Enver Halil Hoxha was an Albanian communist dictator and statesman who served as the First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania, from 1941 until his death in 1985. He was also a member of the Politburo of the Party of Labour of Albania, chairman of the Democratic Front of Albania, commander-in-chief of the armed forces from 1944 until his death. He served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Albania from 1944 to 1954 and at various times served as both foreign minister and defence minister of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania.
Tirana or Tiranë 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. Due to its location at the Plain of Tirana and the close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, the city is particularly influenced by a Mediterranean seasonal climate. It is among the wettest and sunniest cities in Europe, with 2,544 hours of sun per year.
Milad Tower, also known as the Tehran Tower, is a multi-purpose tower in Tehran, Iran. It is the sixth-tallest tower and the 24th-tallest freestanding structure in the world.
Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) is an Albanian public-service radio and television broadcasting company. Founded in 1938, it operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite. The international television service via satellite RTSH Sat was launched in 1993 and is aimed at Albanian-speaking communities in Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and northern Greece, plus the Albanian diaspora in the rest of Europe. RTSH is funded by a combination of commercial advertising, an annual licence fee of US$10.00 and grant-in-aid from the Albanian government.
Albania, officially the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, was ruled by a Marxist-Leninist government from 1946 to 1992. From 1944 to 1946, it was known as the Democratic Government of Albania and from 1946 to 1976 it was known as the People's Republic of Albania.
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.
St Paul's Cathedral is a cathedral in Tirana, Albania. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tiranë-Durrës. The stained glass window to the left of the front door features Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa. Also a statue of Mother Teresa can be found at the entrance of the cathedral. It is a modern-looking building and does not resemble a traditional church.
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 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.
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.
Rinia Park is the central public park of Tirana, Albania. Built in 1950 during the communist era, it covers an area of 2.98 hectares.
Hotel Dajti was a hotel near Rinia Park on Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard in central Tirana, Albania. Carrying the name of nearby Dajti Mountain, it was the primary center for international visitors and diplomats during Albania's socialist period; the guest rooms were bugged with microphones, and there was a sub-basement floor for listening staff.
The Pyramid of Tirana is a structure and former museum located in Tirana, the capital of Albania.
Valentina Pistoli (1928–1993) was the first Albanian woman architect. She was a member of the Communist Party in Albania, and was born in Korçë. She studied architecture at Sofia University and graduated in 1952.
Arena Kombëtare is an all-seater, multi-purpose football stadium located in the capital city of Tirana which was built on the ground of the former Qemal Stafa Stadium. Officially known as the Air Albania Stadium for sponsorship reasons, the stadium has a seating capacity of 22,500 constituting the largest stadium in Albania.
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.
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.
The Museum of Secret Surveillance, also known as House of Leaves is a historical museum in Tirana, Albania. It opened on 23 May 2017 in the building that served as the Sigurimi's headquarter during the communist era.
Squatting in Albania is the occupation of unused land or derelict buildings without the permission of the owner. It began on a large scale in the 1990s, with internal migration towards former collectivised farmland and informal settlements on the periphery of the capital Tirana. Bathore near to Tirana had 40,000 squatters by the early 2000s. The Agency of Legalization, Upgrading, and Integration of Informal Zones and Buildings (ALUIZNI) had legalized 16,500 homes on 152 settlements by 2009. As of 2020, 25% of the population of Albania's cities lived in informal settlements.
