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Travel review to Albania

Albania (Albanian: Shqipëri), officially the Republic of Albania (Albanian: Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in the Balkans region of southeastern Europe. It is bordered to the northwest by Montenegro, to the northeast by Kosovo, to the east by the Republic of Macedonia, to the south by Greece, to the west by the Adriatic Sea, and to the southwest by the Ionian Sea. 

It is less than 72 kilometers (45 mi) away from Italy across the Strait of Attica, which connects the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea. Tirana is the capital and largest city. Its official language is Albanian, its currency is the Albanian lek, and its coat of arms is a black double-headed eagle, which was found on a stone dating back to the Stone Age in one of the archaeological caves in Albania.

Albania is a member of the United Nations, NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean. Albania has been a potential candidate for EU accession since January 2003 and formally applied for EU membership on 28 April 2009.

Albania is a parliamentary democracy with a transitional economy. The Albanian capital, Tirana, has a population of approximately 607,467 people out of a population of 2,402,113 million in 2023 and is also the country's financial capital.

Free market reforms have opened the country to foreign investment, particularly in the development of energy and transport infrastructure. Albania was named one of the top ten countries in Lonely Planet's 2011 list.

Albania is a medieval Latin name for the country, known to its inhabitants as Shqebiri. Albania is known in Medieval Greek as Albania, Albaniteia, or Arbaniteia.

The name may go back to the Illyrian tribe "Albani," mentioned by the Alexandrian geographer and astronomer Ptolemy, who in 150 AD drew a map showing the city of Albanopolis northeast of Durrës.

The name may be a continuation of a medieval settlement called Albanon and Arbanon, although it is not certain that they were in the same place. The Byzantine historian Michael Attaliates first mentioned Albanoi in his History (1079–1080), where he reported that the city took part in the revolt against Constantinople in 1043 and that the Arbanitai lived under the authority of the Duke of Dyrrachium. The Albanians called their country Arbir or Arbin in the Middle Ages and called themselves Arbirish or Arbenish.

By the early 16th century, the names Arberia and Arbérich were gradually replaced by Shaqberia and Shaqebtari. Both names are interpreted as "Land of Eagles" and "Sons of Eagles," although they are derived from the adverb shaqeb, which means "to understand one another.".

Albania under Ottoman rule was officially called Arnavutluk, and its inhabitants Arnautians.The name is believed to be a derivative of the Greek word Arwanites, the medieval Greek name for Albanians.

The area now known as Albania has been inhabited since prehistory. It was inhabited in ancient times by the Illyrians, the ancestors of the present-day Albanians.

Surrounded by powerful and warring empires, Albania has witnessed great violence and competition for control throughout its history. The Greeks, Romans, Serbs, Venetians, and Ottomans have invaded the country, leaving their cultural marks as well as their ruins.

Archaeological research shows that Albania has been inhabited since the Stone Age, with settlement occurring in areas with favorable climatic and geographical conditions. The first settlements have been discovered in the Jagtan Cave (in Shkodra), in Konispol on Mount Dajti, and in Saranda. Cyclopean structures have been discovered in Crikonija (Arinishta) and other areas in Gjirokastra County. There are also well-preserved walls (with a Cyclopean part) of an ancient city (possibly the city of Byles) at Gradište on the banks of the picturesque Vjoza River. Few traces of the celebrated city of Dyrakim (today known as Durrës) have survived.

The rediscovered city of Butrint is perhaps more important today than it was when Julius Caesar used it as a depot for his troops during his campaigns in the 1st century BC. It was not an important city at that time, overshadowed by the reputation of the Greek colonies of Apollonia and Durrës.

The official investigation and recording of Albanian monuments was undertaken by François Boucavel and Martin Lake. François was Napoleon's consul general at the court of Ali Pasha, and Martin Lake was the British agent there. A French expedition led by Len Ray operated in Albania from 1924 to 1938 and published its findings in Recordes d'archéologie, d'art et d'histoire de l'Albania et l'Balkans (Cahiers d'archéologie, d'art et d'histoire de l'Albania et l'Balkans).

Archaeologists today still find remains from the Stone Age to the early Christian era.

Another project yielded prehistoric findings, albeit unexpectedly, in the Krikjita Valley near the present-day city of Fier and the Apollonia area. This excavation was the result of a collaboration between the University of Cincinnati and archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology in Albania, which was a project aimed at identifying the Greek colony of Apollonia. Instead, they found evidence of a much older settlement.

Butrint National Park was established by the Albanian government in 2000 and is visited by about 70,000 visitors annually, making it Albania's second World Heritage Site.

In 2003, a church dating back to the 5th or 6th century AD was uncovered in the coastal town of Saranda opposite Corfu. It is the first time an ancient church has been found in the area. The history of its excavation is also noteworthy. The team found exceptional mosaics related to Jewish holidays, including the Menorah, the horn of a sheep, and the citron tree. The mosaic in the church’s sanctuary shows a facade depicting what looks like a Torah, animals, trees, and other biblical symbols. The structure measures 20 meters by 24 meters and was probably last used as a church in the 6th century AD.

The Illyrians were inhabitants of the borders of Albania in ancient times and were tribes and clans like the rest of the Balkan peoples. 

The Illyrian tribes began to develop politically from small and simple entities to larger and more complex entities in parallel with the establishment of Greek settlements. They began to form temporary alliances with each other for defensive and offensive purposes, then as federations, then as kingdoms.

The most important of these kingdoms, which flourished from the second to the fifth century BC, were the kingdoms of Enkilai, Taulatni, and Ardii.

King Bardyllis (385-358 BC) knew this kingdom in the fourth century BC when he occupied a large part of Macedonia but was defeated as a result of the attacks of Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great.

The Illyrian kingdom reached the peak of its expansion and development when one of its most prominent kings, King Agron (250-230 BC), managed to unite the Illyrian tribes into a single kingdom. Under his leadership, the Illyrian kingdom ruled a vast territory extending from modern-day northern Albania to a large part of the eastern Adriatic coast. The capital was the city of Shkodra, as it is now an important city in northern Albania.

Under Agron, the Illyrian kingdom was centered on Scodra and extended from Dalmatia in the north to the coasts opposite the tip of Italy.

Queen Teuta succeeded him after his death in 230 BC (reigned 230–228 BC) and captured Corcyra and forced the Epirotes to ally with the Illyrians, thus extending the sphere of influence to the Corinthian Gulf.

Queen Teuta later clashed (in 229 BC) with the Romans, thus starting the Illyrian Wars that brought the kingdom to an end in 168 BC, when King Gentius was defeated by a Roman army besieging Scodra.

The Romans occupied the territory that is modern Albania in 165 BC and incorporated it into the empire as part of the province of Illyria Illyricum. The western part of the Via Egnatia was within modern Albania. Illyricum was later divided into the provinces of Dalmatia and Pannonia.

When the Roman Empire was divided into East and West in 395 AD, the territory of modern Albania became part of the Byzantine Empire. Illyria suffered devastation from the first decades of Byzantine rule (until 461) as a result of invasions by the Visigoths, Huns, and Ostrogoths. It was not long after these barbaric invasions of the Balkans that the Slavs appeared. The tribes of southern Illyria underwent a transformation and change from the old Illyrian society to Albanian society. This happened over several centuries, and under the influence of Roman, Byzantine, and Slavic cultures.

The area now called Albania remained under the rule of the Byzantine and Bulgarian kingdoms until the 14th century AD, when the Ottoman Turks began incursions into the empire. The Ottomans captured Constantinople in 1453, and by 1460 most of the former Byzantine lands were in Turkish hands.

The new administrative system, which included the existence of the Kedad (Byzantine province), contributed to the emergence of feudalism in Albania, when peasant soldiers (who served military lords) became serfs on their estates. The largest Albanian families of feudal nobility were the Thopia, Shabata, Muzaka, Araneti, Dukagjini, and Kastrioti families. The first three families became ruling divisions practically independent of Byzantium.

The name Arberia began to be used more often for the area that now comprises the nation of Albania (see Origins and History of the Name Albania).

The Ottomans expanded their empire from Anatolia to the Balkans from the late 14th century. By the 15th century, the Ottomans dominated almost the entire Balkan Peninsula, except for a small coastal strip incorporated into modern Albania. The Albanians' resistance to the Ottomans in the 15th century won them support throughout Christian Europe. Albania became a symbol of Ottoman resistance, but it remained in almost constant warfare.

One of the most powerful responses to Ottoman expansion came under the leadership of Skanderbeg (Albanian: Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg) from 1443 to 1468. He fought with 30,000 Albanians under a red banner bearing Skanderbeg's emblem and prevented the Ottoman conquest of Albanian territory for 24 years. Skanderbeg's leadership was so strong that he defeated Mehmed II (the Conqueror) at Kruja in 1466. Skanderbeg reconverted to Roman Catholicism and declared a holy war against the Ottomans. 

The Albanians defeated three Ottoman attempts to conquer Krupi (see Siege of Krupi). Skanderbeg was unable to obtain any help from the new crusade promised by the popes and died in 1468 without leaving a strong successor.

After the death of Skanderbeg, Albanian resistance continued until 1478, with little success. The loyalties and alliances that Skanderbeg had forged and nurtured collapsed, and the Ottomans conquered Albania shortly after the fall of the fortress of Krupi. Albania thus became part of the Ottoman Empire. 

Many Albanians subsequently fled to neighboring countries such as Italy, mostly to the cities of Calabria and Sicily. 

The majority of the Albanian population converted to Islam during this time. There were several attempted uprisings during this period by Skanderbeg's son and nephew in the 1500s, during the Ottoman-Venetian wars, the Ottoman-Habsburg wars, against the Ottoman Tanzimat, and during the Albanian National Revival (1831-1912). This period also saw the beginning of the Albanian Pashas, ​​with Albanians becoming an important part of the Ottoman army and administration, such as the Köprülü family. Albania remained part of the Ottoman Empire as the provinces of ShkodraManastir,ir and Janja until 1912.

Albania did not gain independence until the 20th century. After five hundred years of Ottoman rule, Albania declared its independence on November 28, 1912, as a result of the London Conference that ended the First Balkan War. 

The war had broken out in 1912 due to the Albanian uprising of 1908–1910, which was directed against the Ottoman policies of unifying the Ottoman Empire. As the Ottoman Empire weakened in the Balkans, Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria declared war, each seeking to move its borders into the remaining territory of the empire. Serbia invaded Albania from the north, and Greece invaded Albania from the south, reducing the country to a patch of land around the southern coastal city of Vlora. Albania declared its independence in 1912 while still under foreign occupation, with the help of Austria-Hungary, and the Great Powers drew up Albania's present-day borders, leaving more than half of the Albanian population outside the new country. 

The war had broken out in 1912 due to the Albanian uprising of 1908–1910, which was directed against the Ottoman policies of unifying the Ottoman Empire. As the Ottoman Empire weakened in the Balkans, Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria declared war, each seeking to move its borders into the remaining territory of the empire. Serbia invaded Albania from the north, and Greece invaded Albania from the south, reducing the country to a patch of land around the southern coastal city of Vlora. 

Albania declared its independence in 1912 while still under foreign occupation, with the help of Austria-Hungary, and the Great Powers drew up Albania's present-day borders, leaving more than half of the Albanian population outside the new country. The border between Albania and its neighbors was drawn in 1913 after the dissolution of most of the Ottoman Empire's territories in the Balkans. 

The new demarcation of the border left a large number of Albanians outside Albania. This population was divided between Serbia and Montenegro (which then included what is now the Republic of Macedonia). 

A large number of Albanians found themselves under Serbian rule. On the other hand, a rebellion by local Greeks in the south of the country led to the formation of an autonomous region for them within the borders of Albania (1914). After a period of political instability during World War I, the country adopted a republican form of government in 1920.

From 1928, especially during the Great Depression, the government of King Ahmed Zog, which was almost entirely dependent on Mussolini, began to cede sovereignty of Albania to Italy. By 1939 the Italians had invaded the country, and Albania had become an Italian protectorate.

Despite some resistance, especially in Durrës, Italy invaded Albania on 7 April 1939 and took control of the country, declaring Mussolini, the puppet king of Italy, as King of Albania. Albania was one of the first countries to be occupied by the Axis powers in World War II.

With the onset of Adolf Hitler's aggression, Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini decided to occupy Albania as a means of competing with Hitler's territorial gains. Mussolini and the Italian fascists considered Albania a historical part of the Roman Empire, and the occupation was the realization of Mussolini's dream of establishing an Italian Empire. 

During the Italian occupation, the Albanian population was subjected to a policy of forced Italianization by the Italian rulers of the kingdom, with the use of the Albanian language discouraged in schools while the Italian language was promoted, and the Italians encouraged the colonization of Albania.

Mussolini used an Albanian base to launch an attack on Greece in October 1940, which resulted in the defeat of Italian forces and the occupation of southern Albania by Greek forces. However, Hitler decided to attack Greece in December 1940, as part of preparations for an invasion of Russia, to prevent a British attack on his southern forces before the Greek surrender resulted in the return of Albania to Italy.

The Labour Party was founded during World War II on November 8, 1941. With the intention of organizing a partisan resistance, a general congress was called in Pezë on September 16, 1942, which resulted in the establishment of the Albanian National Liberation Front. The Front included nationalist groups but was dominated by the Communist Party. In December 1942, another Albanian nationalist party was founded, headed by Pfizer-Cola. The Albanians fought against the Italians during the German occupation. 

The nationalist Pale allied with the Germans and clashed with the Albanian communists, who continued their struggle against the Germans and Pale Kombetar at the same time.

With Mussolini's government in ruins due to the Allied invasion, Germany occupied Albania in September 1943, dropping paratroopers into Tirana before the Albanian militia could take control of the capital. The German army quickly pushed the militants back into the hills and south. Berlin then declared that it recognized the independence of neutral Albania and organized an Albanian government, police, and army. Many units of the Bali Kombëtar cooperated with the Germans against the communists, and several Bali Kombëtar commanders held positions in the German-sponsored regime.

The Partisans liberated Albania from German occupation on November 28, 1944. They also liberated Kosovo, part of Montenegro, and southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. By November 1944 they had expelled the Germans, making Albania the only Eastern European nation to do so without Soviet help. Enver Hoxha became the leader of the country by virtue of his position as General Secretary of the Albanian Communist Party.

Albania is one of the European countries with a larger Jewish population after the war than before the war. Only one Jewish family was deported and killed during the Nazi occupation of Albania. Albanian families hid about 1,200 Jewish residents and refugees from other Balkan countries during World War II, according to official documents.

Albania was allied with the Soviet Union, then broke away from the Soviet Union in 1960 in a process of "renouncing Stalinism.". This was followed by a strong political alliance with China, which brought billions of dollars in Chinese aid, which declined after 1974. China cut off aid in 1978 when Albania criticized Chinese policies after the death of Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Large-scale purges of officials occurred during the 1970s.

Enver Hoxha, who had ruled Albania with an iron fist for four decades, died on 11 April 1985. The new regime introduced some liberalization, including measures in 1990 that provided for freedom of travel abroad. Efforts were made to improve relations with the outside world. The March 1991 elections brought former communists to power, but a general strike and civilian opposition led to the formation of a coalition government that included non-communists.

The former communists were defeated in the March 1992 elections, amid economic collapse and social unrest. Sali Berisha was elected the first non-communist president since World War II. The next crisis came in 1997 during his presidency, as riots tore the country apart. State institutions collapsed, and an Italian-led European Union military mission was sent to stabilize the country. Berisha was defeated in the summer 1997 elections, winning only 25 of the 155 seats.

But he returned to power at the head of a coalition in the elections held on 3 July 2005, which ended 8 years of Socialist Party rule. In 2009 Albania and Croatia joined NATO.

Albania is a parliamentary democratic republic established under a constitution that was renewed in 1998. Elections are held every four years for the 140-seat unicameral National Assembly. In June 2002, centrist candidate Alfred Moisiu, a former military general, was elected to succeed President Recep Meidani. Parliamentary elections in July 2005 brought Sali Berisha to power as leader of the Democratic Party. 

Albania's Euro-Atlantic integration has been the ultimate goal of post-communist governments. 

The European Commission has considered Albania's accession to the EU one of its top priorities. Albania and Croatia were invited to join NATO on 3 April 2008. Albania and Croatia joined NATO on 2 April 2009, becoming the alliance's 27th and 28th members.

Albania's workforce has continued to emigrate to Greece, Italy, Germany, other parts of Europe, and North America. But the flow of migration is slowly beginning to decrease, as more and more opportunities are created in Albania as the economy develops steadily.

The head of state of Albania is the President of the Republic. The President is elected for a 5-year term by the National Assembly by secret ballot, which requires a 50% + 1 majority of votes of all deputies. The current president of the Republic is Bujar Nishani, elected in July 2012.

The President has the power to ensure the observance of the Constitution and all laws, act as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, exercise the duties of the National Assembly of the Republic of Albania when the Assembly is not in session, and appoint the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister).

Executive power rests with the Council of Ministers (Cabinet). The head of the Council (Prime Minister) is appointed by the President; ministers are nominated by the President on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The People's Assembly must give final approval to the composition of the Council. The Council is responsible for implementing both foreign and domestic policies. It directs and controls the activities of ministries and other state agencies.

The Assembly of the Republic of Albania is the legislative body of Albania. There are 140 deputies in the Assembly, who are elected through a party-list proportional representation system. The Assembly is headed by the President (or Chairman), who has two deputies. There are 15 standing committees or commissions. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years.

The Assembly has the power to decide the direction of domestic and foreign policy; approve or amend the constitution; declare war on another state; ratify or approve annual international treaties; elect the President of the Republic, the Supreme Court, the Attorney General, and his or her deputies; and control the activity of the state radio and television, the news agency, and other state media.

Albania is located along the Mediterranean Sea in the Balkan Peninsula in southern and southeastern Europe. Albania has a total area of ​​28,748 squarkilometerses (11,000 smi)), and a coastline of 36kilometerses (220 mi) along the Adriatic and Ionian seas. The lowlands in the west face the Adriatic Sea. 

70% of the country is mountainous and often inaccessible from the outside. The highest mountain in Albania is Mount Korab, located in Dibra County, reaching an elevation of 2,75meterses (9,032 ft). The country has a continental climate at high altitudes, with cold winters and hot summers. 

In addition to the capital Tirana, other major cities are Durrës, Elbasan, Shkodër, Gjirokastër, VloraKorçë,çë anKukës. . In Albanian grammar, a word can have both definite and indefinite forms, and this also applies to city names: Tirana and Tirana, Shkodër and Shkodra can all be used.

It is bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the west, Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east, Greece to the south, and the Ionian Sea to the southwest. It lies between latitudes 42° and 39° north and longitudes 21° and 19° east. The geographical coordinates include Vermoš at 42° 35' 34' north as the northernmost point, Konjicpol at 39° 40' 0' north as the southernmost point, Sazan at 19° 16' 50' east as the westernmost point, and Vernik at 21° 1' 26' east as the easternmost point.

The largest and deepest of the three tectonic lakes in the Balkan Peninsula is partly located in Albania. 

The largest and deepest of the three tectonic lakes in the Balkan Peninsula is partly located in Albania. The surface area of ​​Lake Shkodër in the northwest of the country varies between 53km². . One-third of this area is located in Albania and two-thirds in Montenegro. 

The Albanian coast of the lake is 57 km (35 mi) long. Lake Ohrid is located in the southeast of the country, between Albania and the Republic of Macedonia. It has a maximum depth of 289 m and a variety of rare flora and fauna, "livinfossils,ls" and many endemic species. Lake Ohrid is under UNESCO protection for its historical and natural value.

More than a third of Albania's territory (about 10,000 square kilometers (2.5 million acres)) is forested, and the country is very rich in flora. About 3,000 different plant species grow in Albania, many of which are used for medicinal purposes. Phytogeography determines that Albania belongs to the Borrelia kingdom, shared by the Adriatic and Eastern Mediterranean provinces of the Mediterranean region and the Illyrian province of the Circamborean region. 

According to the World Wildlife Fund and the European Ecoregions Digital Maps, funded by the European Environment Agency, Albania's territory can be divided into three ecoregions: Illyrian deciduous forests, Pindus mixed forests, and Dinaric mixed forests. The forests support a wide range of mammals, including wolves, bears, wild boars, and chamois. Lynx, wild cats, pine martens, and skunks are rare but survive in some parts of the country.

Albania has a large number of climate zones for its small area. Its coasts face the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, its highlands lie on the Balkan Highlands, and the country as a whole lies on a latitude that experiences a variety of climate patterns during winter and summer. The coastal lowlands are generally Mediterranean; the highlands have a Mediterranean continental climate. The climate in each of the interior lowlands varies greatly between north and south. 

The winters in the lowlands are mild, averaging about 7°C. The average summer temperature is 24°C. In the southern lowlands, the average temperature is 5°C higher throughout the year. The difference is greater than 5°C in summer and to a lesser extent in winter. Interior temperatures are more affected by differences in elevation than by differences in latitude or any other factors. 

The lower winter temperatures in the mountains are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the weather in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Winds blow from the north and northeast much of the time. The average summer temperatures are lower than in the coastal areas and much lower in the highlands, but the daily fluctuations are greater. 

The maximum daytime temperatures in the interior basins and river valleys are very high, but the nights are always cold. The average precipitation is heavy, a result of the convergence of the prevailing airflow from the Mediterranean and the continental air mass. Rain falls more in the central highlands. 

This is usually where the two airs meet, as the terrain rises. The vertical currents (which arise when the Mediterranean air rises) cause frequent thunderstorms. Many of these storms are accompanied by high local winds and heavy rainfall. 

When the continental air mass is weak, the Mediterranean winds drop their rains further inland. When a continental air mass dominates, cold air pours over the lowlands, and this happens most often in winter. 

The low temperatures in this season cause damage to olive and citrus trees, so vineyards and orchards are limited to less exposed areas on the southern and western sides, even in areas with high average winter temperatures. Average rainfall in the lowlands increases from 1,000 mm to more than 1,500 mm per year, with higher levels in the north. About 95% of the rain falls in winter. Rainfall is heaviest in the high mountain ranges. 

There are insufficient records of average precipitation, and estimates vary widely, but annual averages are probably about 1,800 mm, reaching 2,550 mm in some northern areas. Seasonal variation is not very great in the coastal area. The interior highlands receive much less precipitation than the intermediate highlands. Topographic differences cause wide variations, but seasonal distribution is more uniform than in any other region.

Albania remains a poor country by Eastern European standards. GDP per capita (measured in purchasing power parity terms) was 25% of the EU average in 2008. However, Albania has shown potential for economic growth, with more companies moving there and more consumer goods coming from emerging market traders as part of the current global cost-cutting drive. Only Cyprus and Albania recorded economic growth in the first quarter of 2009. The IMF reported in its latest report that Albania and Cyprus grew by 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively. 

Albania (once an energy exporter) relies on hydroelectric power to meet 53% of its electricity demand, with imports meeting the rest. The government's goal of building a nuclear power plant is to make the country an energy powerhouse. Albania and Croatia plan to build a joint nuclear power plant at Lake Shkodër near the border with Montenegro. Montenegro has criticized the plan due to seismicity in the area.

Albania ranked 83rd in the 2023 Global Innovation Index and dropped to 84th in the 2024 index.

By the early 1990s, all that remained of the post-World War II transport development were rock-strewn roads, unstable railways, and an outdated telephone network. Enver Hoxha’s hatred of the outside world and lust for control had kept Albania isolated. But the communications revolution had turned the wider world into a global village. Even domestic travel had become a luxury for many Albanians during the rise of communism.

The country's main cities are connected by first-class national roads. A four-lane highway connects Tirana to Durrës and Durrës to Lushnje. Albania is involved in the construction of what it sees as three major transport corridors. The main priority now is the construction of the four-lane Durrës-Pristina highway, which will connect Kosovo with Albania's Adriatic coast. 

The section of the highway connecting northeastern Albania to the border with Kosovo was completed in June 2009, reducing the time required to reach Kosovo from Durrës from six hours to two. However, the roads in northwestern Albania were still in poor condition as of summer 2009. It takes about an hour and a half to travel the 35 kilometers from the Montenegrin border to Shkodër. It should also be noted that there are no road signs or traffic lights in and around this city. 

The second priority is the construction of the Europe 8 corridor, which will connect Albania with the Republic of Macedonia and Greece. 

The third priority for the government is the construction of the country's north-south axis; it is referred to as the Adriatic and Ionian Road, as it is part of the regional highway that connects Croatia with Greece along the coasts of the Adriatic and Ionian seas. The vast majority of these three corridors are expected to be built before the end of the current decade. When all three corridors are completed, Albania will have 759 kilometers of highway connecting it with its neighbors.

The Albanian government signed an agreement with Greece in 1977, opening the first flights with non-communist Europe. As a result, Olympic Airlines was the first non-communist airline to fly into Albania. By 1991, Tirana had flights to many major European cities, including Paris, Rome, Zurich, Vienna, and Budapest. Tirana is served by a small airport, Tirana Nini Trezha Airport, located twenty-eight kilometers from the capital in the village of Rinas. Albania had no regular domestic air service. 

A French-Albanian joint venture launched the first private airline, Ada Airlines, in 1991. The company offered flights in 36-passenger aircraft four days a week between Tirana and Bari in Italy and chartered services to domestic and international destinations. 

Albania has one international airport as of 2007: Tirana Nini Trezha Airport. The airport is connected to 29 destinations by 14 airlines. It has seen a significant increase in passenger numbers and aircraft movements since the early 1990s. In December 2007, the airport is believed to have served over one million passengers and 43 takeoffs and landings per day.

The railway network was extensively enhanced by the authoritarian regime of Enver Hoxha, during which time private transport was strictly prohibited. Since the collapse of the previous regime, there has been a significant increase in car ownership and bus use. While some of the country's roads remain in very poor condition, other developments (such as the construction of the Tirana–Durrës motorway) have taken much of the traffic off the railways. The national railway company Hekurudha Shqiptare (meaning Albanian Railway) operates the 1,435 mm (4 ft 81⁄2 in) (standard gauge) Albanian railway system. All trains are hauled by Czech-made ČKD diesel-electric locomotives.

There has been much discussion, controversy, and interest in this small section (170 km) of Albanian highway, which aims to create a new high-speed link between Durres on the Adriatic coast and Morin on the Kosovo border. 

The current drive time between Kukes and Durres is 6-7 hours, but once this new highway is completed, it will be just two hours. The road is expected to be completed by the end of 2009. When extended to Pristina, it will be about 250 km long. 

The aim of the road, according to the Ministry of Transport, is to reduce transport costs, reduce accidents, and improve traffic flow. It is the largest and most expensive infrastructure project in Albania. There has also been much controversy and scandal in this project due to high construction costs that have led to several accusations of corruption. 

The cost was initially expected to be around 400 million euros but has now exceeded 800 million euros, although the government has not yet announced the exact cost of construction. Construction of the section from Morin to Pristina is due to begin in spring 2009.

Albania has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, at 77.43 years. The Albanian population is considered a young society, with a median age of 28.9 years. After 1990, the Albanian population faced new phenomena such as emigration, which greatly affected the distribution by regions and provinces. The regions in the north experienced a decrease in population, while Tirana and Durrës increased. The population of Albania was 3,152,600 on 1 January 2007 and 3,170,048 on 1 January 2008.

Alternative sources estimate the census in July 2009 at 3,639,453, with an annual growth rate of 0.546 percent.

Albania is a largely ethnically homogeneous country with a small presence of ethnic minorities.

The majority of the population is ethnic Albanian (98.6%). Minorities include Greeks (1.17%) and others (0.23%) (Vlachs, Macedonians, Roma, Bulgarians, Balkan Egyptians, and Serbs). There is disagreement over the size of the Greek minority, with the Albanian government claiming only 60,000, while the Greek government claims 300,000. Most Western sources consider the size of the Greek minority to be around ~2% of the population. 

The dominant language is Albanian, with two main dialects, Gheg and Tosk. Many Albanians are also fluent in English, Italian, Greek, or German.

Although most Albanians still belong to religious groups such as Muslims and Christians, the majority do not participate in religious rituals. According to the latest statistics, based on data from the United States government, most Albanians today are not religious.

A statistical survey yielded the following data:

56.70% Muslims (Sunni Muslims).

2.09%: Bektashi Muslims.

20.00%: Orthodox Christians.

6.09%: Roman Catholic.

0.6%: Protestant Christians.

0.1%: Evangelicals.

0.6%: others.

While the World Christian Database states that about 64% of Albanians are Muslims, 29.8% Christians, 5.3% agnostics, 0.7% non-religious, and 0.2% Bahá'ís.

After independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, the Albanian republic, and later monarchical and communist regimes, followed a systematic approach to separating religion from official functions and cultural life. 

Albania had no official state religion as a republic or as a kingdom. The clergy of all denominations was weakened under the monarchy and eventually eliminated during the 1540s and 1550s in a state policy to eliminate all manifestations of organized religion within the Albanian borders. 

Christianity spread to urban centers in the Albanian region in the late Roman Empire. It was in competition with Illyrian pagan culture and practices until the Middle Ages. The steady growth of the Christian community in Dyrrhachium (the Roman name for Epidamnus) led to the establishment of a local bishopric in 58 AD. 

Later, episcopal seats were established in Apollonia, Butrint, and Skodra. After the division of the Roman Empire in 395 AD, Albania fell administratively under the umbrella of the Eastern Roman Empire, but the Christians of Albania remained ecclesiastically dependent on Rome. Six centuries later, as a result of the final split in 1054 between the Western and Eastern churches, the churches and Christians in southern Albania fell under the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople, while those in the north fell under the supervision of the Pope in Rome. 

The communist regime that took control of Albania after World War II suppressed and completely banned religious rites and religious institutions to the point that Albania was officially declared the first atheist state in the world. However, religious freedom has been restored to Albania since the change of regime in 1992. 

Albanian Muslims (65-70%) are present throughout the country, while Orthodox Christians (20-25%) are concentrated in the south and Catholics (10%) in the north. There is no reliable data on active participation in formal religious services, but estimates range from 25% to 40%.

Albanian folk music is divided into three styles, with other important musical areas around Shkodër and Tirana; the main styles are Gheg in the north and Labz and Toks in the south. There is a marked contrast between the rugged, heroic songs of the north versus the quiet, delicate, and exceptionally beautiful dialect of the south. These disparate styles are united by "the energy that artists and listeners alike gave to their music as a means of national expression and transmission of oral historical narrative," as well as the use of certain characteristics, such as the use of obscure rhythms (3/8, 5/8, and 10/8). The first compilation of Albanian folk songs was made by Getir Donju in 1940.

Albanian folk songs can be divided into main groups: heroic northern epics, lullabies, love songs, wedding music, work songs, and other types of songs. Music for various festivals and holidays is an important part of Albanian folk song, especially that which celebrates the day of Saint Lazarus (llazore), which inaugurates spring. Lullabies and lamentations are two very important types of Albanian folk songs, usually performed by a woman alone.

In 1854, the German philologist Franz Bopp established that Albanian was an Indo-European language. Albanian represents a special branch of the Indo-European language family. Some scholars believe that Albanian derives from Illyrian , while others  claim that it derives from Daco-Thracian. (There may be an ancient connection between the two languages; see Thraco-Illyrian.)

To draw a longer connection, Albanian is often compared to Balto-Slavic on the one hand and Germanic on the other, both of which share a number of linguistic isoglosses with Albanian. Moreover, Albanian has developed a vowel development where the long stressed (o) has become (a), very similar to Balto-Slavic, but the opposite of Germanic. Albanian has also adopted the relative pronoun (jos) as an innovative and exclusive means of qualifying adjectives, in a manner similar to Balto-Slavic use of this word as a definite ending for adjectives.

Cultural resistance began to be expressed through the placement of the Albanian language in the sphere of church texts and publications, primarily in the Catholic confessional area in the north, but also for the Orthodox in the south. The Protestant reforms revived hopes for the development of the local language and literary tradition when the clergyman John Bozoko introduced the Catholic liturgy into the Albanian language, trying to do for the Albanian language what Luther did for German.

The first literary work written in Albanian is the Mashari (The Mass) by the clergyman John Buzuku, published in 1555. The high level of the book's language and its stable spelling must be the result of an earlier tradition of writing Albanian, which is not known. However, there is some fragmentary evidence, dating back to before Buzuku, which indicates that Albanian was written at least since the 14th century. 

The first known evidence dates from 1332 AD and concerns the French Dominican William Adam, Archbishop of Antivari, who wrote in a report published in Latin that the Albanians use Latin letters in their books, although their language is completely different from Latin. 

Particularly in support of this is the baptismal formula (Unte paghesont premenit Atit ét Birit ét spertit senit) of 1462, written in Albanian within a Latin text by a bishop of Durrës named Pal Ingeljë; a glossary of Albanian words from before 1497 written by Arnold von Harff, a German who travelled through Albania; and a fragment of the Bible from the Gospel of Matthew from the 15th century, written in Albanian, but in Greek letters.

The Albanian writings of these centuries are not only religious texts but also historical narratives. 

The humanist Marin Barleti refers to them, who in his book The Siege of Shkodër confirms that he has read these chronicles written in the language of the people. Despite the obstacles created by the Counter-Reformation, which opposed the development of national languages ​​through Christian rites, this process continued uninterrupted. 

During the 16th and 17th centuries, books were publishedincluding thehe oral expression "Christian teaching" (1592) by Leki Matrinja; "Christian doctrine" (1618) and "Roman tradition" (1621) by Peter Bode (the first Albanian writer of prose and poetry); "Apology for George Kastriot" (1636) by Faranj Barde (who published a dictionary and folklore of his own); and the philosophical-doctrinal treatise "A Team of Prophets" (1685) by Jeter Bogdani (the most famous figure of the Albanian Middle Ages). Albanian writer Ismail Kadare is perhaps the most famous Albanian writer of all time.

Before communism, Albania had an illiteracy rate of 85%, and schools were scarce between World War I and World War II. When communism took over in 1944, the regime wanted to “eliminate illiteracy.” Regulations were so strict that those aged 12 to 40 who could neither read nor write were required to attend classes to learn. Literacy has improved greatly since these difficult times.

Albania’s literacy rate today stands at 98.7%, with male literacy at 99.2% and female literacy at 98.3%. As the population movement in the 1990s was to urban areas, education also moved. Thousands of teachers moved to urban areas to follow up on students.

Football is the most popular sport in Albania, both in participation and spectatorship. It is organized by the Football Federation of Albania.

Albania national football team

Albania national basketball team

Albania national futsal team

Albania national under-21 football team

Škiptar Radio and Television is the leading television network in Albania, operating a national television station (Škiptar TV) and two radio stations (Radio Tirana). The international broadcasting service broadcasts programs in Albanian and seven other languages ​​via medium wave (AM) and short wav(SW). ).

The service uses the tune of the song "Keputa një gjethe dafine" as its signature tune. The network has been a member of the European Broadcasting Union since 1999. The network also broadcasts via satellite in Albanian to the Albanian communities in Kosovo, MacedoniaMontenegro,ro and Greece, as well as to the Albanian diaspora in the rest of Europe. According to the National Radio and Television Council, Albania has an estimated 257 media outlets, including 66 radio stations and 65 television stations (3 national and 62 local).

Albanian cuisine is of Mediterranean origin, characterized by the use of fruits, vegetables, and olive oil, which contributes to the good nutrition of the country's population.

Life expectancy in Albania was estimated at 77.59 years in 2014, ranking 51st in the world, ahead of several EU countries, such as Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. In 2016 it was 74 for men and 79 for women. The most common causes of death are circulatory diseases, followed by cancer. The Demographic and Health Surveys completed a survey in April 2009, detailing various health statistics in Albania, including male circumcision, abortion, and more.

The overall improvement in health conditions in the country is reflected in a decline in the mortality rate, to an estimated 6.49 deaths per 1,000 in 2000, compared with 17.8 per 1,000 in 1938. In 2000, life expectancy was estimated at 74 years, compared with 38 years at the end of World War II. Albania's infant mortality rate, estimated at 20 per 1,000 live births in 2000, has also declined over the years since the rate was as high as 151 per 1,000 live births in 1960. 

There were 69,802 births in 1999, and the fertility rate in 1999 was 2.5, while the maternal mortality rate was 65 per 100,000 live births in 1993. In addition, in 1997, Albania had high vaccination rates for children up to one year of age: tuberculosis, 94%; diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus, 99%; measles, 95%; and polio, 99.5%. In 1996, the incidence of tuberculosis was 23 per 100,000 people. In 1995, two cases of AIDS were reported and seven in 1996. In 2000, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS was estimated at less than 100. 

The main causes of death are cardiovascular diseases, trauma, cancer, and respiratory diseases. In 2015, it still had the highest mortality rate in Europe, at 766 per 100,000 population, the highest death rate from non-communicable diseases (672 per 100,000), and the second highest rate among male smokers in Europe—51%.

The Albanian Public Health Institute was founded in Tirana in 1935.

Albanian cuisine, like much of the Mediterranean and Balkans, is influenced by the country's long history. Albania has been occupied at various times by Greece, Italy, and the Ottoman Turks, each of which has left its mark on Albanian cuisine. 

The main meal for Albanians is lunch, usually accompanied by fresh salad and vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and olives seasoned with olive oil, vinegar, and salt. Lunch also includes a main course of vegetables and meat. Seafood is a specialty of coastal areas such as Durrës, Vlora, and Sarandë. It has long been an Albanian tradition for the social gathering coordinator, also known as the "babi mujer," to buy the first floor of the local tavern for all those present.

The Albanian Armed Forces, which include the land, air, and naval forces, serve as the country's military and paramilitary forces. In wartime, they are headed by a Commander-in-Chief under the Ministry of Defence, with the President serving as Supreme Commander; however, in peacetime, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence carry out his functions.

The Armed Forces of Albania's primary goal is to protect the country's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as to engage in humanitarian, combat, and non-combat missions and to promote peace. Since 2010, military duty has been optional, with a legal minimum age of 19.

Albania has pledged to strengthen its involvement in global activities. Since the fall of communism, the country has participated in six foreign operations, but just one UN mission in Georgia, with three military observers. Albania has formally engaged in NATO's Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean, beginning in February 2008. It was asked to join NATO on April 3, 2008, and became a full member on April 2, 2009.

Albania decreased its active-duty personnel from 65,000 in 1988 to 14,500 in 2009. The military now consists mostly of a modest fleet of airplanes and naval vessels. In the 1990s, the government discarded a considerable amount of old equipment from China, including tanks and systems. Increasing the military budget was one of the most critical prerequisites for NATO membership. Military spending has historically been minimal. Military spending was expected to be 1.5% of the country's GDP in 1996, rising to 2% in 2009 before decreasing down to 1.5%.

Demographic Distribution of Population

Population ranked 133 out of 221 countries.

CIA World Factbook: Life expectancy ranks 50th out of 221 countries.

CIA World Factbook 2008: Infant mortality rate ranked 112th, one of the highest of all 222 countries.

UNDP: Literacy rate ranked 45th out of 177 countries.

Environments

Yale University: Environmental Sustainability Index 2005, ranked 24th out of 146 countries.

Economics

Wall Street Journal and Heritage Foundation: Index of Economic Freedom 2006, ranked 52nd out of 157 countries.

IMF: GDP (nominal) per capita 2006, ranked 95th out of 182 countries.

IMF: GDP (nominal) 2006, ranked 111th out of 181 countries.

World Economic Forum: Global Competitiveness Index 2006-2007, ranked 98th out of 125 countries.

World Bank: Ease of Doing Business Index 2008, ranked 136th out of 178 countries.

United Nations: Human Development Index 2006, ranked 67th out of 191 countries.

Foreign exchange reserves as of December 2007 ranked 112th out of 156 countries.