The Economist:Tirana, once one of Europe’s dreariest cities, is now worth a visit

The transformation of the last years of Tirana, has tampered world prestigious media to write and recommend a visit in Albanian capital. Recently the most reputable  international newspaper “The Economist” has published an article promoting Tirana and the work of its Mayor.

“No city in Europe has changed as much in the past 25 years as Tirana. Now Mr Veliaj, who is tipped by some to be a future leader of the country, is changing it again.” writes The Economist.

In fact, Tirana is a city of changes, each year you can see something different and improvements in the city’s face.

“Once a busy roundabout, cars have been banished and trees and fountains have replaced them. Plans are even afoot to renovate Tirana’s wacky but dilapidated 1980s pyramid.

A quarter of a century ago, Tirana was more capital village than capital city. Under communism it was a backwater of 200,000 people. Until 1991 private cars were banned, there were few shops and virtually no entertainment. Now (partly thanks to boundary changes) it is home to 1m people—more than a third of Albania’s population. The city generates half of the country’s GDP, says Mr Veliaj.

The fall of communism ushered in a crazed phase of building everywhere, including over Tirana’s central park. Edi Rama, now the Socialist prime minister, cleared away many of the centre’s illegal buildings when he was mayor. Mr Veliaj has picked up where he left off.”

See full article: https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21732564-albanian-capitals-unlikely-renaissance-why-tirana-once-one-europes-dreariest-cities