Youmanist: Many, many reasons to visit Tirana

“Why Visit Tirana, when there are plenty of beautiful cities around?” writes the Youmanist.it, an Italian tourism portal in its article to continue with the answer: "Because the Albanian capital is in a phase of great changes, it is easily reachable for weekends, it is governed by a revolutionary mayor. Not to mention numerous traveler influencers saying to their online community to discover Tirana".

Below are the reasons why to go in Tirana.

Skanderbeg square

To get an idea just take a walk in  Piazza Scanderbeg , just reopened after a grand restoration . The new regulatory plan has in fact been entrusted by none other than  Stefano Boeri , the most famous Italian architect in the world.

Et’hem Bey mosque

The  Et'hem Bey mosque , which was inaugurated in 1823 and still today one of the capital's most admired monuments, is completely different. It is famous in particular for its frescoes, far from common for a mosque.

Et'hem Bey Mosque and Clock Tower

Eat and Drink in Blloku and New Bazaar

Among the many good news that Tirana has in store for visitors is the fact  that they eat well and have a lot of fun. Above all from the parts of  Blloku , a district once a prerogative of the Communist Politburo, where it was forbidden to put foot on the common mortals. Indeed, to avoid annoyance, the dictator  Enver Hoxha  (who from 1944 to 1995 made the country his own toy)  had the brilliant thought to delete it from the road and tourist maps of Tirana. Once reappeared on the radar, Blloku was transformed into the good and fashionable salon of the young Albanian elite. But if you love food you cannot miss a trip to the Pazari i Ri (New Bazaar), a brand new market filled with delicacies at kilometer zero.

Communist history

One of the most prominent things of Albanian communism is the Hoxha’s bunkers.  The man was so convinced that one day the imperialists would try to put Albania in their pocket, which scattered it with  underground shelters  in every corner of the country. And for the most part they are still there. 

Nature outside Tirana

If you suffer from claustrophobia jump on Dajti Cable car and give yourself a picnic on the  Dajti Ekspres , the ski lift that takes you to the top of the verdant Mount Dajti. From up there, the view is unrivaled.

See original article in Italian: https://www.youmanist.it/currents/rotte-insolite/un-salto-a-tirana