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Tirana: General Info |
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Tirana is the capital of Albania. It enjoys a beautiful setting between
the ranges of Dajti mountain from one side and the coastal plains on
the other one. Relatively a new city Tirana. was founded in
1614 by Sulejmen Pashe Bargjini, feudal lord of that time from
this region.and proclamated capital in 1920. However the area has
been inhabited as early back as the Neolitic period. The ruins of the
castle of first century A.D. which is likely to be the castle mentioned
with the name Tirkan by Byzantine historian Procop (VI century) have
been unreathed in the foot of Dajti mountain.
Still rapidly growing Tirana is a busy commercial and administrative
center with several comfortable hotels, restaurants, discos, pubs as
well as modern facilities for conventions and conferences.
Worth mentioning are also the monuments of Tabakeve Bridge ( first half
of XIX century) , and the monument of Mother Albania at the Cemetery
of National Marthyrs.
It is always nice to have a walk in the Grand Park, lying in the
southern part of the city and extanding over an area of 250 hectars
with an artificial lake included. It has 120 kind of plants, decorative
shrubs and flowers of various colours.
Tirana hosts several museums, artistic and scientific
institutions, among which the most important are National Historical
Museum, Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Nature Sciences, Opera and
Balet Theatre, Drama and Variety Show, the Gallery of Fine Arts, the
International Center of Culture, The Palace of Congres and Exhibition
Halls.
Only a short drive east of Tirana there is Dajti mountain (25 km). It
offers numerous opportunities all year round for excursions and
recreation. Its unspoilt nature attracts many visitors during all
seasons. Dajti is also a National Park, rich in diversity of flora and
fauna.
One of the most interesting places to see round Tirana is Petrela
village with its fortress. Only 15 km southeast of Tirana, Petrela has
been known as a dwelling place as early as back 2000 years ago in the
ruins of the Illyrian town of Presqopi. In that time the town is
supposed to be used as a residential place for Illyrian King, Glauk.
The most interesting object is the medieval castle, rising on a rocky
hill. This castle has been under the command of Mamica Kastrioti, the
Scanderbeg sister. The area round Petrela offers a unique landscape of
broken hills covered by olive trees. In the south east direction
from Tirana near the gorge of Erzeni river there is a carstic cave,
colled the Black Cave or the Dove Cave. It is located only 18 km far
away from the capital.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 04 June 2005 )
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