Tirana

Tirana is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the central part of the country and is a place where you can immerse yourself in the past and present of this Balkan state. Tirana is a young and energetic city. The future capital of Albania was founded only in 1614. Many tourists find this city very charming, due to the fact that it combines the atmosphere of a modern metropolis with the traditional provincial charm. Now Tirana is undergoing a major reconstruction aimed at changing its boring socialist architecture.

The Albanian authorities allow visa-free travel to the country during the tourist season. This is usually the period from April to October. The exact dates vary slightly each year. Visa-free regime is allowed only for tourist and private trips. The maximum period of stay is 90 days.

Tirana is famous for its clubs and restaurants. The most fashionable establishments are located in the Blok area. At the same time, their kitchen is not always of high quality.

In terms of weather, the best time to visit Tirana is from May to September. In summer it is, however, quite hot. But not far away is the Adriatic Sea.

Tirana has an international airport that accepts flights from London, Istanbul, Vienna, Zurich, Munich, Athens and some other cities. The capital of Albania also has regular bus services from Turkey, Serbia, Greece and Montenegro.

History

Tirana was founded by the Ottoman general Suleiman Pasha of Bargina in 1614. Until the 18th century, it was a trading city, known for its large bazaar. Later, Tirana became one of the centers of the Albanian struggle against the Ottoman rule. On February 8, 1920 the city was declared the capital of independent Albania.

Geography and climate

Tirana is located in central Albania, about 40 km from the Adriatic Sea. The Albanian capital is located on the Ishm River in a basin at the foot of the Kruja-Daite Mountains. Tirana has a subtropical climate characterized by hot summers and mild winters.
Sights

The clock tower is one of the symbols of Tirana. This building was built by Ottoman architects in 1822. The tower is 35 meters high.

Ethem Bay is an 18th-century Ottoman mosque located in the immediate vicinity of the clock tower. It is one of the oldest buildings of the tyrant and one of the few religious buildings that survived the communist era.

Skanderbeg Square is the central square of Tirana, dedicated to the national hero of Albania. It has an area of ​​40 thousand square meters and is surrounded by monumental buildings. There is also a sculpture of George Kastrioti or Skanderbeg.

The square houses the National History Museum, the largest museum in Albania, with about 5,000 exhibits from antiquity to the communist period. The most valuable in terms of archaeological wealth is the pavilion of antiquity, which has a large collection of almost 600 items covering the late Paleolithic and early Middle Ages.

The Church of the Sacred Heart is the oldest Catholic church in Tirana, built in 1939 (during the Italian occupation of Albania).

Tanners is an 18th century Ottoman stone bridge. Is one of the oldest buildings in Tirana.

Tanners Mosque is a small Ottoman mosque built in the 17th century on the outskirts of an artisan guild.

Resurrection Cathedral is the third largest Orthodox church in Europe, completed in 2012.

Kokonozy is an Ottoman mosque built in the middle of the 18th century.

The Pyramid is a strange building from the communist era, built as a museum of Enver Hoxha. Now it is empty. The pyramid is located directly on the main road leading from Skanderbeg Square to the Presidential Palace on the banks of the Lani River.

The Bunker is a small military base located on the slope of Mount Daite. This military bunker was built for the Albanian political elite in case of a nuclear war. Today, a historical and art museum is opened within the walls of this building, which tells about the communist past of Albania.
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