Guide of Albania

Albania is on the Balkan Peninsula in south-east Europe, overlooking the Adriatic and the Ionian seas. To the east it borders Macedonia, to the south Greece and to the north Montenegro to the west and Kosovo to the north east.

HISTORY

Archaeologists have found evidence to show that the country was inhabited during prehistoric times. In Xare and in the caves of Santa Marina in Saranda, archaeologist have found remains dating back to a period between 10 and 100,000 years ago. It was thought that the Albanians descended from the very ancient Pelasgians, who were later called Illyrians by the Greeks and Romans. The Illyrian civilization existed at the end of the 4th century, at the fall of the Roman Empire.

For hundreds of years Albania was one of the main religious and cultural centers of the Byzantine Empire, until it was conquered by the Ottomans in the VX century and then invaded by the Turks. After 400 years of Turkish-Ottoman domination, in 1913 the country declared itself independent, named as the Albanian Republic.

Today, the country is a member of NATO, the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and is one of the founders of the Union for the Mediterranean. The capital is Tirana, the financial centre of Albania.

CITIES TO VISIT IN ALBANIA

Albania is rich in natural beauty, art and culture, so it strands out as one of the most sought after destinations in the Balkans. Other important cities are Durres, Scutari, Elbasan, Coriza, Valona and Fier.