Albania 00/01 Welcome to Albania Albanian Alps - Thethi Albania is a land to be loved. In this small Mediterranean country, virgin nature and cultural mysteries combine to create a unique sense of place. From the crisp white snow of the mountains to the red fields of spring poppies, Albania’s landscape is ever-changing with the seasons, offering visitors to enjoy a warm summer beach holiday or a challenging mountain trek in the fall. In Albania, visitors are welcomed as guests as part of the country’s rich cultural traditions and heritage. The warm hospitality of the Albanians will make everyone feel at home in this small wonderful land. Come to Albania! We welcome you as our guest! www.albaniantourism.com & www.akt.gov.al Albanian Hospitality Known as the “Land of the Eagles” A few years later in 1933 the first National (“Shqipëria”) in Albanian, the country of Tourist Organization was established. Albania has a long history of tourism, dating After the Second World War in 1955 the back to the time of Emperor Justinian in ALBTURIST enterprise was established as the fifth century. The Emperor’s family was a state controlled company. In April 1992, known to vacation at Lin village on the Albania created its first Ministry of Tourism, shores of Lake Ohrid, just north which has varied over the years with different names. Today the Ministry also encompasses of Pogradec. Several other famous the sectors of culture, youth and sports. travelers have traveled to Albania The Albanian National Tourism Agency over the centuries: Lord Byron, (NTA) was established in September 2007 Edith Wharton, Rebecca West, by a special decision given by the Council amongst others. Many of them of Ministers and is part of the Ministry of left their impressions of Albania Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports. through their written works, Hospitality is just one of the reasons that describing in glittering terms tourists come and visit this small country. this “Land of the Eagles”. Within a small territory, Albanian nature The first tourist is amazing. The country is home to twelve association national parks, all of them with something in Albania was unique to offer. The Albanian coast offers established visitors an escape to calm, quiet waters as in 1928 as the almost the entire coast is sheltered from “Royal Tourist winds, making it a paradise for swimmers. Automotive Throughout the centuries Albania has been Club”. a contact point for numerous cultures, from the Illyrians to the Greeks, Romans, Venetians, Byzantines and Ottomans. Albania 02/03 Explore Albania with us! The country is located in the heart of the There are many forests rich for their flora Mediterranean and is sprawling along the and fauna, many large and small lakes, some seashores of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea. of which are unique in the Balkans for their Albania is an important gateway to the genre. The culture and history are impressive Balkan Peninsula, a junction of roads from and have a lot to offer to the tourists. Butrint, north to south and from west to east. It has is considered as one of the most magical the viability of reaching the major European archaeological sites. It is located in the south capitals within 2 or 3 hours of flight. The of Albania and is part of the UNESCO’s tourists, at their first cultural and visual world heritage program, apprized as one impact will notice an epic country, with a of the most imperial places on earth, full of very old culture, in which probably is spoken mythology and mystic atmosphere. The site one of the oldest languages of Europe. As a lies in the center of a real Mediterranean result of the geographical position, in Albania jungle, and it is built by an ancient Trojan there are traces of different civilizations and style. In the UNESCO’s world heritage list cultures Illyrian, Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine, there are other two Albanian cities prominent Norman, Slave, Ottoman, etc. for their specific and old architectural style, Kosova, Macedonia, Greece, Montenegro Berat and Gjirokastra. The country offers a and Italy through the Adriatic Sea surround whole complex of archaeological sites, Illyrian Albania’s borderland. Although a small area castles, medieval fortifications, Byzantine it offers a diverse nature. There are many churches and monasteries of the post- wonderful beaches, spectacular mountains Byzantine period. with various forms of snow, river valleys, large canyons, and many other surprises for visitors. www.albaniantourism.com & www.akt.gov.al Who are these Albanians? Nowadays Albania territories have been The Greeks arrived in Epidamos (today populated 100,000 years ago. At the beginning Durrës), Apollo and Butrint in the seventh of the third millennium BC, in the area it was century BC, settling there with self-governed established an Indo-European population. colonies. In the north with the expansion of As a result of the merge it was conceived a the Ardianai Kingdom, based in Shkodër, population that retained the characteristics of a new conflict with Rome started, which in specific cultural and language in the Balkan the year 229 BC culminated with Rome Peninsula (pelazgieas). Based in the older sending a fleet of 200 ships against Queen inhabitants, between Teuta. In 167 BC this war ended up with the second millennium the expansion of Roman Empire control all and the first century BC over the Balkans. The most important trade was founded route between Rome and Kostandinopoli Illyrian population. was Egnatia road, which passed through The Illyrians, the port of Durrës. With the division of the as the Greeks, Roman Empire (395 AC), Illyria fell into preserved their the occupation of the eastern empire, later language known as the Byzantine Empire. Three of the and traditions, first Byzantine emperors (Pari Anastasius I, regardless of Justin and I Justian) were of Illyrian origin. the Roman From 1443 until 1468, the Albanian resistance centaury under the command of Skanderbeg (Gjergj occupation. Kastrioti), won 25 battles against the Turks led by Sultan Fatih Mehmet the conqueror of Kostandinopoli who failed to invade the city of Kruja. Albania 04/05 After the death of Scanderbeg, it was a matter of time for the Ottomans to defeat the Albanian resistance, taking control of the country in 1479; 26 years later Kostandinopoli was occupied. For more than 400 years, Albania has been under the Ottoman regime. Muslim citizens were the favored by the system, which excluded them from the Janisari. A tax that required every Christian family to provide one their sons, converted to Islam to serve the Ottoman army. As a result, many Albanians converted to Islam but always breeding harmony and religious The self-support system used by the tolerance. Numerous efforts and rebellions communist regime banned Albania from for independence brought to the declaration foreign investments, leaving the people in of the independence in November 1912. From great economic poverty until 1991. This year 1912 until the end of the First World War, was the time when Albania eventually the country became prey by the attacks of the emerged from isolation. From 1991 to 1997, neighboring states. the Democratic Party governed the country, Mussolini Italian fascist’s but as consequence of the failure of pyramid occupied the country schemes, in 1997 the coalition of the Socialist in 1939, ending the Party took power until 2005. After the last Ahmet Zogu monarchy elections, on 3 July 2005, the coalition of the that lasted 11 years. Democratic Party took power again. In 1943, Hitler’s forces Albania is a member of the NATO alliance occupied the country. now and is actually involved in a series of The resistance to foreign processes and reforms aimed at economic attacks is known as the growth and the country’s admission into Anti Fascist National the European Community. Liberation Front. In November 1944 when the German troops of the Third Reich left the country the Communist Party came to power. Shortly after, the totalitarian regime was established under the leadership of the communist leader Enver Hoxha. Around 50 years of this regime of isolation policy was applied. www.albaniantourism.com & www.akt.gov.al Mother Eliza Teresa Dushku Stan Dragoti Ismail Inva Ibrahim Kadare Mula Kodra Jim Belushi Ferid Angelin Murati Preljocaj Albanians: the Great and the Good These are some of the most prominent Albanians in the international arena, but there are many others with conspicuous success in present times. Most importantly, these sons and daughters of a small country like Albania confirm the vitality and the verve theses people hold, by listing us proudly in the big human terrestrial family. Albania 06/07 Albanians today of the contemporary choreography, is the The sage, the humanity and the geniality of Paris Opera House ballet maestro, Angjelin this small nation is revealed, and signified Prelocaj, whose works stand alongside the in many outstanding figures, who proudly works of the Great Nurejev. Born in 1957 of have unfold their extraordinary work in the Albanian parents who had immigrated to international arena, helping the development Paris, he began his career by studying classical and global prosperity, peace, art and culture, dance before turning to contemporary dance. science and medicine worldwide. He has received many prestigious prizes, The country is home of the great figure of among them the “Chevalier dee L’Ordre the humanity, Mother Teresa of Calcutta National des Arts et des Lettres”. whose maiden name is Gonxhe Bojaxhi, her parents were both Albanians and many other personalities. Her activities in humanitarian assistance to people in need, poor and victimized by wars, are unprecedented, transforming her in the image of a saint for the whole humanity.