BENISA, EMI, ANDI, ERIONI, ERISA, INSI, SELENA.

2. Area
• Municipality 1,110.03 km
2
(428.5
8 sq mi)
• Administrative Unit 41.8 km
2
(16.1 sq mi
)
Elevation 110 m (360 ft)
Population (2011)
• Municipality 557,422
[2]
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal Code 1001–1028, 1031
Area Code 04
Vehicle registration TR

3. FLAG OF TIRANA EMBLEM OF TIRANA

4. Tirana is located in the
center of the country
surrounded by
mountains and hills,
with Dajt on the east
and a slight valley
opening on the
northwest, overlooking
the Adriatic sea in the
distance. Due to its
location within
the Tirana plan and the
close proximity to the
Adriatic Sea, the city is
influenced
by mediterran
seasonal climate. It is
among the wettest and
sunniest cities in
Europe, with 2,544
hours of sun per year.

5. The discovery of the Pellumbas cave within the surrounding area of Tirana
shows that ancient human culture were present in Albania that dates back
the Paleolithic period. Nonetheless the oldest discovery within the urban area of
Tirana was a Roman House , which has been later transformed into an aisleles
church with a mosaic floor, dating to the 3rd century, with other remains found
near a medieval temple at Shengjin Fountain in the eastern suburbs. A castle
possibly called Tirkan, whose remnants are found along Murat Toptani Street,
was built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and restored by Ahmed Pasha
Toptani in the 18th century.

6. Tirana was proclaimed by theCongres of Lushnja, as the capital of Albania, eight
years following independence in 1912. The first regulatory city plan was compiled in
1923 by Austro-hungarian architects. The city center of Tirana was designed
by italian architects including Florestano Di Fausto, Gherardo Bosio and Armando
Brasini. Tirana continued with its status as the political and cultural centre of the
country, being home to all the national institutions that includes the goverment,
the parlament, the ministries, the judicial bodies and other major political
institutions.

7. Tabak Bridge (Ura e Tabakëve), also known as Tanners’ Bridge, is a famous stone
footbridge dating from the 18th century. Once part of the famous Shëngjergj Road
between Tirana and key agricultural areas outside the city, it takes its name from the
many butchers and tanners who operated in the area during the Ottoman era in
Albania.
The bridge fell into disrepair for many years, but a restoration project in the 1990’s
brought the wonderful architecture and utility of the pedestrian bridge back. Today the
people of Tirana may soon enjoy a pedestrian zone surrounding the bridge. The
architecture of this wonderful attraction is a testimony too, to the urban architecture of
the area in the 18th century.

8. Kulla e Sahatit (Clock Tower) is the city
symbol of Tirana. As one of the oldest
buildings in the city, the Clock Tower
represents an important touristic attraction
at the heart of the Skanderbeg Square.
Kulla e Sahatit was built in 1822 by Haxhi
Et`hem Bey, as a bell tower. The original
Venetian bell used to ring the time every
hour. In 1928 the tower was extended to 35
meters, with a German hand-made clock.

9. The Muzeu I Orëve (Clocks’ Museum) is a new museum opened in the
former Dyqanin e Sahatçiut shop, near the clock tower Kulla e Sahatit.
The museum documents the history of tower clocks in Albania through
models, documents, prints, graphics and other historic items. The main
focus is Kulla e Sahatit, Tirana’s city symbol.

10. Muzeu Historik Kombëtar, the National History Museum of Albania, was inaugurated on October 28, 1981 and is the largest
museum institution in the country. You’ll find this cultural attraction at the western part of Skanderbeg Square.
The museum is structured in eight sections, reflecting the rich history of the Albanian people. Among these, the most important
section is the Antiquity Pavilion, which boasts more than 400 items from the Late Palaeolithic to the first part of the Middle Ages.
Visitors can see here objects of the prehistoric homes of Maliq, that represent the flourishing of the Neolithic from mid IV millennium
up to the year 2600 BC. Other important collections include silver and bronze coins from the 5 century BC, and the sculptures of the
school of Apollonia.
The Middle Ages Pavilion reflects the economic, social, political and cultural development of the Albanians, who have preserved
their values and culture, resiting against the ruling of Byzantines, French, Turks and Serbs.
The National Renaissance Pavilion is focused on the political and cultural development of Albania from the beginning of the 19th.
Visitors get familiar with traditional handicrafts in the various cities of Albania like Skutari, Lezhe, Prizren, Elbasan, Berat, Korça etc.
The Independence Pavilion tells the story of the National Government of Valona and the organization of the Albanian independent
State.
The Iconography Pavilion is one of the most interesting sections of the Muzeu Historik Kombëtar if you like religious art. This is
where you will see works by the great masters of the Albanian iconography: Onufri, his son Nikola, Onufër Qipriotin, Kostandin
Shpatarakun, David Selenicasin, Kostandin and Athanas Zografin, Mihal Anagnostin, and many anonymous artists.
The Ethnographic Pavilion introduces the viewer to the traditional garments of the various Albanian regions (19th-20th centuries):
Tirana, Zadrima, Korca, Gjirokastra, Kukes, and Laberia. The pavilion also exhibits different cooper and aluminum objects of past
centuries, which have been part of Albanian daily life.
The Pavilion of the Anti Fascist War follows the vicissitudes of the war of Valona (1920) and of the fascist dictatorship of Benito
Mussolini. The fight of the Albanians against fascism during the war against the Italian-German Nazi-fascism is well documented.
Last, but not least, the Pavilion of the Communist Genocide tells the story of the time-frame between 1943 and 1992. An important
place is dedicated to the presentation, through documents and photos, of the operations of the anti communist forces. You’ll find

11. The Park was built between 1955 and 1956 based on a Bulgarian plan and used to
be called the Gogo stable, in a green area.
There are almost 120 species of trees, bushes and flowers. The Botanical Garden
area is of 14.5 hecatares and the lake's size is of 55 hectares, whereas the area of
the Park itself is of 230 hectares

12. The Hadji Et'hem Bey
Mosque (Albanian: Xha
mia e Haxhi Et'hem
Beut) is an 18th-century
mosque located in the
center of
the Albanian capital Tira
na
Construction was
started in 1791 or
1794 by Molla
Bey and it was
finished in 1819 or
1821 by his son Haxhi
Et’hem bey.

13. The Tirana mosaic
(Albanian: Mozaiku i Tiranës) is a
landmark in Tirana, Albania.
It is believed to have been part of
a 3rd century Roman house,
referred to by local archeologists
as the 'Villa rustica'. Later, in the
5th and 6th centuries, a Paleo-
Christian Basilica was built around
this site. It was declared a cultural
monument of the first category in
June 1973.

14. The Lana
river is the main
stream that
crosses
through Tirana.
It’s source is in
the mountains
east of Tirana.

15. BUNK’ART 2 – in memory of victim of comunism in
Albania

16. Fortress of Justinian or simply known
as Tirana Castle . Its history dates back
before 1300 and is a remnant from the
Byzantine-era. The fortress is the place
where the main east-west and north-south
roads crossed, and formed the heart of
Tirana.

17. Petrelë Castle is a castle in Petrelë, central Albania. Its
history dates back to JustinianI. Petrelë Castle is 329 metres
(1,079 ft) above sea level.
The castle of Petrela has a rich history, containing a tower
which was built in the 6th century AD

18. The Prezë Castle is a medieval castle in Prezë, Albania.
Preza Castle overlooks the village with the same name and is located on a hilltop.
It is a small castle the construction of which started in the 14th century and was
completed in the early 15th century and belonged to the Thopias, a local feudal
family.

19. The club football Tirana was founded on 15 August 1920

20. Traditional costumes

21. Albanian Tavë Dheu me Mëlçi is one of Albania's national
dishes and is also know as Fergesë me Mëlçi (with Liver).