We will start our adventure by discovering Tirana, the capital of Albania. Meet with your local companion at our office in Tirana. Tirana offers a great combination of very interesting museums, historic sites, national parks, mountains and Ottoman, Italian and communist style architecture all clashing with each other, but offering a great pleasure to wander through.
Our first stop will be Postblloku (Checkpoint), a powerful memorial to Albania's communist-era isolation. Located on the main boulevard opposite the government building, this site honors the political prisoners who suffered under the oppressive regime.
Next, we’ll head towards the colorful and lively Blloku Neighborhood. Once a restricted area for members of the Albanian politburo, Blloku is now one of Tirana’s most vibrant areas, full of cafes, boutiques, and colorful street art. While there, Blloku we will also pass by the residence of Albania’s communist leader Enver Hoxha.
We will walk towards Skanderbeg Square, named after the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu. The main square is surrounded by the National Museum, the Bank of Albania, the theatre of Opera, Skanderbeg Statue, Ethem Beu Mosque and fancy bars. Our tour continues towards Tirana Castle, found in the city center. The castle is now a pedestrian street where modern and tradition perfectly merge creating one of the fanciest areas of modern Tirana.
Did you know that Albania is home to a mix of religious communities, primarily Muslims (both Sunni and Bektashi), Orthodox Christians, and Catholic? From the Ottoman Empire to the Communist era and into the present day, Albania has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to embrace diversity. We will get to learn more about Albanian’s religious while we pass by Namazgah Mosque (the largest in the Balkans); Orthodox Cathedral and Catholic St. Paul’s Cathedral. This will remark the end of this tour through Tirana’s history and culture
