Visitors Guide Albania

Albania Visitors Guide MINISTRY OF TOURISM, CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS National Tourism Agency www.albaniantourism.com www.akt.gov.al yours to discover TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ........................................................ 3 National Parks ...................................................... 39 Welcome to Albania .......................................... 4 Museums ............................................................ 46 Geography ............................................................ 5 Albanian Traditions .......................................... 50 History .................................................................... 6 Culture ................................................................. 54 Population ............................................................ 10 Sports ................................................................... 57 Language .............................................................. 10 Media .................................................................... 58 Religion .................................................................. 11 Other useful Information .............................. 62 Climate ................................................................... 12 Outdoor activities ............................................ 65 Economy ............................................................... 13 Postal system and phone calls .................... 68 Agriculture ............................................................ 13 Embassies ............................................................ 71 Natural Resources ............................................ 13 Dictionary ........................................................... 76 Political Structure ............................................. 13 How to come to Albania ................................ 14 Border Formalities ............................................ 20 How to travel in Albania .................................. 21 10 Suggested Itineraries ................................ 26 Accommodations .............................................. 34 Cuisine ................................................................. 35 Tourist Attractions ........................................... 36 Flora and Fauna ................................................ 37 Lake and Rivers ................................................. 38 INTRODUCTION At the front entrance of “Mother Teresa Airport”, a huge poster welcomes everyone to the “Country of the Eagles”, otherwise known by foreigners as Albania. The country is well known for its traditional hospitality and for the extraordinary nature. The climate in this small territory varies from exotic mediterranean to cold continental, with a relatively short winter and a hot dry summer. Albania’s climate changes from one province to another with large contrasts of temperature. Albania is home to centuries of history with ancient archaeological sites, medieval modern villages and a magnificent coastline with crystalline waters. Albania is located in Europe, in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. The country is easily reachable by plane, by land and by sea routes. The territory of Albania is known for the variety of landscape and for its diverse relive. Rocky beaches, lagoons, rugged hills, high mountains, valleys and rivers, are the ingredients of this perfect combination, waiting for the visitors to be discovered. All this unexplored nature is found within a relatively small territory of 28,748 km2. To be mentioned is the southern Albanian coastline, considered as a pearl of the Mediterranean Sea. Mountains rise behind the beaches creating the very environment for all those whom love to enjoy the perfect intimacy holydays. It is believed that the prehistoric origins of the Albanians come from an Indo-European tribe, which by the Greek historian Herodotus is known by the name of “the pellazgs”. The pellazgs are considered as direct ancestors of the Illyrians. It is supposed they lived many centuries B.C. Albania, the now days name of the country is an Illyrian denomination of the Illyrian tribe, the Albans. The desire to preserve the ancient beauty and the natural and archeological treasuries of Albania is turning the country into a real paradise for all seasons. This Guide contains information on the geographic position, population, history, climate, national parks, museums, coastline, forests, language, religion, and other interesting topics for the tourists. WELCOME TO ALBANIA Area: 28.748 km2 Capital city: Tirana Population: 3,150,886 habitants Language: Albanian Currency: Lekë Government: Parliamentary Democracy Flag: Black double-headed eagle on red background International telephone prefix: 00 355 4 GEOGRAPHY Geography Albania’s surface area of 28,748 km2 (11,100 square miles) makes it slightly smaller than Belgium. It is situated in the Balkan Peninsula, in southeastern Europe, and shares borders with Greece, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosova. In the west ,the country is soaked by Adriatic and Ionianseas. The division of these seas is marked by the Bay of Vlora, about 170 km from the southern border with Greece. The Straits of Otranto marks the narrowest point, where only 72 km of water separates Albania from Italy. Albania has four primary topographical areas: the albanian alps, a central mountanious region, a southern mountanious region and the coastal plain. The interior of the country is mostly mountainous and approximately 36% is lushly forested. The plains are extensively planted with olives, citrus and vineyards. There are numerous lakes, the biggest of which is Lake Shkodra. Measuring 370 km2, it is the largest lake in the Balkans. Lake Ohrid, in the eastern portion of the country, is shared with Macedonia and at 294 m or 931 ft, is exceptionally deep. Lake Prespa, is the highest tectonic lake in all Balkans. The Ionian coast, known as “Albanian Riviera” from Vlora to Saranda, is both rugged and beautiful, featuring some of the most picturesque scenery in the country. The overall length of Albania’s borders is 1,094 km. Of this length, 657 km is made up of land borders with other countries, 316 km is provided by the seas, 48 km is marked by various rivers, and 73 km is provided by lakes. The highest point is Mount Korab, 2,751 meters above sea level. Additionally, Albania enjoys a total twelve National Parks areas, which together with other protected areas cover approximately 39% of the country (34,550 hectares). HISTORY History The expanding Illyrian kingdom clashed The area known as Albania today with Rome in 229 B.C. A lengthy struggle has been populated since prehistoric ensued, and resulted in the extension of times. In antiquity, much of it was settled Roman control over the entire Balkan area by the Illyrians, who are the ancestors by 167 B.C. Under the Romans, Illyrians of present-day Albanians. It was around enjoyed relative peace and prosperity. the turn of the third millennium B.C. that Large agricultural estates flourished under an Indo-European population settled slave labor. Like the Greeks, the Illyrians there. The result of this melding of managed to preserve their own language cultures was the creation of a population and traditions despite centuries of Roman incorporating the unique cultural and rule. Over time the people gradually linguistic characteristics of the whole replaced their old gods with the new Balkan Peninsula. Based on this ancient Christian faith championed by Emperor population, the Illyrian people developed Constantine. Trade flourished during this through the second millennium and the time, as well. The main route between first century B.C. After its collapse in the Rome and Constantinople, the Via Egnatia, year 30 B.C., Illyria came under the control passed through the port at Durrës. of Roman Empire. Upon the division of the When the Roman Empire was divided in Roman Empire in 395 A.D., Illyria became a 395, Illyria fell within the Eastern Empire, part of the Byzantine Empire. later known as the Byzantine Empire. The Greeks arrived in the VII century B.C. Three early Byzantine Emperors to establish self-governing colonies in (Anastasius I, Justin I and Justinian I) Epidamnos (now Durrës), Apollonia and were Illyrian in origin. Ongoing invasions Butrint. They established and expansive by Visigoths, Huns, Ostrogoths, and trade system with the Illyrians, who formed Slavs continued through the 5th and 6th tribal states in the IV century B.C. centuries, CE. 6 The monument of our National Hero Gjergj Kastrioti - Scanderbeg Tirana HISTORY In 1344 A.D., Albania was annexed by For more than 400 years Albania was under Serbia. Their control of the area was brief, Ottoman rule. Muslim citizens were favored though, as the Turks defeated the Serbians and were exempted from the Janissary in 1389. At this point, the Venetians system, which dictated that Christian controlled some coastal towns, but with households give up one of their sons to the Serbian defeat, the whole region convert to Islam and serve in the army. became vulnerable to Ottoman attack. Consequently many Albanians abandoned From 1443 to 1468, an Albanian nobleman their Christian faith and converted to Islam. named Skanderbeg (Gjergj Kastrioti), The subsequent insurrection efforts united warring Albanian princes and led eventually brought about the proclamation a resistance effort against the Turks from of the independence of Albania in 1912. his castle at Kruja. Skanderbeg won all King Zog

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