Swinging Tirana
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ALBANIA SWINGING TIRANA © Alessandro Gandolfi Tirana (Albania), journalist Ilva Tare right before her talk show “Tonight Ilva Tare”, aired by RTV Ora News Just twenty years ago, the city of Tirana was a sort of Pyongyang in the heart of Europe, the capital of a paranoid, isolated nation. Today Tirana is a vibrant, ambitious town, welcoming those who ran away during the Nineties now back richer, and with a better instruction. It’s people in their thirties – artists, entrepreneurs, journalists, architects – ready to invest in a new idea of Albania: young (30% of population is less than 18 years old), with a vision (former, brilliant Tirana’s mayor Edi Rama is now Albania’s Prime Minister) and well into Europe. “Being in the European Union – they affirm – will bring strict rules and a new image, promoting tourism”. Tirana is no doubt leading this renaissance, funded (even) by investors from Italy, Germany, Canada, Turkey and China. The icon of all this is Biloku, Tirana’s upper class district: the very same area where once the communist elite used to live, in a golden isolation. It’s the place where, between luxury and an exciting nightlife scene, the optimism and the future prospects of a whole nation show off. Tirana (Albania), tourists sunbathing near Sheraton hotel’s pool Tirana (Albania), the bar of the discotheque Folie Terrace Tirana (Albania), the headquarters of the committee promoting Albania’s accession to the European Union Tirana (Albania), Minister of Culture Mirela Kumbaro during a press conference held on the road. Former university professor, she’s part of the government since 2013 Tirana (Albania), young people at the Radio bar Tirana (Albania), entrepreneur Agron Shehaj, 37 yo, in a hall of his call center. Agron is the owner of Intercom Data Service Group, the most important call center company in the country Tirana (Albania), villas in the new luxury district “Tuscany”, not far from TEG shopping centre Tirana (Albania), dance party in a villa located in the new luxury district “Tuscany”, not far from TEG shopping centre Tirana (Albania), a garden party at the Rogner hotel Tirana (Albania), a Kube Studios staff meeting (the first from right is producer Erfort Kuke). Kube Studios focus on producing video and tv commercials Tirana (Albania), a luxury car in Skanderbeg Square Tirana (Albania), actors, director and technicians on the National Theather stage after the show Radio Iliria Tirana (Albania), a shepherd watching the modern cable car operating on Mount Dajt Tirana (Albania), journalist Enio Civici, director of SCAN TV (the only tv in Albania dedicated to economy and finance), preparing his program Tirana (Albania), downtown at sunset Tirana (Albania), a man sitting in the reading room of the Sheraton hotel Tirana (Albania), the future headquarters of the Ministry of Culture, just renovated, now hosting some film studios Tirana (Albania), Minister of Culture Mirela Kumbaro checks emails and texts in her car. Former university professor, she’s part of the government since 2013 Tirana (Albania), people waiting to enter the vernissage of an artist Lin Delija’s exhibition at the National Art Gallery Tirana (Albania), a young couple talking near Rogner hotel’s pool during a dance lesson of the Latin Beat House Tirana (Albania), a young woman exercising in Sheraton hotel’s gym Tirana (Albania), hanging out in Skanderbeg Square with the minaret of the Et’hem Bey mosque in the background Tirana (Albania), a girl picking flowers in a city garden Tirana (Albania), buffet in a villa located in the new luxury district “Tuscany”, not far from TEG shopping centre. via Donatello 19/A MIilan- [email protected] - www.parallelozero..com - +39 02 89281630.