz Alia took his place. At first, he tried to continue the old policy, but the totalitarian regime had already outlived its usefulness. In 1992, the Democratic Party of Albania won the general election. The collapse of the communist regime caused a massive outflow of the population from Albania, but now the country is actively developing.Sights of Albania
Due to the abundance of rare fauna and flora, in 2000 the area was declared a transnational park.Tirana
Educational institutions in Tirana: university, agricultural institute, fine arts institute, physical education institute; Albanian AN; central research zootechnical station; veterinary research institute; National Library.
Of the museums in Tirana, there are the Museum of Archeology and Ethnography, the Museum of the Struggle for National Liberation, the Natural Science Museum, the Museum of Lenin and Stalin.
The Opera and Ballet Theater (with a ballet school), the People's Theatre, the Variety and Circus Theatre, the Puppet Theatre, the Conservatory, the Philharmonic, the Higher Acting School. A. Moisei, Art Lyceum. I. Moissi, film studio "New Albania".Cemetery of the Martyrs
On a concrete platform with a panoramic view of the city spread out below, a 12-meter statue of "Mother Albania" stands in a fluttering mantle. Around - 900 graves of the sons of Albania, partisans who died in World War II.
Kruya
Shkoder
Elbasan
Durres
Apollonia does not give the impression of majesty, perhaps because much is still hidden from us under the ground, and after all, before it was Big City, founded by Greek settlers from Corinth and Kerkyra. This city at the same time was both a trading port and a fortress. The port accommodated up to 100 ships at the same time. Apollonia also minted her own coin and sold Illyrian slaves abroad. Apollonia reached its heyday in the 4th-3rd centuries. BC. In 229 BC the city came under the control of the Roman Republic, and then became part of the Roman province of Macedonia. Apollonia also prospered under Roman rule, where Caesar was sent to study Octavian Augustus, where he studied philosophy.
Berat Museum City
From the beginning of the III century BC. e. known as Antipatrea. The name was given by the Macedonian king Cassander in honor of his father Antipater. In the II century BC. e. the city was conquered by the Romans. During the Byzantine period, the city was known as Pulcheriopolis.
Berat was the place of martyrdom in 1779 of a Greek preacher-educator Cosmas of Aetolian.
