The Culture of Tirana concerns the arts, music, museums, festivals and other entertainment in the capital city of Albania. Tirana is one of the country's leading business and cultural centers including entertainment, music, media, fashion, and the arts all contribute to its status as Albania's largest city.
Tirana is home to different architectural styles that represent influential periods in its history dating back to the antiquity. The architecture of Tirana as the capital of Albania, was marked by two totalitarian regimes, by the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini during World War II and the communist regime. Both have left their mark on the city with their typical architecture.
In addition to the objects of the architecture of the totalitarian regimes of 20th century, Tirana offers a couple of other such objects of both periods. The Palace of Brigades (former Palace of the Albania's King Zog I), the ministries buildings, the government building and the municipality hall are designed by Florestano Di Fausto and Armando Brasini, both well-known architects of the Mussolini period in Italy. The Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard was built in 1930 and given the name King Zog I Boulevard. In the communist period, the part from Skanderbeg Square up to the train station was named Stalin Boulevard. The Royal Palace or Palace of Brigades previously served as the official residence of King Zog I. It has been used by different Albanian governments for various purposes. Because of the outbreak of World War II, and the 1939 Italian invasion of Albania, King Zog I fled Albania and never had a chance to see the Palace fully constructed. The Italians finished it and used it as the Army Headquarters. The Palace took its nickname Palace of Brigades because it was taken from the Italians by a people army brigade. [1]
Tirana's museums and monuments are among its most highly esteemed attractions. The National Historical Museum is the largest Museum in the country and details the history of the country. It was opened on 28 October 1981 and is 27,000 square metres (290,000 square feet) in size, while 18,000 square metres (190,000 square feet) are available for exhibitions. It hosts some of the best archeological finds in country, dating from Prehistory to the modern Italians. In the stands of the pavilion there are photos of global personalities who met Mother Teresa as Jacques Chirac, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Ibrahim Kodra and others. The National Archaeological Museum is the national archaeological museum is the first museum created after World War II in Albania. The National Art Gallery opened to the public on 11 January 1954. The museum preserves over 5000 artworks.
The Natural Sciences Museum was founded in 1948 is affiliated with the University of Tirana and has branches in zoology, botany and geology. The former Enver Hoxha Museum is a pyramid-shaped structure dedicated to the communist dictator Enver Hoxha. [3] It served as a museum about his legacy, but after the Fall of communism in Albania, it became a conference center and exhibition venue.
Tirana is becoming a popular hub for different events. Festivals are one of several things that locals enjoy well. It has a large number of festivals and events. The diversity of festivals makes it possible for people of different tastes to find themselves in a city this small. Festivals in the city provide entertainment for the youth as well as for adults. The Summer Festival takes place every year on March 14, celebrating the Spring Day (Albanian: Dita e Veres), the country's largest pagan festival. It is widely celebrated in Tirana and as well as in other cities in Albania and the Arbëresh colonies in Italy. Another major event, the Tirana International Film Festival takes place in Tirana each year, which brings a large number of artists to produce a wide range of interesting film works. Other festivals include the Tirana Jazz Festival, the Guitar Sounds Festival, the Albanian Wine Festival and more. In 2016, the first Telekom Electronic Beats Festival were held in Tirana, bringing the latest trends from the urban lifestyle to the Albanian youth. [4] This is the effort of Tirana to increase the number of tourist visits. However, the city is become a popular destination for many young people around the region during the vacation period. [5]
Tirana has a diverse and vibrant nightlife. Among the youth, the most popular destination is the Blloku area. There are many pubs, bars, clubs, cafes, restaurants can be found throughout the area. Blloku is quite a small, walking neighborhood, easily accessible from different parts of the city. The entrance is only 10 minutes by foot from the city centre.
Among the most popular nightclubs are Folie Terrace, Cinco Cavalli, Lollipop, Moscow, Arena and Mumja Club, where world-famous disc jockeys and idiosyncratic local performances are frequent. Some of the most popular cafés in Tirana are Mon Chéri Coffee Shop, Sophie Caffe, Cioccolatitaliani Tirana, D'angelo Coffee Shop and The Tea Room. The largest hotels of the city are the Tirana International Hotel and The Plaza situated in the heart of the city near the Skanderbeg Square. The luxury Sheraton Hotel Tirana is also located in city center of Tirana, near central business district next to the National Arena. Other major hotels present in central Tirana include the Xheko Imperial Hotel, Rogner Hotel, Mondial Hotel and Hotel Opera Tirana. The Hilton Hotel will open very soon in Tirana.[ citation needed ]
Tourism in Tirana is developing year by year since the fall of communism and the capital city of Tirana become a very popular tourist destinations after the southern Albanian Riviera and northern part of the country. Tirana has a majority of luxury hotels, modern restaurants, bars, pubs and very big nightclubs. Tirana is a place that is known as a university center of students from regional countries like Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Greece. [ citation needed ]
According to the Polish Tour Operators Association, Tirana has entered into the 10th most visited cities by the Poles. [6] The French Télérama ranked Tirana also to the Top 10 of best destination to be visited in 2017. [7]
Most tourists to the city come from Greece, Italy, Kosovo [ citation needed ] and Europe, with the number of visitors from elsewhere growing every year, thanks to an increasing number of international airline arrivals at Mother Teresa International Airport as well as luxury cruises that arrive into the Port of Durrës that offers day trips to the city.
During classical antiquity, Albania was home to several Illyrian tribes such as the Ardiaei, Albanoi, Amantini, Enchele, Taulantii and many others, but also Thracian and Greek tribes, as well as several Greek colonies established on the Illyrian coast. In the 3rd century BC, the area was annexed by Rome and became part of the Roman provinces of Dalmatia, Macedonia and Moesia Superior. Afterwards, the territory remained under Roman and Byzantine control until the Slavic migrations of the 7th century. It was integrated into the Bulgarian Empire in the 9th century.
Tirana is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea in the distance. It is among the wettest and sunniest cities in Europe, with 2,544 hours of sun per year.
Zog I was the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. At age 27, he first served as Albania's youngest ever prime minister (1922–1924), then as president (1925–1928), and finally as king (1928–1939).
Tourism in Albania has been a key element to the country's economic activity and is constantly developing. It is characterized by its rich archaeological and cultural heritage dating back to the classical period when Illyrians and Ancient Greeks inhabited the region. Over the course of history, the territory of Albania was occupied and populated by Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans. Notably the country features unspoiled beaches, mountainous landscapes, traditional cuisine, archaeological artifacts, unique traditions, low prices and the wild atmosphere of the countryside.
Skanderbeg may refer to:
The Italian colonists in Albania were Italians who, between the two World Wars, moved to Albania to colonize the Balkan country for the Kingdom of Italy.
The Skanderbeg Square is the main plaza in the centre of Tirana, Albania. The square is named after the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu. The total area is about 40,000 square metres. The Skanderbeg Monument dominates the square.
Gustav von Myrdacz was an Austrian noble who was instrumental in organizing the Royal Albanian Army from the early 1920s to 1945. He was referred to in Albania as Gustav Mirdashi.
The Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard is a major thoroughfare in Tirana, Albania. It was initially designed by Armando Brasini in 1925. Brasini's master plan was later amended by Florestano di Fausto, and in 1939 by Gherardo Bosio following the Italian invasion of Albania.
The Zogu I Boulevard or Boulevard Zog I was the first and the only boulevard at that time and is a major boulevard in Tirana, Albania, named after Zog I of Albania, the King of Albania who ruled the country between 1925 and 1939.
The Grand Park of Tirana, or the Park on the Artificial Lake, is a 289 hectare public park situated on the southern part of Tirana, Albania, and administered by the Agency of Parks and Recreation of the Municipality of Tirana.
Tirana International Hotel is a hotel located in Tirana, Albania on the corner between central Skanderbeg Square and Zogu I Boulevard. Originally built in 1979 in a Soviet-era architectural style, it was named Hotel Tirana,. In 2001 the hotel was renovated by an Italian company and now it is a 4-star hotel. Tirana International has 168 rooms on 15 floors.
Ish-Blloku, commonly Blloku, is an upmarket area in Tirana, Albania. It widely known as an entertainment destination with its boutiques, shops, restaurants, trendy bars, pubs, and cafes. The area is part of the neighbourhood of Tirana e Re in southwestern Tirana. During the peak summer months, its trendy bars transfer along the Albanian Riviera.
Maritim Plaza Tirana is a luxury hotel in Tirana, Albania owned by German Maritim hotel chain. It is located on 28 Nëntori Street, near the Skanderbeg Square.
The Presidential Palace, formerly the Royal Palace and popularly known as the Palace of Brigades, is the official residence of the president of Albania. The palace was commissioned by King Zog I of the Albanians to serve as his main official residence.
Qazim Mulleti (1893–1956) was an Albanian politician, nationalist and mayor of Tirana from 1939 through 1940 and its prefect from 1942 to 1944.
The architecture of Albania is a reflection of Albania's historical and cultural heritage. The country's architecture was influenced by its location within the Mediterranean Basin and progressed over the course of history as it was once inhabited by numerous civilisations including the Illyrians, Ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Ottomans as well as modern Austro-Hungarians and Italians. In addition, missionaries, invaders, colonisers and traders brought cultural changes that had a large profound effect on building styles as well as techniques.
The Mother Teresa Square is the second largest square in Tirana, Albania. It is named after the Albanian-born Indian Roman Catholic nun, missionary and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mother Teresa.
There are many landmarks in Tirana, Albania some of which are of considerable historical or artistic interest. Many monuments and landmarks situated in Tirana, date back to the Illyrian, Roman, Greek and Ottoman periods.
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