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Tirana

January 05, 2023

Tirana[c] (/tɪˈrɑːnə/ (listen) tih-RAH-nə,[8][9] Albanian pronunciation: [tiˈɾana]; Gheg Albanian: Tirona) 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.[10][11]

Tirana
Municipality and city
Flag
Seal
Tirana
Tirana
Tirana
Coordinates: 41°19′44″N 19°49′04″E / 41.32889°N 19.81778°E / 41.32889; 19.81778
CountryAlbania
RegionCentral Albania
CountyTirana
MunicipalityTirana
Settled1614
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • MayorErion Veliaj[1] (PS)
 • CouncilTirana Municipal Council
 • ChairmanToni Gogu[2]
Area
[3][4]
 • Municipality and city1,110 km2 (430 sq mi)
 • Metro
1,652 km2 (638 sq mi)
 • Unit41.8 km2 (16.1 sq mi)
Elevation
110 m (360 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Metro
912,190
 • Municipality
557,422[a]
 • Municipality density502/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
 • Unit
418,495[b]
Demonym(s)Albanian: Tiranas(e)
Tirana dialect: Tirons(e)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code(s)
1000
Area code(s)+355 (0) 4
AirportTirana International Airport
Motorways
Highways
Vehicle registrationTR
Websitetirana.al

Tirana, athough was always inhitated as area (Tyranna) was registered as a city in 1614 by the Ottoman Albanian general Sylejman Pasha Bargjini and flourished by then around the Old Mosque and the türbe. The area that today corresponds to the city's territory has been continuously inhabited since the Iron Age. It was inhabited by Illyrians, and was most likely the core of the Illyrian Kingdom of the Taulantii, which in Classical Antiquity was centred in the hinterland of Epidamnus. Following the Illyrian Wars it was annexed by Rome and became an integral part of the Roman Empire. The heritage of that period is still evident and represented by the Mosaics of Tirana. Later, in the 5th and 6th centuries, an Early Christian basilica was built around this site.

After the Roman Empire split into East and West in the 4th century, its successor the Byzantine Empire took control over most of Albania, and rebuilt the Tirana Castel in the reign of Justinian I. The city in the 20th century was proclaimed as Albania's capital, after the Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912.

Classified as a gamma-world-city, Tirana is the most important economic, financial, political and trade centre in Albania due to its significant location in the centre of the country and its modern air, maritime, rail and road transportation.[12] It is the seat of power of the Government of Albania, with the official residences of the President and Prime Minister of Albania, and the Parliament of Albania. The city was announced as the European Youth Capital for 2022.

History

See also: Timeline of Tirana

Early development

 
The mosaics of an Ancient Roman house from the 3rd century AD

The area of Tirana has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times with the earliest recognised reference found at the Cave of Pëllumbas belonging to the Palaeolithic period. Illyrians were the first population of the area and formed most likely the core of the Illyrian kingdom of the Taulantii, which in classical antiquity was centered in the hinterland of Epidamnus.[13] When the Romans arrived in Illyria after their victory of the Illyrian Wars, they populated and integrated the area into their empire under the political control of the city of Rome. The oldest surviving discovery from this period is a Roman house dating to the 3rd century, which was transformed into an aisleless church with a mosaic floor. A castle, possibly known as Tirkan, was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I between the 4th and 6th century and later restored by Ahmed Pasha Toptani in the 18th century.[14]

 
Castle of Petrelë was founded in the 6th century by Justinian I.

Tirana is mentioned in Venetian documents in 1418, one year after the Ottoman conquest of the area: "...the resident Pjeter, son of late Domenik from the village of Tirana...".[15] Records of the first land registrations under the Ottomans in 1431–32 show that Tirana consisted of 60 inhabited areas, with nearly 2,028 houses and 7,300 inhabitants.[citation needed] In 1510, Marin Barleti, an Albanian Catholic priest and scholar, in the biography of the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg, Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis (The story of life and deeds of Skanderbeg, the prince of Epirotes), referred to this area as a small village, distinguishing between "Little Tirana" and "Great Tirana".[15] It is later mentioned in 1572 as Borgo di Tirana.[16]

According to Hahn, the settlement had already started to develop as a bazaar and included several watermills,[17] even before 1614, when Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler, built the Old Mosque, a small commercial centre, and a hammam (Turkish bath). This is confirmed by oral sources, which state that there were two earlier mosques 300–400 m from the Old Mosque, towards today's Ali Demi Street. The Mosque of Reç and the Mosque of Mujo were positioned on the left side of the Lana river and were older than the Old Mosque.[17] Later, the Et'hem Bey Mosque, built by Molla Bey of Petrela, was constructed. It employed the best artisans in the country and was completed in 1821 by Molla's son Etëhem, who was also Sulejman Bargjini's great-nephew.

In 1800, the first newcomers arrived in the settlement[clarification needed], the so-called ortodoksit. They were Aromanians from villages near Korçë and Pogradec, who settled around modern day Tirana Park on the Artificial Lake.[18] They started to be known as the llacifac and were the first Christians to arrive after the creation of the town.[19] In 1807, Tirana became the centre of the Subprefecture of Krujë-Tirana.[citation needed] After 1816, Tirana languished under the control of the Toptani family of Krujë.[citation needed] Later, Tirana became a sub-prefecture of the newly created Vilayet of Shkodër and the Sanjak of Durrës. In 1889, the Albanian language started to be taught in Tirana's schools,[citation needed] and the patriotic club Bashkimi was founded in 1908.

 
The Old Bazaar at the turn of the 20th century

Modern development

On 28 November 1912, the national flag was raised in Vlorë by President Ismail Qemali, marking the symbolic birth of Albania as a sovereign country. The next years, however, were marked by turmoil. During the Balkan Wars, Tirana was temporarily occupied by the Serbian army and it took part in uprising of the villages led by Haxhi Qamili. In August 1916, the first city map was compiled by the specialists of the Austro-Hungarian army.[20] Following the capture of the town of Debar by Serbia, many of its Albanian inhabitants fled to Turkey, the rest went to Tirana.[21] Of those that ended up in Istanbul, some of their number migrated to Albania, mainly to Tirana where the Dibran community formed an important segment of the city's population from 1920 onward and for some years thereafter.[21] On 8 February 1920, the Congress of Lushnjë proclaimed Tirana as the temporary capital of Albania, which had gained independence in 1912.[22] The city acquired that status permanently on 31 December 1925. In 1923, the first regulatory city plan was compiled by Austrian architects.[23] The centre of Tirana was the project of Florestano Di Fausto and Armando Brasini, well-known architects of the Mussolini period in Italy. Brasini laid the basis for the modern-day arrangement of the ministerial buildings in the city centre. The plan underwent revisions by Albanian architect Eshref Frashëri, Italian architect Castellani and Austrian architects Weiss and Kohler.[citation needed] The modern Albanian parliament building served as an officers' club. It was there that, in September 1928, Zog of Albania was crowned King Zog I, King of the Albanians.

 
Old villa architecture in Tirana

Tirana was the venue for the signing of the Pact of Tirana between Fascist Italy and Albania. During the rule of King Zog a lot of Muhaxhirs emigrated towards Tirana, which lead to a growing population in the capital city in the early 20th century.[24]

In 1939, Tirana was captured by Fascist forces, who appointed a puppet government. In the meantime, Italian architect Gherardo Bosio was asked to elaborate on previous plans and introduce a new project in the area of present-day Mother Teresa Square.[25] A failed assassination attempt was made on Victor Emmanuel III of Italy by a local resistance activist during a visit to Tirana. In November 1941, two emissaries of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (KPJ), Miladin Popović and Dušan Mugoša, called a meeting of three Albanian communist groups[citation needed] and founded the Communist Party of Albania, and Enver Hoxha soon emerged as its leader.

The town soon became the centre of the Albanian communists, who mobilised locals against Italian fascists and later Nazi Germans, while spreading ideological propaganda. On 4 February 1944, the Gestapo, supported by the forces of Xhafer Deva, executed 86 anti-fascists in Tirana.[26] On 17 November 1944, the town was liberated after a fierce battle between the Communists and German forces.[citation needed] The Nazis eventually withdrew and the communists seized power.

 
The Skanderbeg Square in 1988, two years prior to the Fall of communism in Albania

From 1944 to 1991, massive socialist-style apartment complexes and factories were built, while Skanderbeg Square was redesigned, with a number of buildings demolished. For instance, Tirana's former Old Bazaar and the Orthodox Cathedral were razed to the ground in order to build the Soviet-styled Palace of Culture. The northern portion of the main boulevard was renamed Stalin Boulevard and his statue was erected in the city square. Because private car ownership was banned, mass transportation consisted mainly of bicycles, trucks and buses. After Hoxha's death, a pyramidal museum was constructed in his memory by the government.[citation needed]

Before and after the proclamation of Albania's policy of self-imposed isolationism, a number of high-profile figures paid visits to the city, such as Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and East German Foreign Minister Oskar Fischer. In 1985, Enver Hoxha's funeral was held in Tirana.[27] A few years later, Mother Teresa became the first religious figure[28] to visit the country after the end of Albania's long anti-religious atheist stance. She paid respects to her mother and sister resting at a local cemetery.

 
Tirana's main boulevard in 1991

Starting at the campus and ending at Skanderbeg Square with the toppling of Enver Hoxha's statue, the city saw significant demonstrations by University of Tirana students demanding political freedoms in the early 1990s. On the political aspect, the city witnessed a number of events. Personalities visited the capital, such as former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker and Pope John Paul II. The former visit came amidst the historical setting after the fall of communism, as hundreds of thousands were chanting in Skanderbeg Square Baker's famous saying of "Freedom works!".[29] Pope John Paul II became the first major religious leader to visit Tirana, though Mother Teresa had visited few years prior.

During the Balkans turmoil in the mid-1990s, the city experienced dramatic events such as the unfolding of the 1997 unrest in Albania and a failed coup d'état on 14 September 1998.

In 1999, following the Kosovo War, Tirana Airport became a NATO airbase, serving its mission in the former Yugoslavia.

Contemporary

See also: 2018–2019 student protest in Albania
Further information: 2019 Albania earthquake
 
The Mustafa Matohiti Street near the Pyramid of Tirana. Consequently, after the fall of communism in Albania, a dramatic growth of new developments has taken place, with many new exclusive flats and apartments and other structures.

During his term from 2000 to 2011, the former mayor of Tirana, Edi Rama, undertook a campaign to demolish illegal constructed buildings across Tirana as well as along the river banks of Lanë to bring the area to its pre-1990 state. In an attempt to widen roads, Rama authorized the bulldozing of private properties so that they could be paved over, thus widening streets. Most main roads underwent reconstruction, including the Unaza, Rruga e Kavajës and the main boulevard. Rama also led the initiative to paint the façades of Tirana's buildings in bright colours, although much of their interiors continued to degrade. Rama's critics claimed that he focused too much attention on cosmetic changes without fixing any of the major problems such as shortages of drinking water and electricity.[30][31]

In June 2007, George W. Bush traveled to Tirana on an official state visit becoming the first U.S. President to visit the former communist country.[32][33] In 2008, the Gërdec explosions were felt in the capital as windows were shattered and citizens shaken. In January 2011, the Albanian opposition demonstrations were triggered in front of the governmental buildings in Tirana protesting against political corruption and state capture, particularly associated with the former prime minister Sali Berisha's government.[34] In September 2014, Pope Francis made an official state visit to Tirana simultaneously becoming the second pontiff to visit Albania, after Pope John Paul II in 1992.[35][36]

Following the municipal elections of 2015, power was transferred from the Democratic Party representative Lulzim Basha to the Socialist Party candidate Erion Veliaj.[37] Albania then underwent a territorial reform, in which defunct communes were merged with municipalities.[38] Thirteen of Tirana's former communes were integrated as administrative units joining the existing eleven.[39] Since then, Tirana is undergoing significant changes in infrastructure, law enforcement and new projects, as well as continuing the ones started by Veliaj's predecessor. In their first few council meetings, 242 social houses got allocated to families in need.[40] Construction permits were suspended until the capital's development plan is revised and synthesized.[39]

Between December 2018 and February 2019, a series of demonstrations erupted in the central areas of Tirana and other cities of the country in response to a controversial law on higher education, poor quality of teaching, high tuition rates and corruption.[41][42][43] In September 2019, Tirana was ravaged by a 5.6 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter located near Durrës.[44][45][46] Two months after, in November 2019, another strong earthquake with the magnitude of 6.4 hit the region again resulting comparatively few damages in Tirana.[47] The same month, Tirana was announced as the European Youth Capital for 2022 with a planned program including events of cultural and social importance.[48]

Geography

 
View of Tirana Metropolitan Area

Tirana extends at the Plain of Tirana in the centre of Albania between the mount of Dajti in the east, the hills of Kërrabe, Sauk and Vaqarr in the south, and a valley to the north overlooking the Adriatic Sea. The average altitude is about 110 meters (360 ft) above sea level, with a maximum of 1,828 metres (5,997 feet) at Maja Mincekut of Mali me Gropa in Shenmeri.[49]

The city is surrounded by two important protected areas: the Dajti National Park and Mali me Gropa-Bizë-Martanesh Protected Landscape. In winter, the mountains are often covered with snow and are a popular retreat for the population of Tirana, which rarely receives snowfalls. In terms of biodiversity, the forests are mainly composed of pine, oak and beech, while its interior relief[clarification needed] is dotted with canyons, waterfalls, caves, lakes and other landforms.[50] Thanks to its natural heritage, it is considered the "Natural Balcony of Tirana". The mountain can be reached by a narrow asphalt mountain road onto an area known as Fusha e Dajtit. From this small area there is an excellent view of Tirana and its plain.

Tiranë river flows through the city, as does the Lanë river. Tirana is home to several artificial lakes, including Tirana, Farka, Tufina, and Kashar. The present municipality was formed in the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities of Baldushk, Bërzhitë, Dajt, Farkë, Kashar, Krrabë, Ndroq, Petrelë, Pezë, Shëngjergj, Tirana, Vaqarr, Zall-Bastar and Zall-Herr, which became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the city of Tirana.[6]

Climate

 
Snow at the Dajti National Park. It generally melts quickly in the region.[51]

Tirana has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) according to the Köppen climate classification and receives enough precipitation during summer to avoid the Mediterranean climate (Csa) classification.

The average precipitation in Tirana is about 1,266 millimetres (49.8 inches) per year. The city receives the majority of precipitation in winter months, which occurs from November to March, and less in summer months, from June to September. In terms of precipitation, both rain and snow, the city is ranked among the wettest cities in the European Continent.[11]

Temperatures vary throughout the year from an average of 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) in January to 24 °C (75 °F) in July. Springs and summers are very warm to hot often reaching over 20 °C (68 °F) from May to September. During autumn and winter, from November to March, the average temperature drops and is not lower than 6.7 °C (44.1 °F). The city receives approximately 2500 hours of sun.[52]

Climate data for Tirana (7)[d] 1961-1990 normals and extremes 1940-present[e]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 21.3
(70.3) 		28.0
(82.4) 		30.3
(86.5) 		32.6
(90.7) 		35.9
(96.6) 		39.7
(103.5) 		42.2
(108.0) 		41.4
(106.5) 		39.7
(103.5) 		36.1
(97.0) 		31.3
(88.3) 		22.5
(72.5) 		42.2
(108.0)
Average high °C (°F) 11.6
(52.9) 		12.9
(55.2) 		15.6
(60.1) 		19.0
(66.2) 		23.8
(74.8) 		27.7
(81.9) 		30.7
(87.3) 		30.7
(87.3) 		27.3
(81.1) 		21.8
(71.2) 		17.1
(62.8) 		13.0
(55.4) 		21.0
(69.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.7
(44.1) 		7.8
(46.0) 		10.0
(50.0) 		13.4
(56.1) 		18.0
(64.4) 		21.6
(70.9) 		24.0
(75.2) 		23.8
(74.8) 		20.7
(69.3) 		16.0
(60.8) 		11.7
(53.1) 		8.1
(46.6) 		15.2
(59.4)
Average low °C (°F) 1.8
(35.2) 		2.6
(36.7) 		4.5
(40.1) 		7.9
(46.2) 		12.1
(53.8) 		15.6
(60.1) 		17.2
(63.0) 		16.9
(62.4) 		14.1
(57.4) 		10.1
(50.2) 		6.3
(43.3) 		3.2
(37.8) 		9.4
(48.9)
Record low °C (°F) −10.4
(13.3) 		−9.4
(15.1) 		−7.0
(19.4) 		−1.0
(30.2) 		2.5
(36.5) 		5.6
(42.1) 		4.2
(39.6) 		10.0
(50.0) 		3.8
(38.8) 		−1.3
(29.7) 		−4.3
(24.3) 		−6.9
(19.6) 		−10.4
(13.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 143
(5.6) 		132
(5.2) 		115
(4.5) 		104
(4.1) 		103
(4.1) 		68
(2.7) 		42
(1.7) 		46
(1.8) 		78
(3.1) 		114
(4.5) 		172
(6.8) 		148
(5.8) 		1,266
(49.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 13 13 14 13 12 7 5 4 6 9 16 16 128
Average relative humidity (%) 74 73 69 72 68 69 62 64 71 70 76 79 71
Mean monthly sunshine hours 124 125 165 191 263 298 354 327 264 218 127 88 2,544
Average ultraviolet index 2 2 4 6 8 9 9 8 6 4 2 1 5
Source: DWD,[53][54][f] Meteo Climat (record highs and lows),[55] NOAA (some records, rain and snow days)[56] and Weather Atlas[57]

Urbanism

 
The artificial lake of Tirana built from local waters in 1955

In September 2015, Tirana organized its first vehicle-free day, joining forces with numerous cities across the globe to fight against the existing problem of urban air pollution. This initiative resulted in a considerable drop in both air and noise pollution, encouraging the Municipality to organise a vehicle-free day every month.[58][59]

The city suffers from problems related to overpopulation,[60] such as waste management, high levels of air pollution and significant noise pollution. Over the last decades, air pollution has become a pressing concern as the number of cars has increased. These are mostly 1990s and early 2000s diesel cars,[61] while it is widely believed that the fuel used in Albania contains larger amounts of sulfur and lead than in the European Union. Effective 1 January 2019, the government has imposed an import ban of used vehicles made prior to 2005 in an effort to curb pollution, encourage the buying of new cars from certified domestic dealerships, and to improve overall road safety. Another source of pollution are PM10 and PM2.5 inhaled particulate matter and NO2 gases[62][63] resulting from rapid growth in the construction of new buildings and expanding road infrastructure.[64]

Untreated solid waste is present in the city and outskirts. Additionally, there have been complaints of excessive noise pollution. Despite the problems, the Grand Park at the Artificial Lake has some effect on absorbing CO2 emissions, while over 2.000 trees have been planted around sidewalks.

Works for four new large parks have started in the summer of 2015 located in Kashar, Farkë, Vaqarr, and Dajt. These parks are part of the new urban plan striving to increase the concentration of green spaces in the capital.[65] The government has included designated green areas around Tirana as part of the Tirana Greenbelt where construction is not permitted or limited.[66][67]

Politics

Administration

Main article: Units of Tirana
See also: Neighborhoods of Tirana
Further information: Mayor of Tirana

The municipality of Tirana is encompassed in the County of Tirana within the Central Region of Albania and consists of the rural administrative units of Baldushk, Bërzhitë, Dajt, Farkë, Kashar, Krrabë, Ndroq, Petrelë, Pezë, Shëngjergj, Vaqarr, Zall-Bastar, Zall-Herr and Tirana.[68][69] The administrative unit of Tirana is further partitioned into eleven urban administrative units, namely Tirana 1, Tirana 2, Tirana 3, Tirana 4, Tirana 5, Tirana 6, Tirana 7, Tirana 8, Tirana 9, Tirana 10 and Tirana 11.[68]

The Mayor of Tirana along with the Cabinet of Tirana exercises executive power. The Assembly of Tirana functions as the city parliament and consists of 55 members, serving four-year terms. It primarily deals with budget, global orientations and relations between the city and the Government of Albania. It has 14 committees and its chairman is Aldrin Dalipi from the Socialist Party. Each of the members have a specific portfolio such as economy, finance, juridical, education, health care, and several professional services, agencies and institutes.

In 2000, the centre of Tirana from the central campus of University of Tirana in the Mother Teresa Square up to the Skanderbeg Square, was declared the place of Cultural Assembly, and given state protection. The historical core of the capital lies around pedestrian only Murat Toptani Street, while the most prominent city district is Blloku. In 2010, the municipality undertook the installing of street name signs and entrance numbers while every apartment entrance was physically stamped.[70]

National capital

 
The Kryeministria at the Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard is the official office of the Prime Minister of Albania.

Tirana is the capital city of the Republic of Albania thus playing an essential role in shaping the political and economic life of the country.[71] It is the home to government functions and institutions for which the government of Albania is responsible, as for instance the executive, juridical and legislative branches of Albania.

The President and Prime Minister of Albania officially reside and work in Tirana specifically at the Presidenca and Kryeministria, respectively, nevertheless the Parliament of Albania is headquartered at the Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard.[72][73][74] Tirana is also the home to the national Constitutional Court and Supreme Court. Important national institutions housed in Tirana include the Appeal Court and Administrative Court.

The Bank of Albania is located at the Skanderbeg Square while other institutions such as the ministries of Culture, Defence, Education, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Health, Infrastructure, Internal Affairs, Justice and Tourism are spread over Tirana. The city is also the home to all the consulates and embassies in Albania, thereby making it an important centre for international diplomacy in the country.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Albania

Tirana is a founding member of the Union of Albanian Municipalities in the Region.[75][76] Tirana is twinned with Ankara, Beijing, Bursa, Doha, Florence, Kharkiv, Sarajevo and has signed partnership agreements with Verona and Zagreb.[g][84][85] It has also signed special bilateral agreements with Zaragoza.[86]

Economy

Tirana is the heart of the economy of Albania and the most industrialised and economically fastest growing region in Albania. Of the main sectors, the tertiary sector is the most important for the economy of Tirana and employs more than 68% of work force of Tirana.[87] 26% of the working population makes up the secondary sector followed by the primary sector with only 5%.[87]

The city began to develop at the beginning of the 16th century as it was part of the Ottoman Empire, when a bazaar was established, and its craftsmen manufactured silk and cotton fabrics, leather, ceramics and iron, silver and gold artefacts.[88] In the 20th century, the city and its surrounding areas expanded rapidly and became the most heavily industrialised region of the country.

The most significant contribution is made by the tertiary sector which has developed considerably since the fall of communism in Albania. Forming the financial centre of the country, the financial industry is a major component of the city's tertiary sector and remains in good conditions overall due to privatization and the commendable monetary policy.[89] All of the most important financial institutions, such as the Bank of Albania and the Albanian Stock Exchange are centred in Tirana as well as most of the banking companies such as the Banka Kombëtare Tregtare, Raiffeisen Bank, Credins Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo Bank and Tirana Bank.

 
Maritim Plaza Tirana is in the centre of Tirana.

The telecommunication industry represents another major and growing contributor to the sector.[90] A rapid development occurred as well as after the end of communism and decades of isolationism mainly due to the new national policy of reform and opening up sped up the industry's development. Vodafone, Telekom Albania and Eagle are the leading telecommunication providers in Tirana, as in all the country.

The tourism industry of the city has expanded in recent years to become a vital component of the economy.[91] Tirana has been officially dubbed as 'The Place Beyond Belief' by local authorities.[92] The increasing number of international arrivals at the Tirana International Airport and Port of Durrës from across Europe, Australia and Asia has rapidly grown the number of foreign visitors in the city.[93][94]

The largest hotels of the city are the Tirana International Hotel, Maritim Plaza Tirana both situated in the heart of the city near Scanderbeg Square, and the Hyatt-owned luxury Mak Hotel Tirana[95] located next to the Air Albania Stadium, where Mariott Tirana Hotel is also planned to open.[96] Other major hotels present in central Tirana include the Rogner Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn Tirana, Xheko Imperial Hotel, Best Western Premier Ark Hotel, and Mondial Hotel.

Infrastructure

Transport

Tirana is served by Nënë Tereza International Airport, which is simultaneously the premier air gateway to the country. The airport was officially named in honour of the Albanian Roman Catholic nun and missionary, Mother Teresa. It connects Tirana with many destinations in different countries across Europe, Africa and Asia. The airport carried more than 3.3 million passengers in 2019 and is also the principal hub for the country's flag carrier, Air Albania.[97]

The city's geographical location in the centre of Albania has long established the city as an integral terminus for the national road transportation, thus connecting the city to all parts of Albania and the neighbouring countries.[98] The Rruga Shtetërore 1 (SH1) connects Tirana with Shkodër and Montenegro in the north, and constitutes an essential section of the proposed Adriatic–Ionian motorway. The Rruga Shtetërore 2 (SH2) continues in the west and provides direct connection to Durrës on the Adriatic Sea. The Rruga Shtetërore 3 (SH3) is being transformed to the Autostrada 3 (A3) and follows the ancient Via Egnatia. It significantly constitutes a major section of the Pan-European Corridor VIII and links the city with Elbasan, Korçë and Greece in the south. Tirana is further connected, through the Milot interchange in the northwest, with Kosovo following as part of the Autostrada 1 (A1).

 
An Ecovolis station near the Mother Teresa Square

During the communist regime in Albania, a plan for the construction of a ring road around Tirana arose in 1989s with no implementation until the 2010s.[99] It is of major importance, especially concerning the demographic growth of the metropolitan region of Tirana as well as the importance of the economy. Although, constructions for the nowadays completed southern section of the ring road started in 2011, however, the northern and eastern sections are still in the planning process.[100]

 
The Rruga Shtetërore 2 (SH2) connecting Tirana with Durrës

Rail lines of Hekurudha Shqiptare (HSH) connected Tirana with all of the major cities of Albania, including Durrës, Shkodër and Vlorë. In 2013, the Tirana Railway Station was closed and moved to Kashar by the government of Tirana in order to create space for the Bulevardi i Ri project.[101] The new Tirana Station will be constructed in Laprakë, which is projected to be a multifunctional terminal for rail, tram and bus transportation.[102][103] Furthermore, a new rail line from Tirana through Nënë Tereza International Airport to Durrës is planned to be constructed.[104][105]

In 2012, Tirana municipality published a report according to which a project on the construction of two tram lines was under evaluation. The tram lines would have a total length of 16.7 kilometres (10.4 miles). The public transport in Tirana is, for now, focused only in the city centre, so that the people living in the suburbs have fewer or no public transport connections.

Under the plan, the two tram lines will intersect in the Skanderbeg Square. The public transport system in Tirana is ten bus lines served by 250 to 260 buses every day.

During the administration of mayor Erion Veliaj, the government of Tirana has significantly increased the creation and expansion of a cycling infrastructure in the city in order to reduce traffic congestion as well as to improve the sustainable transportation.[106][107][108] Ecovolis was launched in 2011 offering rental services for bicycles at different centrally located stations for a small fee.[109][110] The international bicycle sharing system, Mobike, launched its operations on 8 June 2018 by deploying 4000 bicycles in the city.[111][112]

Education

Tirana has the highest concentration of institutions of tertiary education in Albania, consisting of numerous academies, colleges and universities. Most prominent among these is the University of Tirana with campuses around the city and more than 28,000 students from all backgrounds.[113] The Polytechnic University of Tirana is another distinguished institution and also the most renowned engineering and technical university in the country. The four other public institutions in Tirana are the University of Arts, University of Agriculture, University of Medicine and University of Sports.[113]

The educational system of Tirana has expanded substantially over the past years with the renovations of existing school facilities and the construction of new schools.[114][115] For primary and secondary education, a variety of schools are available, tagged with the public, private and international labels. Few of the major international schools are the Tirana International School, Albanian International School, British School, Montessori School, Memorial Schooland and World Academy. Also of noteworthy mention is the public primary and secondary Servete Maçi School, which received international recognition as it won an award at the 2020 International Architecture Awards.[116]

Health

There are numerous public and private hospitals as well as smaller public and private health care facilities in the territory of Tirana. The Mother Teresa University Hospital is one of the largest medical tertiary institutions of the country. Other medical institutions include the Shefqet Ndroqi University Hospital, Koço Gliozheni Hospital, Mbretëresha Gjeraldinë Hospital and the Military Hospital.

Demography

Population growth of Tirana in selected periods
Year 1703 1820 1923 1937 1955 1989 2001 2012
Pop.4,00012,00010,84535,000108,200324,532430,407557,422
±% p.a.—    +0.94%−0.10%+8.73%+6.47%+3.28%+2.38%+2.38%
Source: [117][118][119][120][121]

The Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) estimated the population of the municipality of Tirana at 418,495 in 2011.[7] With a population density of 502 people per square kilometre, Tirana is the most densely populated municipality in the country.[3] The encompassing metropolitan area, consisting of the regions of Durrës and Tirana, has a combined population of approximately 1 million amounting to nearly one third of the country's total population.[122]

Historically, Tirana has experienced a steady population increase in the past years, especially after the fall of communism in the late twentieth century as well as the beginnings of the twenty-first century. The remarkable growth was, and still is, largely fueled by migrants from all over the country often in search of employment and improved living conditions. Between 1820 and 1955, the population of Tirana tenfolded while during the period from 1989 to 2011, the city's population grew annually by approximately 2.7%. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the city had a rate of growth less than 1% annually until the 1970s, then down to less than 8% per year until the middle 20th century figures.[123]

Religion in Tirana [124]
Islam
 
 55.7%
Orthodoxy
 
 6.4%
Catholicism
 
 5.4%
Bektashism
 
 3.4%
Other (mostly undeclared and non-religious)
 
 29.1%

Tirana's population is composed by a mixture of different cultural and ethnic groups from Southern Europe. The most represented ethnicities are Albanians (84.10%), Greeks (0.35%), Aromanians (0.11%), Macedonians (0.07%) and Italians (0.03%).[125]

In Albania, a secular state with no state religion, the freedom of belief, conscience and religion is explicitly guaranteed in the constitution of Albania.[126][127] Tirana is religiously diverse and has many places of worship catering to its religious population whom are adherents of Islam, Christianity and Judaism but also of Atheism and Agnosticism. They all maintain their Albanian headquarters spread across the territory of Tirana. Nevertheless, the Bektashi Order leadership established their world centre also in the city.

In the 2011 census, 55.7% of the population of the municipality of Tirana was counted as Muslim, 3.4% as Bektashis and 11.8% as Christian including 5.4% as Roman Catholic and 6.4% as Eastern Orthodox.[128] The remaining 29.1% of the population reported having no religion or did not provide an adequate answer. The census of 2011 did not included specific municipality level data for other religious groups. The Roman Catholic Church is represented in Tirana by the Archdiocese of Tiranë and Durrës, with the St Paul's Cathedral as the seat of the prelacy. The Albanian Orthodox community is served by the Archbishop of Tirana in the Resurrection Cathedral.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Tirana
 
Panorama of The Albanians History mosaic above the entrance of the National Museum of History

Tirana offers a blend of traditional and modern lifestyle with a variety of arts, food, entertainment, music and night life. Its population celebrates a wide range of religious and other festivals including Christmas, Eid, Hanukkah and Nowruz. Another festival is Dita e Verës taking place every year on 14 March, during which the Albanians celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of spring.

Among the local institutions are the National Library, that keeps more than a million books, periodicals, maps, atlases, microfilms and other library materials. The city has five well-preserved traditional houses (museum-houses), 56 cultural monuments, eight public libraries.[129]

There are many domestic and foreign cultural institutions in Tirana, amongst them the British Council, Canadian Institute of Technology as well as the German Goethe-Institut and Friedrich Ebert Foundation.[130][131][132][133] Other cultural institutions include the Chinese Confucius Institute, Greek Hellenic Foundation for Culture, Italian Istituto Italiano di Cultura and the French Alliance Française.[134][135][136][137]

Architecture

 
The Toptani house from the 18th century

Tirana is home to a mixture of architectural styles reflecting the influential periods in its history. Its current appearance was considerably shaped by two totalitarian regimes, once by the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini during the Second World War and the regime of Enver Hoxha in the aftermath. The Palace of Brigades, 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.

 
Florestano Di Fausto and Armando Brasini designed the city plan for Tirana in Neo-Renaissance style with articulate angular solutions and giant order fascias.

In the 20th century, 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's army brigade.[138]

In the 21st century, Tirana turned into a proper modernist city, with large blocks of flats, modern new buildings, new shopping centres and many green spaces. In June 2016, the Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj and the Italian architect Stefano Boeri announced the start of the works for the redaction of the Master Plan Tirana 2030.[citation needed]

 
The entrance of the Grand Park of Tirana

Tirana is a densely-built area and still offers several public parks throughout its districts, graced with green gardens. The Grand Park is the most important green space in Tirana. It is one of most visited areas by local citizens.[139] The park includes many children's playgrounds, sport facilities and landmarks such as the Saint Procopius Church, the Presidential Palace, the Botanical Gardens, the Tirana Zoo, the Amphitheatre, the Monument of the Frashëri Brothers and many others.

The Rinia Park was built during the Communist regime in Albania. It bordered by Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard to the east, Gjergi Fishta Boulevard and Bajram Curri Boulevard to the south, Rruga Ibrahim Rugova to the west and Rruga Myslym Shyri to the north. The Taivani Centre is the main landmark in the park and houses cafés, restaurants, fountains, and a bowling lane in the basement. The Summer Festival takes place every year in the park, to celebrate the end of winter and the rebirth of nature and a rejuvenation of spirit amongst the Albanians.

As of the Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj, the Municipality of Tirana will build more green spaces and will plant more trees.[140]

Museums

Further information: Museums in Tirana

As one of the cultural centres of the country, Tirana is the home to a number of museums dedicated to a wide array of arts. The National Museum of History is located at the Skanderbeg Square and the most representative museum of Tirana.[141] The mosaic above the entrance is the most dominant feature of the museum displaying the story of how the Albanian people have fought against invasion and occupation throughout history.

Founded in 1948, the National Museum of Archaeology at the Mother Teresa Square displays a wide collection of research and discoveries belonging to the archaeological locations around Albania.[142] It exhibits span from prehistory through antiquity and the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, offering an overview of the country's historical diversity.

 
The Cloud Pavilion outside the National Art Gallery installed by Japanese artist Sou Fujimoto[143]

The National Art Gallery is considered the most important gallery in Albania housing one of the greatest collections of paintings in the region.[144] Located at the Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard, it holds approximately 4.500 works of art including the most important collection of Albanian art of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The Bunk'art Museum consists of two underground bunkers in Tirana built under the orders and direction of Enver Hoxha during the communist regime in the country. Located at the Fadil Deliu Street and Abdi Toptani Street respectively, the bunkers have been transformed into a history museum and contemporary art gallery with exhibits from the Second World War and Cold War.[145][146]

The Museum of Secret Surveillance was founded in 2017 and is housed within a twentieth century mansion, the building known as the House of Leaves, near the Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard.[147] It commemorates and honours the victims who fell to the communist terrorism and violence during the communist period in Albania. Other museums include the Natural Sciences Museum, which has branches in zoology, botany and geology, the former Enver Hoxha Museum and the Bunk'art Museum.

The Bektashi Museum was opened at the World Headquarters of the Bektashi on 7 September 2015. The museum contains exhibits relating to Bektashi history and leadership.[148]

Cuisine

As in other parts of Albania, agricultural traditions are of great significance to the Albanians in Tirana, substantially appreciated for the production of food such as cheese, olives and wine. In 2016, Albania surpassed Spain by becoming the country with the most coffee houses per capita in the world with 654 coffee houses per 100,000 inhabitants.[149] This is due to coffee houses closing down in Spain due to the economic crisis, and the fact that as many cafes open as they close in Albania. In addition, the fact that it was one of the easiest ways to make a living after the fall of communism in Albania, together with the country's Ottoman legacy further reinforce its strong dominance in Albania.[citation needed]

Tirana's restaurant scene has evolved recently characterised by stylish interiors and delicious food grown locally. The Tirana region is known for the Fergesa traditional dish made with either peppers or liver,[150] and is found at a number of traditional restaurants in the city and agri-tourism sites on the outskirts of Tirana.

Sports

Being the capital, Tirana is the centre of sport in Albania, where activity is organised across amateur and professional levels. It is home to many major sporting facilities. Starting from 2007, the Tirana Municipality has built up to 80 sport gardens in most of Tirana's neighborhoods. One of the latest projects is the reconstruction of the existing Olympic Park, that will provide infrastructure for most intramural sports.[151]

Tirana hosted in the past three major events, the FIBA EuroBasket 2006, 2011 World Mountain Running Championships and the 2013 European Weightlifting Championships.

 
Air Albania Stadium in the city centre under construction

There are two major stadiums, the former Qemal Stafa Stadium and the Selman Stërmasi stadium. The former was demolished in 2016 to make way for the new national stadium.[152] The new stadium called the Air Albania Stadium was constructed on the same site of the former Qemal Stafa Stadium and it is planned to open in late 2019. It will have an underground parking, Marriott Tirana Hotel, shops and bars and will be used for entertainment events. Tirana's sports infrastructure is developing fast because of the investments from the municipality and the government.

Football is the most widely followed sport in Tirana as well as in the country, having numerous club teams including the KF Tirana, Partizani Tirana, and Dinamo Tirana. It is popular at every level of society, from children to wealthy professionals. In football, as of April 2012, the Tirana-based teams have won a combined 57 championships out of 72 championships organised by the FSHF, i.e. 79% of them. Another popular sport in Albania is basketball, represented in particular by the teams KB Tirana, BC Partizani, BC Dinamo, Ardhmëria and also the women's PBC Tirana.

Recently two rugby teams were created: Tirana Rugby Club,[153] founded in 2013 and Ilirët Rugby Club[154] founded in 2016.

Media

 
The former grounds of the headquarters of Radio Tirana. Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) was initially founded as Radio Tirana in 1938.

As the capital, Tirana is the most significant location for the Albanian media industry whose content is distributed throughout Albania, Kosovo and other Albanian-speaking territories. Tirana is the home to most of the national and international television stations, including the national broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), along with all its television and radio networks. The three largest Albanian commercial broadcasters, such as Televizioni Klan, Top Channel and Vizion Plus, also maintains their headquarters in the city. The European broadcaster, Euronews, operates a franchise in the city as well as the American broadcaster CNN.[155][156]

Tirana is also a principal location for the largest Albanian newspapers, magazines and publications. The newspapers with the largest circulations in Albania are published in Tirana, including Gazeta Shqip, Gazeta Tema, Koha Jonë and Panorama. Gazeta Shqiptare, one of the oldest Albanian-language newspapers in Albania, operates and has its headquarters in the city.[157] Tirana also has a well-established English-language newspaper, notably the daily of Tirana Times.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Tirana

Key of Tirana

The Key of Tirana (Albanian: Çelësi i Qytetit) is a symbolic recognition given by the Mayor of Tirana to an esteemed personality. It was given to:

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The municipality of Tirana consists of the administrative units of Baldushk, Bërzhitë, Dajt, Farkë, Kashar, Krrabë, Ndroq, Petrelë, Pezë, Shëngjergj, Vaqarr, Zall-Bastar, Zall-Herr and Tirana.[3][5][6] The population of the municipality results from the sum of the listed administrative units in the former as of the 2011 Albanian census.[3][7]
  2. ^ The estimation for the administrative unit of Tirana is to be taken into consideration.[7]
  3. ^ Indefinite Albanian form: Tiranë (pronounced [tiˈɾanə])
  4. ^ Elevation at 90 m (300 ft)
  5. ^ The monthly estimations for rainy and snowy days are not available, only annual.
  6. ^ Station ID for Tirana is 13615 Use this station ID to locate the sunshine duration
  7. ^ Citations regarding the twin or sister cities of Tirana:[77][78][79][80][81][82][83]

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Further reading

  • Burgen, Stephen (29 October 2018). . The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  • Akkam, Alia (13 October 2017). . Vogue. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  • Hillsdon, Mark (27 February 2017). . The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  • Crevar, Alex (28 August 2015). . The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  • McRae, Hamish (13 September 2008). . The Independent. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  • Capolino, Patrizia (2011). "Tirana: A Capital City Transformed by the Italians". Planning Perspectives. 26 (4): 591–615. doi:10.1080/02665433.2011.601610. S2CID 143255786.

External links

  • Official Website (in Albanian)
  • "Tirana" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
  • December 2010 archive (in Albanian)

January 05, 2023
tirana, ɑː, listen, albanian, pronunciation, tiˈɾana, gheg, albanian, tirona, capital, largest, city, albania, located, centre, country, enclosed, mountains, hills, with, dajti, rising, east, slight, valley, northwest, overlooking, adriatic, distance, location. Tirana c t ɪ ˈ r ɑː n e listen tih RAH ne 8 9 Albanian pronunciation tiˈɾana Gheg Albanian Tirona 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 10 11 TiranaMunicipality and cityClockwise from top The Skanderbeg Square Kapllan Pasha Tomb Grand Mosque Clock Tower Grand Park Petrele Castle Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral and Toptani Center FlagSealTiranaShow map of AlbaniaTiranaShow map of BalkansTiranaShow map of EuropeCoordinates 41 19 44 N 19 49 04 E 41 32889 N 19 81778 E 41 32889 19 81778CountryAlbaniaRegionCentral AlbaniaCountyTiranaMunicipalityTiranaSettled1614Government TypeMayor council MayorErion Veliaj 1 PS CouncilTirana Municipal Council ChairmanToni Gogu 2 Area 3 4 Municipality and city1 110 km2 430 sq mi Metro1 652 km2 638 sq mi Unit41 8 km2 16 1 sq mi Elevation110 m 360 ft Population 2011 Metro912 190 Municipality557 422 a Municipality density502 km2 1 300 sq mi Unit418 495 b Demonym s Albanian Tiranas e Tirana dialect Tirons e Time zoneUTC 1 CET Summer DST UTC 2 CEST Postal code s 1000Area code s 355 0 4AirportTirana International AirportMotorwaysHighwaysVehicle registrationTRWebsitetirana alTirana athough was always inhitated as area Tyranna was registered as a city in 1614 by the Ottoman Albanian general Sylejman Pasha Bargjini and flourished by then around the Old Mosque and the turbe The area that today corresponds to the city s territory has been continuously inhabited since the Iron Age It was inhabited by Illyrians and was most likely the core of the Illyrian Kingdom of the Taulantii which in Classical Antiquity was centred in the hinterland of Epidamnus Following the Illyrian Wars it was annexed by Rome and became an integral part of the Roman Empire The heritage of that period is still evident and represented by the Mosaics of Tirana Later in the 5th and 6th centuries an Early Christian basilica was built around this site After the Roman Empire split into East and West in the 4th century its successor the Byzantine Empire took control over most of Albania and rebuilt the Tirana Castel in the reign of Justinian I The city in the 20th century was proclaimed as Albania s capital after the Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912 Classified as a gamma world city Tirana is the most important economic financial political and trade centre in Albania due to its significant location in the centre of the country and its modern air maritime rail and road transportation 12 It is the seat of power of the Government of Albania with the official residences of the President and Prime Minister of Albania and the Parliament of Albania The city was announced as the European Youth Capital for 2022 Contents 1 History 1 1 Early development 1 2 Modern development 1 3 Contemporary 2 Geography 2 1 Climate 2 2 Urbanism 3 Politics 3 1 Administration 3 2 National capital 3 3 International relations 4 Economy 5 Infrastructure 5 1 Transport 5 2 Education 5 3 Health 6 Demography 7 Culture 7 1 Architecture 7 2 Museums 7 3 Cuisine 7 4 Sports 7 5 Media 8 Notable people 8 1 Key of Tirana 9 See also 10 Notes 11 References 12 Further reading 13 External linksHistorySee also Timeline of Tirana This section needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information July 2020 Early development The mosaics of an Ancient Roman house from the 3rd century AD The area of Tirana has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times with the earliest recognised reference found at the Cave of Pellumbas belonging to the Palaeolithic period Illyrians were the first population of the area and formed most likely the core of the Illyrian kingdom of the Taulantii which in classical antiquity was centered in the hinterland of Epidamnus 13 When the Romans arrived in Illyria after their victory of the Illyrian Wars they populated and integrated the area into their empire under the political control of the city of Rome The oldest surviving discovery from this period is a Roman house dating to the 3rd century which was transformed into an aisleless church with a mosaic floor A castle possibly known as Tirkan was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I between the 4th and 6th century and later restored by Ahmed Pasha Toptani in the 18th century 14 Castle of Petrele was founded in the 6th century by Justinian I Tirana is mentioned in Venetian documents in 1418 one year after the Ottoman conquest of the area the resident Pjeter son of late Domenik from the village of Tirana 15 Records of the first land registrations under the Ottomans in 1431 32 show that Tirana consisted of 60 inhabited areas with nearly 2 028 houses and 7 300 inhabitants citation needed In 1510 Marin Barleti an Albanian Catholic priest and scholar in the biography of the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis The story of life and deeds of Skanderbeg the prince of Epirotes referred to this area as a small village distinguishing between Little Tirana and Great Tirana 15 It is later mentioned in 1572 as Borgo di Tirana 16 According to Hahn the settlement had already started to develop as a bazaar and included several watermills 17 even before 1614 when Sulejman Bargjini a local ruler built the Old Mosque a small commercial centre and a hammam Turkish bath This is confirmed by oral sources which state that there were two earlier mosques 300 400 m from the Old Mosque towards today s Ali Demi Street The Mosque of Rec and the Mosque of Mujo were positioned on the left side of the Lana river and were older than the Old Mosque 17 Later the Et hem Bey Mosque built by Molla Bey of Petrela was constructed It employed the best artisans in the country and was completed in 1821 by Molla s son Etehem who was also Sulejman Bargjini s great nephew In 1800 the first newcomers arrived in the settlement clarification needed the so called ortodoksit They were Aromanians from villages near Korce and Pogradec who settled around modern day Tirana Park on the Artificial Lake 18 They started to be known as the llacifac and were the first Christians to arrive after the creation of the town 19 In 1807 Tirana became the centre of the Subprefecture of Kruje Tirana citation needed After 1816 Tirana languished under the control of the Toptani family of Kruje citation needed Later Tirana became a sub prefecture of the newly created Vilayet of Shkoder and the Sanjak of Durres In 1889 the Albanian language started to be taught in Tirana s schools citation needed and the patriotic club Bashkimi was founded in 1908 The Old Bazaar at the turn of the 20th century Modern development On 28 November 1912 the national flag was raised in Vlore by President Ismail Qemali marking the symbolic birth of Albania as a sovereign country The next years however were marked by turmoil During the Balkan Wars Tirana was temporarily occupied by the Serbian army and it took part in uprising of the villages led by Haxhi Qamili In August 1916 the first city map was compiled by the specialists of the Austro Hungarian army 20 Following the capture of the town of Debar by Serbia many of its Albanian inhabitants fled to Turkey the rest went to Tirana 21 Of those that ended up in Istanbul some of their number migrated to Albania mainly to Tirana where the Dibran community formed an important segment of the city s population from 1920 onward and for some years thereafter 21 On 8 February 1920 the Congress of Lushnje proclaimed Tirana as the temporary capital of Albania which had gained independence in 1912 22 The city acquired that status permanently on 31 December 1925 In 1923 the first regulatory city plan was compiled by Austrian architects 23 The centre of Tirana was the project of Florestano Di Fausto and Armando Brasini well known architects of the Mussolini period in Italy Brasini laid the basis for the modern day arrangement of the ministerial buildings in the city centre The plan underwent revisions by Albanian architect Eshref Frasheri Italian architect Castellani and Austrian architects Weiss and Kohler citation needed The modern Albanian parliament building served as an officers club It was there that in September 1928 Zog of Albania was crowned King Zog I King of the Albanians Old villa architecture in Tirana Tirana was the venue for the signing of the Pact of Tirana between Fascist Italy and Albania During the rule of King Zog a lot of Muhaxhirs emigrated towards Tirana which lead to a growing population in the capital city in the early 20th century 24 In 1939 Tirana was captured by Fascist forces who appointed a puppet government In the meantime Italian architect Gherardo Bosio was asked to elaborate on previous plans and introduce a new project in the area of present day Mother Teresa Square 25 A failed assassination attempt was made on Victor Emmanuel III of Italy by a local resistance activist during a visit to Tirana In November 1941 two emissaries of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia KPJ Miladin Popovic and Dusan Mugosa called a meeting of three Albanian communist groups citation needed and founded the Communist Party of Albania and Enver Hoxha soon emerged as its leader The town soon became the centre of the Albanian communists who mobilised locals against Italian fascists and later Nazi Germans while spreading ideological propaganda On 4 February 1944 the Gestapo supported by the forces of Xhafer Deva executed 86 anti fascists in Tirana 26 On 17 November 1944 the town was liberated after a fierce battle between the Communists and German forces citation needed The Nazis eventually withdrew and the communists seized power The Skanderbeg Square in 1988 two years prior to the Fall of communism in Albania From 1944 to 1991 massive socialist style apartment complexes and factories were built while Skanderbeg Square was redesigned with a number of buildings demolished For instance Tirana s former Old Bazaar and the Orthodox Cathedral were razed to the ground in order to build the Soviet styled Palace of Culture The northern portion of the main boulevard was renamed Stalin Boulevard and his statue was erected in the city square Because private car ownership was banned mass transportation consisted mainly of bicycles trucks and buses After Hoxha s death a pyramidal museum was constructed in his memory by the government citation needed Before and after the proclamation of Albania s policy of self imposed isolationism a number of high profile figures paid visits to the city such as Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and East German Foreign Minister Oskar Fischer In 1985 Enver Hoxha s funeral was held in Tirana 27 A few years later Mother Teresa became the first religious figure 28 to visit the country after the end of Albania s long anti religious atheist stance She paid respects to her mother and sister resting at a local cemetery Tirana s main boulevard in 1991 Starting at the campus and ending at Skanderbeg Square with the toppling of Enver Hoxha s statue the city saw significant demonstrations by University of Tirana students demanding political freedoms in the early 1990s On the political aspect the city witnessed a number of events Personalities visited the capital such as former U S Secretary of State James Baker and Pope John Paul II The former visit came amidst the historical setting after the fall of communism as hundreds of thousands were chanting in Skanderbeg Square Baker s famous saying of Freedom works 29 Pope John Paul II became the first major religious leader to visit Tirana though Mother Teresa had visited few years prior During the Balkans turmoil in the mid 1990s the city experienced dramatic events such as the unfolding of the 1997 unrest in Albania and a failed coup d etat on 14 September 1998 In 1999 following the Kosovo War Tirana Airport became a NATO airbase serving its mission in the former Yugoslavia Contemporary See also 2018 2019 student protest in Albania Further information 2019 Albania earthquake The Mustafa Matohiti Street near the Pyramid of Tirana Consequently after the fall of communism in Albania a dramatic growth of new developments has taken place with many new exclusive flats and apartments and other structures During his term from 2000 to 2011 the former mayor of Tirana Edi Rama undertook a campaign to demolish illegal constructed buildings across Tirana as well as along the river banks of Lane to bring the area to its pre 1990 state In an attempt to widen roads Rama authorized the bulldozing of private properties so that they could be paved over thus widening streets Most main roads underwent reconstruction including the Unaza Rruga e Kavajes and the main boulevard Rama also led the initiative to paint the facades of Tirana s buildings in bright colours although much of their interiors continued to degrade Rama s critics claimed that he focused too much attention on cosmetic changes without fixing any of the major problems such as shortages of drinking water and electricity 30 31 In June 2007 George W Bush traveled to Tirana on an official state visit becoming the first U S President to visit the former communist country 32 33 In 2008 the Gerdec explosions were felt in the capital as windows were shattered and citizens shaken In January 2011 the Albanian opposition demonstrations were triggered in front of the governmental buildings in Tirana protesting against political corruption and state capture particularly associated with the former prime minister Sali Berisha s government 34 In September 2014 Pope Francis made an official state visit to Tirana simultaneously becoming the second pontiff to visit Albania after Pope John Paul II in 1992 35 36 Following the municipal elections of 2015 power was transferred from the Democratic Party representative Lulzim Basha to the Socialist Party candidate Erion Veliaj 37 Albania then underwent a territorial reform in which defunct communes were merged with municipalities 38 Thirteen of Tirana s former communes were integrated as administrative units joining the existing eleven 39 Since then Tirana is undergoing significant changes in infrastructure law enforcement and new projects as well as continuing the ones started by Veliaj s predecessor In their first few council meetings 242 social houses got allocated to families in need 40 Construction permits were suspended until the capital s development plan is revised and synthesized 39 Between December 2018 and February 2019 a series of demonstrations erupted in the central areas of Tirana and other cities of the country in response to a controversial law on higher education poor quality of teaching high tuition rates and corruption 41 42 43 In September 2019 Tirana was ravaged by a 5 6 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter located near Durres 44 45 46 Two months after in November 2019 another strong earthquake with the magnitude of 6 4 hit the region again resulting comparatively few damages in Tirana 47 The same month Tirana was announced as the European Youth Capital for 2022 with a planned program including events of cultural and social importance 48 Geography View of Tirana Metropolitan Area Tirana extends at the Plain of Tirana in the centre of Albania between the mount of Dajti in the east the hills of Kerrabe Sauk and Vaqarr in the south and a valley to the north overlooking the Adriatic Sea The average altitude is about 110 meters 360 ft above sea level with a maximum of 1 828 metres 5 997 feet at Maja Mincekut of Mali me Gropa in Shenmeri 49 The city is surrounded by two important protected areas the Dajti National Park and Mali me Gropa Bize Martanesh Protected Landscape In winter the mountains are often covered with snow and are a popular retreat for the population of Tirana which rarely receives snowfalls In terms of biodiversity the forests are mainly composed of pine oak and beech while its interior relief clarification needed is dotted with canyons waterfalls caves lakes and other landforms 50 Thanks to its natural heritage it is considered the Natural Balcony of Tirana The mountain can be reached by a narrow asphalt mountain road onto an area known as Fusha e Dajtit From this small area there is an excellent view of Tirana and its plain Tirane river flows through the city as does the Lane river Tirana is home to several artificial lakes including Tirana Farka Tufina and Kashar The present municipality was formed in the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities of Baldushk Berzhite Dajt Farke Kashar Krrabe Ndroq Petrele Peze Shengjergj Tirana Vaqarr Zall Bastar and Zall Herr which became municipal units The seat of the municipality is the city of Tirana 6 Climate Snow at the Dajti National Park It generally melts quickly in the region 51 Tirana has a humid subtropical climate Cfa according to the Koppen climate classification and receives enough precipitation during summer to avoid the Mediterranean climate Csa classification The average precipitation in Tirana is about 1 266 millimetres 49 8 inches per year The city receives the majority of precipitation in winter months which occurs from November to March and less in summer months from June to September In terms of precipitation both rain and snow the city is ranked among the wettest cities in the European Continent 11 Temperatures vary throughout the year from an average of 6 7 C 44 1 F in January to 24 C 75 F in July Springs and summers are very warm to hot often reaching over 20 C 68 F from May to September During autumn and winter from November to March the average temperature drops and is not lower than 6 7 C 44 1 F The city receives approximately 2500 hours of sun 52 Climate data for Tirana 7 d 1961 1990 normals and extremes 1940 present e Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high C F 21 3 70 3 28 0 82 4 30 3 86 5 32 6 90 7 35 9 96 6 39 7 103 5 42 2 108 0 41 4 106 5 39 7 103 5 36 1 97 0 31 3 88 3 22 5 72 5 42 2 108 0 Average high C F 11 6 52 9 12 9 55 2 15 6 60 1 19 0 66 2 23 8 74 8 27 7 81 9 30 7 87 3 30 7 87 3 27 3 81 1 21 8 71 2 17 1 62 8 13 0 55 4 21 0 69 8 Daily mean C F 6 7 44 1 7 8 46 0 10 0 50 0 13 4 56 1 18 0 64 4 21 6 70 9 24 0 75 2 23 8 74 8 20 7 69 3 16 0 60 8 11 7 53 1 8 1 46 6 15 2 59 4 Average low C F 1 8 35 2 2 6 36 7 4 5 40 1 7 9 46 2 12 1 53 8 15 6 60 1 17 2 63 0 16 9 62 4 14 1 57 4 10 1 50 2 6 3 43 3 3 2 37 8 9 4 48 9 Record low C F 10 4 13 3 9 4 15 1 7 0 19 4 1 0 30 2 2 5 36 5 5 6 42 1 4 2 39 6 10 0 50 0 3 8 38 8 1 3 29 7 4 3 24 3 6 9 19 6 10 4 13 3 Average precipitation mm inches 143 5 6 132 5 2 115 4 5 104 4 1 103 4 1 68 2 7 42 1 7 46 1 8 78 3 1 114 4 5 172 6 8 148 5 8 1 266 49 8 Average precipitation days 0 1 mm 13 13 14 13 12 7 5 4 6 9 16 16 128Average relative humidity 74 73 69 72 68 69 62 64 71 70 76 79 71Mean monthly sunshine hours 124 125 165 191 263 298 354 327 264 218 127 88 2 544Average ultraviolet index 2 2 4 6 8 9 9 8 6 4 2 1 5Source DWD 53 54 f Meteo Climat record highs and lows 55 NOAA some records rain and snow days 56 and Weather Atlas 57 Urbanism The artificial lake of Tirana built from local waters in 1955 In September 2015 Tirana organized its first vehicle free day joining forces with numerous cities across the globe to fight against the existing problem of urban air pollution This initiative resulted in a considerable drop in both air and noise pollution encouraging the Municipality to organise a vehicle free day every month 58 59 The city suffers from problems related to overpopulation 60 such as waste management high levels of air pollution and significant noise pollution Over the last decades air pollution has become a pressing concern as the number of cars has increased These are mostly 1990s and early 2000s diesel cars 61 while it is widely believed that the fuel used in Albania contains larger amounts of sulfur and lead than in the European Union Effective 1 January 2019 the government has imposed an import ban of used vehicles made prior to 2005 in an effort to curb pollution encourage the buying of new cars from certified domestic dealerships and to improve overall road safety Another source of pollution are PM10 and PM2 5 inhaled particulate matter and NO2 gases 62 63 resulting from rapid growth in the construction of new buildings and expanding road infrastructure 64 Untreated solid waste is present in the city and outskirts Additionally there have been complaints of excessive noise pollution Despite the problems the Grand Park at the Artificial Lake has some effect on absorbing CO2 emissions while over 2 000 trees have been planted around sidewalks Works for four new large parks have started in the summer of 2015 located in Kashar Farke Vaqarr and Dajt These parks are part of the new urban plan striving to increase the concentration of green spaces in the capital 65 The government has included designated green areas around Tirana as part of the Tirana Greenbelt where construction is not permitted or limited 66 67 PoliticsAdministration Main article Units of Tirana See also Neighborhoods of Tirana Further information Mayor of Tirana 11 10 9 8 7 6 4 3 1 2 5 The municipality of Tirana is encompassed in the County of Tirana within the Central Region of Albania and consists of the rural administrative units of Baldushk Berzhite Dajt Farke Kashar Krrabe Ndroq Petrele Peze Shengjergj Vaqarr Zall Bastar Zall Herr and Tirana 68 69 The administrative unit of Tirana is further partitioned into eleven urban administrative units namely Tirana 1 Tirana 2 Tirana 3 Tirana 4 Tirana 5 Tirana 6 Tirana 7 Tirana 8 Tirana 9 Tirana 10 and Tirana 11 68 The Mayor of Tirana along with the Cabinet of Tirana exercises executive power The Assembly of Tirana functions as the city parliament and consists of 55 members serving four year terms It primarily deals with budget global orientations and relations between the city and the Government of Albania It has 14 committees and its chairman is Aldrin Dalipi from the Socialist Party Each of the members have a specific portfolio such as economy finance juridical education health care and several professional services agencies and institutes In 2000 the centre of Tirana from the central campus of University of Tirana in the Mother Teresa Square up to the Skanderbeg Square was declared the place of Cultural Assembly and given state protection The historical core of the capital lies around pedestrian only Murat Toptani Street while the most prominent city district is Blloku In 2010 the municipality undertook the installing of street name signs and entrance numbers while every apartment entrance was physically stamped 70 National capital The Kryeministria at the Deshmoret e Kombit Boulevard is the official office of the Prime Minister of Albania Tirana is the capital city of the Republic of Albania thus playing an essential role in shaping the political and economic life of the country 71 It is the home to government functions and institutions for which the government of Albania is responsible as for instance the executive juridical and legislative branches of Albania The President and Prime Minister of Albania officially reside and work in Tirana specifically at the Presidenca and Kryeministria respectively nevertheless the Parliament of Albania is headquartered at the Deshmoret e Kombit Boulevard 72 73 74 Tirana is also the home to the national Constitutional Court and Supreme Court Important national institutions housed in Tirana include the Appeal Court and Administrative Court The Bank of Albania is located at the Skanderbeg Square while other institutions such as the ministries of Culture Defence Education Finance Foreign Affairs Health Infrastructure Internal Affairs Justice and Tourism are spread over Tirana The city is also the home to all the consulates and embassies in Albania thereby making it an important centre for international diplomacy in the country International relations See also List of twin towns and sister cities in Albania Tirana is a founding member of the Union of Albanian Municipalities in the Region 75 76 Tirana is twinned with Ankara Beijing Bursa Doha Florence Kharkiv Sarajevo and has signed partnership agreements with Verona and Zagreb g 84 85 It has also signed special bilateral agreements with Zaragoza 86 Economy Bank of Albania Tirana is the heart of the economy of Albania and the most industrialised and economically fastest growing region in Albania Of the main sectors the tertiary sector is the most important for the economy of Tirana and employs more than 68 of work force of Tirana 87 26 of the working population makes up the secondary sector followed by the primary sector with only 5 87 The city began to develop at the beginning of the 16th century as it was part of the Ottoman Empire when a bazaar was established and its craftsmen manufactured silk and cotton fabrics leather ceramics and iron silver and gold artefacts 88 In the 20th century the city and its surrounding areas expanded rapidly and became the most heavily industrialised region of the country The most significant contribution is made by the tertiary sector which has developed considerably since the fall of communism in Albania Forming the financial centre of the country the financial industry is a major component of the city s tertiary sector and remains in good conditions overall due to privatization and the commendable monetary policy 89 All of the most important financial institutions such as the Bank of Albania and the Albanian Stock Exchange are centred in Tirana as well as most of the banking companies such as the Banka Kombetare Tregtare Raiffeisen Bank Credins Bank Intesa Sanpaolo Bank and Tirana Bank Maritim Plaza Tirana is in the centre of Tirana The telecommunication industry represents another major and growing contributor to the sector 90 A rapid development occurred as well as after the end of communism and decades of isolationism mainly due to the new national policy of reform and opening up sped up the industry s development Vodafone Telekom Albania and Eagle are the leading telecommunication providers in Tirana as in all the country The tourism industry of the city has expanded in recent years to become a vital component of the economy 91 Tirana has been officially dubbed as The Place Beyond Belief by local authorities 92 The increasing number of international arrivals at the Tirana International Airport and Port of Durres from across Europe Australia and Asia has rapidly grown the number of foreign visitors in the city 93 94 The largest hotels of the city are the Tirana International Hotel Maritim Plaza Tirana both situated in the heart of the city near Scanderbeg Square and the Hyatt owned luxury Mak Hotel Tirana 95 located next to the Air Albania Stadium where Mariott Tirana Hotel is also planned to open 96 Other major hotels present in central Tirana include the Rogner Hotel Hilton Garden Inn Tirana Xheko Imperial Hotel Best Western Premier Ark Hotel and Mondial Hotel InfrastructureTransport The terminal of Nene Tereza International Airport Tirana is served by Nene Tereza International Airport which is simultaneously the premier air gateway to the country The airport was officially named in honour of the Albanian Roman Catholic nun and missionary Mother Teresa It connects Tirana with many destinations in different countries across Europe Africa and Asia The airport carried more than 3 3 million passengers in 2019 and is also the principal hub for the country s flag carrier Air Albania 97 The city s geographical location in the centre of Albania has long established the city as an integral terminus for the national road transportation thus connecting the city to all parts of Albania and the neighbouring countries 98 The Rruga Shteterore 1 SH1 connects Tirana with Shkoder and Montenegro in the north and constitutes an essential section of the proposed Adriatic Ionian motorway The Rruga Shteterore 2 SH2 continues in the west and provides direct connection to Durres on the Adriatic Sea The Rruga Shteterore 3 SH3 is being transformed to the Autostrada 3 A3 and follows the ancient Via Egnatia It significantly constitutes a major section of the Pan European Corridor VIII and links the city with Elbasan Korce and Greece in the south Tirana is further connected through the Milot interchange in the northwest with Kosovo following as part of the Autostrada 1 A1 An Ecovolis station near the Mother Teresa Square During the communist regime in Albania a plan for the construction of a ring road around Tirana arose in 1989s with no implementation until the 2010s 99 It is of major importance especially concerning the demographic growth of the metropolitan region of Tirana as well as the importance of the economy Although constructions for the nowadays completed southern section of the ring road started in 2011 however the northern and eastern sections are still in the planning process 100 The Rruga Shteterore 2 SH2 connecting Tirana with Durres Rail lines of Hekurudha Shqiptare HSH connected Tirana with all of the major cities of Albania including Durres Shkoder and Vlore In 2013 the Tirana Railway Station was closed and moved to Kashar by the government of Tirana in order to create space for the Bulevardi i Ri project 101 The new Tirana Station will be constructed in Laprake which is projected to be a multifunctional terminal for rail tram and bus transportation 102 103 Furthermore a new rail line from Tirana through Nene Tereza International Airport to Durres is planned to be constructed 104 105 In 2012 Tirana municipality published a report according to which a project on the construction of two tram lines was under evaluation The tram lines would have a total length of 16 7 kilometres 10 4 miles The public transport in Tirana is for now focused only in the city centre so that the people living in the suburbs have fewer or no public transport connections Under the plan the two tram lines will intersect in the Skanderbeg Square The public transport system in Tirana is ten bus lines served by 250 to 260 buses every day During the administration of mayor Erion Veliaj the government of Tirana has significantly increased the creation and expansion of a cycling infrastructure in the city in order to reduce traffic congestion as well as to improve the sustainable transportation 106 107 108 Ecovolis was launched in 2011 offering rental services for bicycles at different centrally located stations for a small fee 109 110 The international bicycle sharing system Mobike launched its operations on 8 June 2018 by deploying 4000 bicycles in the city 111 112 Education The University of Arts at the Mother Teresa Square Tirana has the highest concentration of institutions of tertiary education in Albania consisting of numerous academies colleges and universities Most prominent among these is the University of Tirana with campuses around the city and more than 28 000 students from all backgrounds 113 The Polytechnic University of Tirana is another distinguished institution and also the most renowned engineering and technical university in the country The four other public institutions in Tirana are the University of Arts University of Agriculture University of Medicine and University of Sports 113 The educational system of Tirana has expanded substantially over the past years with the renovations of existing school facilities and the construction of new schools 114 115 For primary and secondary education a variety of schools are available tagged with the public private and international labels Few of the major international schools are the Tirana International School Albanian International School British School Montessori School Memorial Schooland and World Academy Also of noteworthy mention is the public primary and secondary Servete Maci School which received international recognition as it won an award at the 2020 International Architecture Awards 116 Health There are numerous public and private hospitals as well as smaller public and private health care facilities in the territory of Tirana The Mother Teresa University Hospital is one of the largest medical tertiary institutions of the country Other medical institutions include the Shefqet Ndroqi University Hospital Koco Gliozheni Hospital Mbreteresha Gjeraldine Hospital and the Military Hospital DemographyPopulation growth of Tirana in selected periodsYear17031820192319371955198920012012Pop 4 00012 00010 84535 000108 200324 532430 407557 422 p a 0 94 0 10 8 73 6 47 3 28 2 38 2 38 Source 117 118 119 120 121 The Institute of Statistics INSTAT estimated the population of the municipality of Tirana at 418 495 in 2011 7 With a population density of 502 people per square kilometre Tirana is the most densely populated municipality in the country 3 The encompassing metropolitan area consisting of the regions of Durres and Tirana has a combined population of approximately 1 million amounting to nearly one third of the country s total population 122 Historically Tirana has experienced a steady population increase in the past years especially after the fall of communism in the late twentieth century as well as the beginnings of the twenty first century The remarkable growth was and still is largely fueled by migrants from all over the country often in search of employment and improved living conditions Between 1820 and 1955 the population of Tirana tenfolded while during the period from 1989 to 2011 the city s population grew annually by approximately 2 7 In the 19th and 20th centuries the city had a rate of growth less than 1 annually until the 1970s then down to less than 8 per year until the middle 20th century figures 123 Religion in Tirana 124 Islam 55 7 Orthodoxy 6 4 Catholicism 5 4 Bektashism 3 4 Other mostly undeclared and non religious 29 1 Tirana s population is composed by a mixture of different cultural and ethnic groups from Southern Europe The most represented ethnicities are Albanians 84 10 Greeks 0 35 Aromanians 0 11 Macedonians 0 07 and Italians 0 03 125 In Albania a secular state with no state religion the freedom of belief conscience and religion is explicitly guaranteed in the constitution of Albania 126 127 Tirana is religiously diverse and has many places of worship catering to its religious population whom are adherents of Islam Christianity and Judaism but also of Atheism and Agnosticism They all maintain their Albanian headquarters spread across the territory of Tirana Nevertheless the Bektashi Order leadership established their world centre also in the city In the 2011 census 55 7 of the population of the municipality of Tirana was counted as Muslim 3 4 as Bektashis and 11 8 as Christian including 5 4 as Roman Catholic and 6 4 as Eastern Orthodox 128 The remaining 29 1 of the population reported having no religion or did not provide an adequate answer The census of 2011 did not included specific municipality level data for other religious groups The Roman Catholic Church is represented in Tirana by the Archdiocese of Tirane and Durres with the St Paul s Cathedral as the seat of the prelacy The Albanian Orthodox community is served by the Archbishop of Tirana in the Resurrection Cathedral CultureMain article Culture of Tirana Panorama of The Albanians History mosaic above the entrance of the National Museum of History Tirana offers a blend of traditional and modern lifestyle with a variety of arts food entertainment music and night life Its population celebrates a wide range of religious and other festivals including Christmas Eid Hanukkah and Nowruz Another festival is Dita e Veres taking place every year on 14 March during which the Albanians celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of spring Among the local institutions are the National Library that keeps more than a million books periodicals maps atlases microfilms and other library materials The city has five well preserved traditional houses museum houses 56 cultural monuments eight public libraries 129 There are many domestic and foreign cultural institutions in Tirana amongst them the British Council Canadian Institute of Technology as well as the German Goethe Institut and Friedrich Ebert Foundation 130 131 132 133 Other cultural institutions include the Chinese Confucius Institute Greek Hellenic Foundation for Culture Italian Istituto Italiano di Cultura and the French Alliance Francaise 134 135 136 137 Architecture The Toptani house from the 18th century Tirana is home to a mixture of architectural styles reflecting the influential periods in its history Its current appearance was considerably shaped by two totalitarian regimes once by the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini during the Second World War and the regime of Enver Hoxha in the aftermath The Palace of Brigades 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 Deshmoret e Kombit Boulevard was built in 1930 and given the name King Zog I Boulevard Florestano Di Fausto and Armando Brasini designed the city plan for Tirana in Neo Renaissance style with articulate angular solutions and giant order fascias In the 20th century 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 s army brigade 138 In the 21st century Tirana turned into a proper modernist city with large blocks of flats modern new buildings new shopping centres and many green spaces In June 2016 the Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj and the Italian architect Stefano Boeri announced the start of the works for the redaction of the Master Plan Tirana 2030 citation needed The entrance of the Grand Park of Tirana Tirana is a densely built area and still offers several public parks throughout its districts graced with green gardens The Grand Park is the most important green space in Tirana It is one of most visited areas by local citizens 139 The park includes many children s playgrounds sport facilities and landmarks such as the Saint Procopius Church the Presidential Palace the Botanical Gardens the Tirana Zoo the Amphitheatre the Monument of the Frasheri Brothers and many others The Rinia Park was built during the Communist regime in Albania It bordered by Deshmoret e Kombit Boulevard to the east Gjergi Fishta Boulevard and Bajram Curri Boulevard to the south Rruga Ibrahim Rugova to the west and Rruga Myslym Shyri to the north The Taivani Centre is the main landmark in the park and houses cafes restaurants fountains and a bowling lane in the basement The Summer Festival takes place every year in the park to celebrate the end of winter and the rebirth of nature and a rejuvenation of spirit amongst the Albanians As of the Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj the Municipality of Tirana will build more green spaces and will plant more trees 140 Museums Further information Museums in Tirana The National Museum of History at the Skanderbeg Square As one of the cultural centres of the country Tirana is the home to a number of museums dedicated to a wide array of arts The National Museum of History is located at the Skanderbeg Square and the most representative museum of Tirana 141 The mosaic above the entrance is the most dominant feature of the museum displaying the story of how the Albanian people have fought against invasion and occupation throughout history Founded in 1948 the National Museum of Archaeology at the Mother Teresa Square displays a wide collection of research and discoveries belonging to the archaeological locations around Albania 142 It exhibits span from prehistory through antiquity and the Middle Ages to the twentieth century offering an overview of the country s historical diversity The Cloud Pavilion outside the National Art Gallery installed by Japanese artist Sou Fujimoto 143 The National Art Gallery is considered the most important gallery in Albania housing one of the greatest collections of paintings in the region 144 Located at the Deshmoret e Kombit Boulevard it holds approximately 4 500 works of art including the most important collection of Albanian art of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries The Bunk art Museum consists of two underground bunkers in Tirana built under the orders and direction of Enver Hoxha during the communist regime in the country Located at the Fadil Deliu Street and Abdi Toptani Street respectively the bunkers have been transformed into a history museum and contemporary art gallery with exhibits from the Second World War and Cold War 145 146 The Museum of Secret Surveillance was founded in 2017 and is housed within a twentieth century mansion the building known as the House of Leaves near the Deshmoret e Kombit Boulevard 147 It commemorates and honours the victims who fell to the communist terrorism and violence during the communist period in Albania Other museums include the Natural Sciences Museum which has branches in zoology botany and geology the former Enver Hoxha Museum and the Bunk art Museum The Bektashi Museum was opened at the World Headquarters of the Bektashi on 7 September 2015 The museum contains exhibits relating to Bektashi history and leadership 148 Cuisine As in other parts of Albania agricultural traditions are of great significance to the Albanians in Tirana substantially appreciated for the production of food such as cheese olives and wine In 2016 Albania surpassed Spain by becoming the country with the most coffee houses per capita in the world with 654 coffee houses per 100 000 inhabitants 149 This is due to coffee houses closing down in Spain due to the economic crisis and the fact that as many cafes open as they close in Albania In addition the fact that it was one of the easiest ways to make a living after the fall of communism in Albania together with the country s Ottoman legacy further reinforce its strong dominance in Albania citation needed Tirana s restaurant scene has evolved recently characterised by stylish interiors and delicious food grown locally The Tirana region is known for the Fergesa traditional dish made with either peppers or liver 150 and is found at a number of traditional restaurants in the city and agri tourism sites on the outskirts of Tirana Sports Being the capital Tirana is the centre of sport in Albania where activity is organised across amateur and professional levels It is home to many major sporting facilities Starting from 2007 the Tirana Municipality has built up to 80 sport gardens in most of Tirana s neighborhoods One of the latest projects is the reconstruction of the existing Olympic Park that will provide infrastructure for most intramural sports 151 Tirana hosted in the past three major events the FIBA EuroBasket 2006 2011 World Mountain Running Championships and the 2013 European Weightlifting Championships Air Albania Stadium in the city centre under construction There are two major stadiums the former Qemal Stafa Stadium and the Selman Stermasi stadium The former was demolished in 2016 to make way for the new national stadium 152 The new stadium called the Air Albania Stadium was constructed on the same site of the former Qemal Stafa Stadium and it is planned to open in late 2019 It will have an underground parking Marriott Tirana Hotel shops and bars and will be used for entertainment events Tirana s sports infrastructure is developing fast because of the investments from the municipality and the government Football is the most widely followed sport in Tirana as well as in the country having numerous club teams including the KF Tirana Partizani Tirana and Dinamo Tirana It is popular at every level of society from children to wealthy professionals In football as of April 2012 the Tirana based teams have won a combined 57 championships out of 72 championships organised by the FSHF i e 79 of them Another popular sport in Albania is basketball represented in particular by the teams KB Tirana BC Partizani BC Dinamo Ardhmeria and also the women s PBC Tirana Recently two rugby teams were created Tirana Rugby Club 153 founded in 2013 and Iliret Rugby Club 154 founded in 2016 Media The former grounds of the headquarters of Radio Tirana Radio Televizioni Shqiptar RTSH was initially founded as Radio Tirana in 1938 As the capital Tirana is the most significant location for the Albanian media industry whose content is distributed throughout Albania Kosovo and other Albanian speaking territories Tirana is the home to most of the national and international television stations including the national broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar RTSH along with all its television and radio networks The three largest Albanian commercial broadcasters such as Televizioni Klan Top Channel and Vizion Plus also maintains their headquarters in the city The European broadcaster Euronews operates a franchise in the city as well as the American broadcaster CNN 155 156 Tirana is also a principal location for the largest Albanian newspapers magazines and publications The newspapers with the largest circulations in Albania are published in Tirana including Gazeta Shqip Gazeta Tema Koha Jone and Panorama Gazeta Shqiptare one of the oldest Albanian language newspapers in Albania operates and has its headquarters in the city 157 Tirana also has a well established English language newspaper notably the daily of Tirana Times Notable peopleMain article List of people from Tirana Key of Tirana The Key of Tirana Albanian Celesi i Qytetit is a symbolic recognition given by the Mayor of Tirana to an esteemed personality It was given to Atifete Jahjaga Kosovo Albanian politician and activist 158 Bebe Rexha Albanian American singer and songwriter 159 Dritan Abazovic Montenegrin Albanian politician 160 Dua Lipa English Albanian singer and songwriter 161 Eleni Foureira Greek Albanian singer 162 Emeli Sande Scottish singer and songwriter 163 Ermal Meta Italian Albanian singer and songwriter 164 Giorgio Toschi Italian commander 165 Giusy Ferreri Italian singer and songwriter 166 Fatboy Slim English musician 159 Istvan Tarlos Hungarian politician 167 Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic Croatian politician 168 Nexhmije Pagarusha Kosovo Albanian icon and singer 169 Noel Malcolm English journalist and historian 170 Riccardo Cocciante Italian singer and songwriter 171 Rita Ora British Albanian singer and songwriter 172 Robin Krasniqi German Albanian boxer 173 Stevo Pendarovski Macedonian politician 174 See alsoTimeline of Tirana Symbols of Tirana Landmarks of TiranaNotes The municipality of Tirana consists of the administrative units of Baldushk Berzhite Dajt Farke Kashar Krrabe Ndroq Petrele Peze Shengjergj Vaqarr Zall Bastar Zall Herr and Tirana 3 5 6 The population of the municipality results from the sum of the listed administrative units in the former as of the 2011 Albanian census 3 7 The estimation for the administrative unit of Tirana is to be taken into consideration 7 Indefinite Albanian form Tirane pronounced tiˈɾane Elevation at 90 m 300 ft The monthly estimations for rainy and snowy days are not available only annual Station ID for Tirana is 13615 Use this station ID to locate the sunshine duration Citations regarding the twin or sister cities of Tirana 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 References Mayor of Tirana Bashkia Tirane Archived from the original on 23 September 2020 Retrieved 23 September 2020 Municipal chairman of Tirana Bashkia Tirane Archived from the original on 23 September 2020 Retrieved 23 September 2020 a b c d Pasaporta e Bashkise Tirana in Albanian Porta Vendore Archived from the original on 6 October 2021 Retrieved 6 October 2021 Bashkia Tirana Albanian Association of Municipalities AAM Archived from the original on 12 October 2020 Retrieved 12 October 2020 A new Urban Rural Classification of Albanian Population PDF Instituti i Statistikes INSTAT May 2014 p 15 Archived from the original PDF on 14 November 2019 Retrieved 6 October 2021 a b Law nr 115 2014 PDF in 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Breaking Free From Communist Past Is a City Transformed The New York Times Archived from the original on 20 November 2020 Retrieved 20 November 2020 McRae Hamish 13 September 2008 Albania Charmed by Tirana The Independent Archived from the original on 4 July 2020 Retrieved 20 November 2020 Capolino Patrizia 2011 Tirana A Capital City Transformed by the Italians Planning Perspectives 26 4 591 615 doi 10 1080 02665433 2011 601610 S2CID 143255786 External linksTirana at Wikipedia s sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Travel information from Wikivoyage Resources from Wikiversity Official Website in Albanian Tirana Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed 1911 The rebirth of the city December 2010 archive in Albanian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tirana amp oldid 1131733924, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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