TIRANA
Tirana is by far the shrillest capital of Europe, which has changed rapidly since the fall of communism in the 1990s. Today, Tirana is considered to be the city of colourful houses, which, together with the newly designed parks and squares offers a varied picture and a friendly atmosphere. Foreign and domestic visitors can look forward to a lively gastronomic scene with many new, high-quality restaurants and bars. Tirana has recently been enriched with several excellent boutique hotels.
The renovated National Gallery, the new Postblloku monument on the main boulevard and the well-maintained Grand Park are further reasons to visit Tirana. Albania's largest museum is located in Tirana and houses many of the country's archaeological treasures and a replica of the mighty sword of Skanderbeg. The excellent collection takes you chronologically from ancient Illyria to the post-communist era. On the boulevard, which reflects the relatively short history of Albanian painting from the early 19th century to the present day, there is a small but interesting collection of 19th century paintings depicting scenes from the Albanian everyday life. The art in the upper floor takes on a political dimension with some truly fabulous examples of Albanian socialist realism. Further along the boulevard we find the strange building, named Pyramid by the locals and which was completed in 1988. Designed by Enver Hoxha's daughter and son-in-law, this incredibly unattractive building used to be the Enver Hoxha Museum. Recently it has become a convention centre and night club. Inside, it is sometimes open to temporary exhibitions. Surprisingly it is suitable for this purpose. Embedded between the Parku Kombëtar, the Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit and the river lies Blloku, the former exclusive quarter of the Communist Party, which was once was a forbidden area but nowadays it's an absolutely trendy district. When the area was opened to the general public in 1991, the Albanians flocked there to see how their political leaders lived. The city's other attractions include Skanderbeg Square, whose architecture is influenced by Turks, fascists, Chinese communists and the modern age. The Et' hem Bey Mosque, which together with the clock tower is one of the oldest preserved buildings in the city, dates back to Ottoman times.
Course of the day:
08:30 Meeting and greeting with your local guide.
08:45 Start of the city walk in the centre of Tirana (Boulevard Heroes of the Nation, Skanderbeg Square, Pedestrian Zone, Et-hem Bey Mosque)
11:00 Visit of the National Historical Museum (estimated time: 2 hours)
13:00 Noon time at the new bazaar and the fresh products market, where you will find a wide range of local and international restaurants. (Free time available for lunch or a stroll)
14:30 Visit of the National Art Gallery
15:30 Back to the hotel for a break
18:00 Another meeting with our local guide. Visit of "Blloku" which is one of the best areas of Tirana. Most of the old villas that once belonged to the high comrades of the Communist Politburo nowadays house noble restaurants, pubs, bistros, etc.
20:00 Tirana in the evening