For lovers of mountain recreation:
Albania - a beautiful mountainous country in South-Eastern Europe, located in the western Balkans. It shares borders with Serbia and Montenegro to the north and east, Macedonia - in the east and Greece - to the south and south-east to the west by the Adriatic Sea, south-west - in the Ionian Sea.
Geographical position
In the south of the Strait of Otranto, 75 km wide, separates Albania from Italy. Area - 28,748 square meters. miles. The greatest length from north to south - about 345 km. The width varies from 145 km to the south up to 80-100 km in the north. The coastline - 472 km.
The capital - the city of Tirana.
Little information is
Albania natural features - is a big attraction. Mountain landscape with its majestic rocky peaks, beautiful beaches under the warm Mediterranean sun and crystal clear waters of the Adriatic sea - all this is of great importance for the tourists. Beach can become a serious competitor to the famous resorts of Croatia and Italy.
In addition to beautiful nature in Albania to be seen in historical perspective. The architecture of the country - a motley mix of many religions, cultures and styles - from the monuments of the ancient Greek period to the Muslim minarets
City of Shkodra is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Its chief ornament is an impressive mosque of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Zamila Zamil. Near the mosque is the Museum of Popullo ("Public Museum"), which has an impressive collection of historic photographs. The museum has a rich collection of archaeological artifacts, is located on the lower floors.
One of the major Christian churches in the country - a magnificent Franciscan church in the Ruga-Ndre-Mdzheda. The legendary fortress Rozafa 2 km from Shkodra, near the southern tip of the eponymous lake. Here is a beautiful castle mnogokupolnaya leading mosque, the only mosque in the city survived the Cultural Revolution 60 years. Mesi Bridge, located 8 km from Shkodra, also deserves attention, it is a monument to national hero Skanderbeg.
At 120 km south of Tirana, lies the picturesque town of Gjirokastra Museum. It is situated on the slopes above the shore of the river Drin. The city was known for his colorful and noisy bazaar where local shopping delicate embroidery, silk and eastern Albanian famous white cheese.
Above the Bazaar Mosque, located in the city center is a monument to Memedhu. Above the town is dominated by a grim fortress of the XIV century, is now a museum of weapons. It is worth visiting the Museum of the national liberation movement, the Ethnographic Museum, the mosque Mekate and old Turkish baths in the lower part of the city.
Durres (Durachcho in Italian) - a major industrial city in the country and second largest city in Albania. The city was founded by the Greeks in 627 BC.
For many centuries it was the largest port on the Adriatic and the beginning of the famous Via Ignatius went up to Constantinople itself. To this day the ruins of the Byzantine and Venetian fortresses, "Venice of the Tower" in the harbor, the medieval city wall goes to the amphitheater (I-II centuries. NE), which is located in the crypt with a rare beauty of a mosaic wall. Amphitheater itself is still considered a hallmark of the city
Near the town is a popular seaside resort of Durres-Plage.
The ruins of the ancient Apollonia lies 12 km from Fier and 100 km south of Durres. Among the popular tourist survived an amphitheater, the Roman colonnade of the city center shops, Odeon (II century. NE), a portico (III c. E.) With niches for statues, "Mosaic House" with a fountain, Buleterion (I CNE), fragments of walls (IV century AD.), the Monastery of St. Mary's (XII century. l. e). Archeological Museum and the Byzantine church. Apollonia is located near the majestic Ardenika monastery.
Kukes town located 100 kilometers northeast of Tirana, on the picturesque shores of Lake Fiertsa great, just below the top of the mountain Galik. Old Town once stood at the confluence of two rivers - the White and Black Drina Drina flowing out of Lake Ohrid, but in 1962 the town was moved to its present location when the government built hydroelectric dam, the river flooded its original location.
Now you can relax in Kukes and have a good time, enjoying the fresh mountain air and beautiful scenery of the reservoir.
Korce - the edge of the main town, situated on a high plateau near the Greek border, south of Lake Ohrid. It is the largest center kovrodelchesky Albania, founded by the Greeks. Interesting museums - Muzeu-and-Arteta, Mesdzhetar-Shkiptar (Museum of Albanian Medieval Art) Museum and Historical Muzeu-and-Arsim-Kombetar (Museum of Education, here in 1887 opened the first Albanian school).
After the earthquake in 1931 and 1960, many historic buildings were destroyed, but survived, some beautiful old buildings of Korca, including a mosque Mirahor (1466) in the bazaar area, west of the hotel Ilir.
A beautiful resort near the Macedonian border Pogradec on the shore of Lake Ohrid, known for its crystal clear water and trout. 5 km to the east of Korce Drilon is a tourist center, surrounded by extensive gardens.
On the southern border with Greece, 160 km south of Tirana, lie the ancient ruins of Butrint, considered the pearl of the Adriatic coast. The locals are proud to consider themselves descendants of the inhabitants of the legendary Troy. Over the centuries, beginning with the ancient Greeks, Butrint has been fortified trading city with its own acropolis, the ruins of which can still be visited, dates and rest houses of the nobility. Just below the Acropolis, in the woods, is a theater, dating from the III century BC. E. Next - public baths with beautiful mosaics, and a little deeper into the forest - a wall of VI century BC. E. with Greek inscriptions and decorated with colorful mosaics of the Baptistery of animals and birds.
Berat City Museum is located in 122 km south-east of Tirana. Currently, there are many historical monuments are concentrated XIV-XVIII centuries. Berat is sometimes called the "city of thousand windows" due to a number of windows in buildings, as if specially angled "sun" to its rays were reflected in the glasses.
The most convenient resort area of Albania - Ionian coast with lots of old buildings turned into hotels & Bs.
Talk about the Albanian cuisine:
Albanian cuisine vibrant mix of ancient Illyrian traditions with Greek, Turkish and Slavic recipes.
Traditional dishes of the northern region: rice in the broth of meat or vegetables, served with meat, Petula (analogue of Russian pancakes), meat, pasta, especially Sudzhuk, chicken rice, fried flour with some broth from the meat and garlic, sweet corn flour , cornmeal patties from the dairy, and more.
Traditional dishes of the central region: the meat of the Albanian yogurt dish of stewed meat in cheese, pastry with spinach, cabbage, milk, eggs, cheese, nettles, broccoli, rice with milk, liver, cheese and much more.
Special dessert balokume, typical for the city of Elbasan. This dessert is prepared in honor of the holiday "Summer Day". This area is known for the production of brandy from grapes and wines.
Traditional dishes of the southern district of lamb on a spit, and various dishes made of corn flour patties of meat, rice, cakes and more.
In the hottest season of the Albanians commonly used cold "tarator" of yogurt, cucumber, grated walnuts and onions with the addition of olive oil, yogurt and cold. This region produces the famous yogurt from milk of sheep, which has a very thick consistency.
How to behave in this country: the Albanians - one of the few countries in which the "yes" - shaking his head from side to side, and "no" - a nod. That is, not as we do, and vice versa.
When you visit someone at home has made small gifts.
The attitude to dress very informally adopted European clothes everywhere, but still shorts, short skirts and dresses should not be open to wear in public.
Percent of population ... Population
In Albania, home to some 3.5 million people. The population is mainly concentrated in coastal and intermountain basins. Most of the country, in fact, the Albanians (two sub-ethnic groups - "gags" in the north and "anguish" in the south), whose number is 95%.
Money Albanians:
Lek (ALL), which is 100 kindarkam. In circulation are banknotes in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 lectures of various modifications, as well as coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 lek. There are the same notes at par in three different versions, which differ from each other in appearance. U.S. dollars and euros to freely distributed along with the national currency.
Import and export of foreign currency is not limited to, the currency of more than U.S. $ 2,500 must be declared upon entry. The export of foreign currency previously imported during the year, the national - not more than 3,000 lectures.
The import of weapons, pornographic materials and drugs. The export of antiquities, including rocks from archaeological excavations.
Allowed free export of copies of ancient works, which are sold throughout the world.