Albania is washed by the waters of the Adriatic and Ionian seas. The total coastline is 362 km. On the Adriatic coast of Albania near the ancient city of Lezhachi, founded in the 4th century BC. BC, there is a beautiful Drina Bay.
Albania owns several small islands, but they are all uninhabited. The largest of them is the island of carp, which is located at the entrance to the bay of Vlore. Its area is 5 km. sq.
in Albania is typical for the entire Mediterranean: mild subtropical with dry hot summers (average temperature +27 degrees) and wet cool winters (average temperature + 5 degrees). The tourist season lasts from May to September (the warmest month is July, up to +38 degrees), but even in October and April the weather in Albania can be quite favorable for recreation.
The capital of Albania is Tirana, founded by the Turks in 1614. In 1920, the all-Albanian National Congress proclaimed Tirana the capital of an independent Albania. Now the population of Tirana is more than 400 thousand people.
The official language of Albania is Albanian, which is a branch of the Indo-European languages, as well as the heir of the Illyrian language. Modern Albanian has many borrowings from Greek, Italian, Latin, Turkish and Slavic.
was formed under the powerful Turkish influence. A traditional meal in Albania starts with a starter known as “meze” (sour milk, meat, cucumbers, garlic, olive oil, spices). A tourist may mistake meze for a main course, but in fact it is just a local snack. The traditional “meze” is served in Albania with chicken liver. As for the traditional Albanian aperitif, it is rakia or a glass of red wine.
Albania is a country for real pioneers
Not many countries in Europe can be called a mystery to an experienced tourist. However, there are such countries. One of them is Albania. Its color and contrast of cultures, picturesque landscapes and pristine nature create ideal conditions for those who are tired of the usual routes and “cultivated” resorts. Albania is for real pioneers!
70% of the country’s area is covered by high mountains and dense forests. Wherever you go, beautiful views of green mountain slopes, well-groomed vineyards, orange and olive groves are striking. The shores of Albania are washed by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, the country also has three huge lakes with the purest water: Skadar, Ohrid and Lake Prespa. In the virgin forests of Albania there are bears, wolves, lynxes, wild boars, roe deer, deer, many birds.
The beauty of the Albanian coast is in no way inferior to the Croatian or Italian, besides, there are no crowds of tourists, noise and noise of popular resort villages. It is quiet and peaceful here and the local people are friendly and welcoming to guests. Krayans have not yet learned how to make money on foreign tourists, so prices in cafes and restaurants are lower than in Ukrainian resorts, and umbrellas and sun loungers on the beaches are free. Albania combines all the advantages of an “advanced tourist country”, and the insane development of infrastructure will soon quite deservedly allow the Land of Eagles to be awarded such a title.
Traces of the difficult history of the country are still visible in Albania, but the vitality of the locals can only be envied. But the years of isolation, it seems, only increased their joy from communicating with visitors. The country is considered Islamic, but most Albanians outwardly do not differ in any way from the inhabitants of other European countries. Here, guests are treated with respect and care, so the possibility of deception on the part of the Albanians is minimal. On the contrary, everywhere you will be met with a smile and will be happy to help if there are any difficulties.
Interestingly, the Adriatic Sea is different from the Ionian. The Ionian Sea is the “blue shores”, this color is not typical for the Adriatic. It is no worse – the water here is just as clear and warm. By the way, the waters of the Adriatic Sea are recognized as one of the cleanest on the planet, the transparency reaches 50 meters. The beaches in Albania are mostly shallow.
A beach holiday in Albania will not disappoint, but it is worth seeing another country. The sights of Albania are an amazing mixture of centuries, styles and cultures. The incompatible is surprisingly combined here: abandoned factories and the splendor of mosques, Orthodox churches and palaces of culture. A striking example is the city-museum of Berat. At the entrance to it, an amazing picture opens up: on both sides of the river, on steep banks, there are residential areas, which are called “thousand windows”. They are on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
Many Albanian cities were founded long before the beginning of the new era. Let’s say Durres originates in 627 BC. The city for many centuries remained the main port of the Adriatic Sea. Here you can see the ruins of a Byzantine fortress, a Venetian tower, the remains of a Roman amphitheater.
Another ancient city is Apollonia, where the ruins of an amphitheater, a Roman colonnade, fragments of fortress walls, and a Byzantine church have also been preserved. Not far from Apollonia is the monastery of Ardenitsa, known, in particular, for the fact that the national hero of Albania, Skanderbeg, was married there.
The ruins of the city of Butrint remind of the greatness of ancient civilizations, and the local population considers themselves descendants of the inhabitants of the legendary Troy. The majestic acropolis, amphitheater, houses of the nobility, public baths with magnificent mosaics – all this is available in the open-air museum today.
In Gjirokastra, you can see the market square, where silk and jewelry were once traded, the Bazaar Mosque and the Mekate Mosque, the Museum of Weapons, the Ethnographic Museum. In the lower part of the city, ancient Turkish baths have been preserved.
And how many European countries can boast of a luxurious oriental flavor? But in Tirana, the capital of Albania, not far from the center, there is a real oriental bazaar.
Albanian cuisine is a mixture of antique culinary traditions, Slavic, Turkish and Italian cuisines. The mild climate sufficiently provides the country with vegetables, fruits, and spices. Albanian olive oil is not inferior in quality to Italian olive oil, and olives here are one of the most used ingredients in various salads. Dairy and sour-milk products are very popular. Albanian yogurt is widely used as a standalone product and as a sauce for sweet dishes and meats. Gourmets in Albania will surely like it – they use milk, cream, natural fruit syrups, nuts and, of course, fresh fruits to prepare desserts. From alcoholic drinks they prefer brandy from plums, grapes, blackberries. However, winemaking traditions have been honored here for a long time.
Maize is grown in the north of Albania and often cornmeal is added to bread and sweet dishes. In addition, there are many lakes and rivers in the north of the country, so fish is always served at the table. The most common species are carp and eel, which are grilled or baked in the oven. On the coast you can try perch, flounder, mullet.
Game is found in the northern forests, so you can order duck, pheasant, hare and other delicacies in the restaurant, and at a very reasonable price.
Grapes, figs, olives and citrus fruits are grown in the center and south of the country. Soft and hard cheeses are also popular. And the local brynza differs from the Bulgarian one in a more delicate and delicate taste.
The hotel usually serves eggs, sausages, cereals, milk, jam, buns, vegetables, biscuits, yogurt, juice, tea, coffee, butter for breakfast.
You should go to Albania for what is so lacking in everyday city life – for vivid impressions, clean air, natural beauty and good human relations. A trip to Albania is a pleasant vacation for body and soul, which will be remembered forever.
Albania map and other free international printable maps
The Albania map below is a Google map of Albania showing major cities and neighboring countries.
Albania is a country in southeastern Europe.
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ALBANIA MAP COLLECTION
Top: Google map of Albania showing surrounding peoples.
Another map of Albania from Google, which shows the capital of Tirana.
5 FAST FACTS ABOUT ALBANIA
- Albania covers an area of no more than 11,000 square miles.
- Albania has about 2.9 million inhabitants.
- Albania’s landscape ranges from snow-capped mountains to hot, sunny beaches.
- The capital and largest city of Albania is Tirana.
- The official language of Albania is Albanian, although recognized minority languages include Greek, Macedonian and others.
Topographic map of Albania above.
image credit: freeworldmaps.net
Above is a colorful political map of Albania.
image: mapsofworld.com
Above: street map of Tirana, Albania
image: wikipedia.org
