https://us.trip.com/moments/detail/tirana-21694-121588279/
ANTHONY LARSON

The colorful capital of Albania, Tirana, is full of charm

Albania is not large, covering an area of about 28,000 square kilometers, which is roughly 1/3 the size of Chongqing, and has a population of less than 3 million, less than 1/10 of Chongqing's population. The terrain is mainly mountains and hills, with the west bordering the Adriatic Sea and the south connecting to Greece. It is less than 100 kilometers from Krujë to the Albanian capital of Tirana. Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania, as well as the national center of economy, culture, and transportation. Must-visit spots: 1⃣ Skanderbeg Square A famous cityscape, it is a great place to experience local festivities, with children zooming around the feet of tourists in orange plastic cars, and the Skanderbeg equestrian statue in the southern part of the square is a symbol of the square. 2⃣ National History Museum It is the largest museum in Albania, housing most of the country's ancient artifacts. The front of the museum is decorated with Albanian murals, reflecting all the victories achieved by Albania from the Illyrian era to World War II. 3⃣ Pyramid of Tirana This peculiar 'pyramid', designed and built by Hoxha's daughter during Hoxha's era, was originally used as a museum commemorating Hoxha. After the fall of Hoxha's government, the building was abandoned. Today, this massive structure can be considered an alternative landmark of Tirana, becoming a gathering place for local youth. If you are brave enough, you can climb to the top of the building along its sloping side. In front of the building, there is also a 'Peace Bell', which commemorates the great turmoil that occurred at the end of the 90s. ❤️ Warm Tips: Albania is not as poor as some people think, nor is its economy so backward that it needs a lot of aid. From the various characteristic buildings in Tirana and the expressions and lifestyles of the locals enjoying their leisure time, it is evident that they live quite happily. I was quite shocked to find that Albania turned out to be the second happiest and most suitable country to live in during my trip through 10 Eastern European countries, which was quite unexpected! Here comes the question~ Can you guess what building is in picture 4 without looking it up? (Answer to be seen in the comments section the next day) In the city's tree-lined streets and parks, there are beautiful Italian buildings from the 1930s, as well as street markets and mosques, and numerous bunkers left over from history (according to incomplete statistics, there are over 360,000), making Albania known as 'the country with the most bunkers per capita'! I also personally visited a bunker in the city center, which was quite well-made and sturdy, difficult to dismantle! Thinking about how most of these materials and many other items and technologies were unconditionally aided by China in the 60s and 70s (it was said that the aid exceeded 9 billion ¥), I felt quite emotional.
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*Created by local travelers and translated by AI.
Posted: May 9, 2024
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