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Coordinates: 41°19′34″N 19°48′58″E / 41.326°N 19.816°E / 41.326; 19.816
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Tirana
Tiranë
Municipality of Tirana
Bashkia e Tiranës
Clockwise from the top: Skanderbeg Square with the Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Et'hem Bey Mosque and the buildings of the Ministries; Palace of Congresses; National Historic Museum and Tirana International Hotel; Twin Towers along the main Boulevard;
Clockwise from the top: Skanderbeg Square with the Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Et'hem Bey Mosque and the buildings of the Ministries; Palace of Congresses; National Historic Museum and Tirana International Hotel; Twin Towers along the main Boulevard;
Flag of Tirana
Flag
Official seal of Tirana
Seal
Country Albania
CountyTirana County
DistrictTirana District
Municipal Units11 Municipal Units
Founded1614
Government
 • MayorEdi Rama (PS)
Area
 • Total41.8 km2 (16.1 sq mi)
Elevation
110 m (360 ft)
Population
 (2008)[1]
 • Municipality
618,431
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
1001-1028[2]
Area code+355 4
Car PlatesTR
Websitewww.tirana.gov.al

Tirana ([Tiranë or Tirana] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)) is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and now it has a population of more than 600,000. The city is home to many universities and is the center of the political, economical, and cultural life of the country.

Geography

Tirana by Spot Satellite

The Municipality of Tirana lies on the river Ishëm, about Template:Km to mi inland and is located at (41.33°N, 19.82°E) in Tirana District, Tirana County. Tirana's average altitude is Template:M to ft above sea level and its highest point measures 1,828 m (5,997.38 ft) at Mali me Gropa. The city is on the same parallel as Naples, Madrid and Istanbul and on the same meridian as Budapest and Krakow. In addition to Ishëm, the Tiranë river also runs through the city, whereas the Lanë river, that runs through much of the city, is a brook. The city also contains a total of four artificial lakes: the Tirana Artificial Lake around which was built the Big Park, the Kodër-Kamëz Lake, Farka Lake, and Tufina Lake.

History

Antiquity

The area now occupied by the city of Tirana has been populated since Paleolithic times[3] dating back 10,000 to 30,000 years ago, as evidence by tools that were found near Mount Dajt's quarry terrain, as well as inside the Cave of the Pellumba. As argued by various archaeologists Tirana and its suburbs are filled with Illyrian toponyms and legends as the city's precincts are some of the earliest regions in Albania to be inhabited.[4]

Various remains discovered in fortresses, churches, villages, and during urban constructions in and around Tirana provide evidence for continuous activity throughout much of human history. The oldest discovery in the area of Tirana was a mosaic, dating back to the 3-rd century A.D., with several other remains found at the Fountain of Shengjin near a medieval temple. A castle, possibly called Tirkan or Theranda, was built by Emperor Justinian in 520 AD and restored by Ahmed Pasha Toptani in the 18th century.[4] The area had no special importance in Illyrian and classical times. In 1510, Marin Barleti, an Albanian Catholic priest and scholar, in the biography of the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg, Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis (The story of life and deeds of Skanderbeg, the prince of Epirotes), referred to this area as a small village.[5]

Ottoman rule

Tirana's Bazaar seen in a postcard of 1902

The records of the first land registrations under the Ottomans in 1431-32 show that Tirana consisted of 60 inhabited areas, with nearly 2,028 houses and 7,300 inhabitants. The 1583 census records show that Tirana had 110 inhabited areas, with 2,900 houses and 20,000 inhabitants. Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler, established the Ottoman town in 1614 with a mosque, a commercial centre and a hammam (Turkish sauna). The town was located along caravan routes and grew rapidly in importance until the early 19th century.

During this period, the Et'hem Bey Mosque built by Molla Bey of Petrela, began to be constructed. It employed the best artisans in the country and was completed in 1821 by Molla's son, who was also Sulejman Pasha's grandnephew. In 1800, the first new comers arrived in the settlement, the so-called ortodoksit. They were Vlachs from villages of Korçë and Pogradec who settled around the area of today's Park on the Artificial Lake.[6] Later, they started to be known as the llacifac and were the first Christians to arrive after the foundation of the town. In 1807, Tirana became the center of the Sub-Prefecture of Krujë-Tirana. After 1816, Tirana languished under the control of the Toptani family of Krujë. In 1865, Tirana became a Sub-Prefecture of the newly created Vilayet of Shkodër and Sanjak of Durrës. The Albanian language started to be taught in Tirana's schools in 1889. The patriotic club "Bashkimi" was founded in 1908 while on 28. November 1912, the national flag was raised in agreement with Ismail Qemali. During the Balkan Wars, the town was temporarily occupied by the Serbian army, and in 1914-15, it took part in uprising of the villages lead by Haxhi Qamili.

Capital city

File:St Mary's Cathedral in Tirana, Albania.jpg
St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral.

On February 8, 1920, Tirana was chosen as the temporary capital of Albania, which had acquired independence in 1912, by the Congress of Lushnjë.[7] The city retained that status permanently on December 31, 1925. From 1920 to 1924 Tirana experienced attacks from the army of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and the forces of Zogu at the Shkalla e Tujanit (Step of Tujan). The first regulatory plan of the city was compiled in 1923 by Eshref Frashëri, and completed by the Geographic Institute of Florence.[8] Durrës Street was opened in 1922 and called Nana Mbretneshë (Mother Queen). Many houses and surrounding properties were demolished to make way for it. In 1924, Tirana was the center of the Revolution of June lead by Fan S. Noli. Since 1925, when they were banned in Turkey, the Bektashis, an order of dervishes who take their name from Haji Bektash, a Sufi saint of the 13th and 14th centuries, made Tirana their primary settlement. The city was the venue where the Pact of Tirana was signed. The existing parliamentary building was raised in 1924 and first served as a club for officers. It was there, in September 1928, that King Zog I was crowned King.

Monarchy and war

Fascist era building now used as the Ministry of Interior
File:OldBuildingTirana.jpg
The former building of Tirana's Municipality.

The center of Tirana was the project of Florestano de Fausto and Armando Brasini, well known architects of the Benito Mussolini period in Italy. The Royal Palace (Palace of the Brigades), the Town Hall, the government ministry buildings, and the National Bank are their work. Dëshmorët e Kombit (National Martyrs) Boulevard was built in 1930 and named "Zogu I Boulevard". In the communist period, the part from Skanderbeg Square up to the train station was named "Stalin Boulevard". In 1939, Tirana was captured by Fascist forces. In November 1941, Enver Hoxha with other Albanian communists founded the Communist Party of Albania. The town became the center of the Albanian communists' in mobilizing the people of Tirana to fight against the Italian fascists and later Nazi Germans, while spreading ideological propaganda. The town was liberated after a fierce battle between the Communists and the people of Tirana against the German forces, on November 17, 1944. The Nazis eventually withdrew and the communists seized power.

Under communist rule

Enver Hoxha's mausoleum

Following the communist takeover, the city experienced a significant period of development. In terms of urbanization, the city witnessed the creation of socialist-styled apartment complexes and factories. In the 1960s, the historical identity of the city faced a critical moment as the central square was redesigned. As a result, a number of buildings of cultural and historical significance were demolished to make way for the formation of present-day Skanderbeg Square. The Old Bazaar used to be located near the modern Palace of Culture. The National Historical Museum was built on the grounds of the former building of the Municipality of Tirana, which was destroyed in the 1960s. The building that used to house the Parliament of Albania during King Zog's reign was turned into a children's theater and named the Dolls Theater.

Politically, a number of high-profile figures visited the city. In 1959, Soviet president Nikita Khruschev came to Tirana, and he laid the first brick on the foundations for the new Palace of Culture. In 1964, the Premier of the People's Republic of China, Zhou Enlai, met with Enver Hoxha. In 1985, Tirana served as the venue for the ceremonies after Hoxha's death. Four years later, Oskar Fischer, Minister for Foreign Matters of the German Democratic Republic, visited Tirana.

Transition period

The post communist period is described to have been the worst one in terms of the urban development of the city. Tirana experienced a chaotic development as high rise buildings started to be constructed without planning, and illegal structures rose on public areas. New informal districts started to form around the city as internal migrants gathered from around the country. During this period Tirana was transformed from a centrally planned economy to a market oriented economy. All the buildings and the apartments were denationalized. A modern water-supply system and electrical-supply system was built during 1992–1996. These systems form the backbone of the modern Tirana.

Rebirth

The rehabilitation in the area around Lana river

The city experienced radical changes at the turn of the millennium. In 2000, a massive political campaign began to beautify and to liberate public space, which was previously occupied by illegal commercial establishments. The campaign, called Return to Identity, included the transformation of river banks, of parks, and of other public structures to their state before 1990. The overall infrastructure has improved as considerable number of roads have been reconstructed. More parks and squares have also been built giving Tirana a more "European" look. Common spaces between apartment buildings have been targeted by a subsequent campaign in bringing back green spaces and a vast number of illegal buildings have been demolished. It is observed that some existing green spaces are used for the construction of skyscrapers and multi-functional centres. Apartment buildings are being built on grounds of former residential houses. Tirana's mayor, Edi Rama, has led an initiative to paint the façades of Tirana's buildings in bright colours, although interiors of those building are still falling into ruins.[9][10]

There are future regulatory and building plans for Tirana. Some of them include: Skanderbeg's Square Rehabilitation, The Zone of the Lake, Priority Zone "E", etc.

Climate

Tirana has a typical Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

Climate data for Tirana
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19
(66) 		22
(72) 		26
(79) 		28
(82) 		33
(91) 		37
(99) 		38
(100) 		40
(104) 		35
(95) 		31
(88) 		25
(77) 		22
(72) 		40
(104)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 12
(54) 		12
(54) 		15
(59) 		18
(64) 		23
(73) 		28
(82) 		31
(88) 		31
(88) 		27
(81) 		23
(73) 		17
(63) 		14
(57) 		21
(70)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2
(36) 		2
(36) 		5
(41) 		8
(46) 		12
(54) 		16
(61) 		17
(63) 		17
(63) 		14
(57) 		10
(50) 		8
(46) 		5
(41) 		10
(50)
Record low °C (°F) −8
(18) 		−8
(18) 		−4
(25) 		−1
(30) 		3
(37) 		6
(43) 		11
(52) 		10
(50) 		5
(41) 		1
(34) 		−3
(27) 		−7
(19) 		−8
(18)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 135
(5.3) 		152
(6.0) 		128
(5.0) 		117
(4.6) 		122
(4.8) 		86
(3.4) 		32
(1.3) 		32
(1.3) 		60
(2.4) 		105
(4.1) 		211
(8.3) 		173
(6.8) 		1,353
(53.3)
Source: BBC Weather Service:Tirana

Demographics

As of 2008, the city's urban population was officially estimated at 618,431.[1]

In 1703, Tirana had about 4,000 inhabitants and by 1820 the number tripled to 12,000. The first census, conducted in 1923 (a few years after Tirana became capital city of Albania) showed a total population of 10,845. During the 1950s, Tirana experienced rapid industrial growth, and the population increased to about 137,000 by 1960. After the end of communist rule in 1991, Tirana experienced its fastest population growth when people from rural areas moved to the capital in search of a better life. In 1990, Tirana had 250,000 inhabitants, but the large-scale influx since then from other parts of the country has increased the population to well over 600,000.

Tirana's expansion from 1990 to 2005
Albanian Parliament
Tirana by Night
Year Area
(km²) 		Population
(inside city limits at that time) 		Notes
1431-32 7,300 First land registration under Ottoman Empire
1583 20,000 Census of region of Tirana
1703 4,000
1820 12,000
1901 15,000
1923 10,845 First census of population
1930 8.0 25,079
1937 5.0 35,000
1945 59,900 1957 Regulatory Plan statistics
1950 10.6
1955 108,200 1957 Regulatory Plan statistics
1970 31.0 180,000 From the academic journal, Studime Historike
1985 15.4 200,000
1989 277,567 1989 National Census of Tirana County
2001 610,000 2001 National Census of Tirana County
2008 41.8 618,431 Civil Status Office of Tirana Municipality
The data refers to the numbers published on the official website of the Municipality of Tirana and INSTAT.[11][12]

Health

The largest hospital in Tirana is called Mother Theresa Hospital (Qëndra Spitalore Universitare Nënë Tereza), which is associated with University of Tirana, Faculty of Medicine. The Hospital is a 1,456-bed facility that offers comprehensive inpatient tertiary care to over 12,000 patients annually. The hospital is currently undergoing major changes in infrastructure and equipment.

Culture

See also: Culture of Albania
File:Taiwan Center, Rinia Park Tirana.jpg
"Taivani" one of Tirana's most popular restaurants
Dajti Mountain overlooking Tirana
Petrela Castle near Tirana
National Historical Museum

The main cultural and artistic institutions of Tirana are the National Theater, the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania, the National Gallery of Figurative Arts of Albania (Galeria Kombëtare e Arteve), and the Ensemble of Folk Music and Dances. Another cultural event includes performances of renown world composers performed by the Symphonic Orchestra of the Albanian Radio and Television. The city has been a venue for the Tirana Biennale and Tirana Jazz Festival.

Tirana is home to historical and cultural sites:

Tirana has 8 public libraries, one being the National Library of Albania (Biblioteka Kombëtare), 5 museum-houses and 56 cultural monuments.[13]

Education

See also: Education in Albania

Tirana is host to the University of Tirana, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Agricultural University of Tirana, Academy of Physical Education and Sports, Academy of Music and Arts of Albania, the Academy of Sciences of Albania, and the Skanderbeg Military University, national and international academic research institutions, as well as NGOs.

Tirana has seen the creation of a vast number of private academic institutions, including University of New York, Tirana, Luarasi University, Zoja e Këshillit të Mirë, Academy of Film and Multimedia "Marubi".

Districts

Main article: List of Tirana's neighborhoods

The Municipality of Tirana is divided into 11 smaller administrative units referred to as Njësi Bashkiake (Municipal Units). These are made up of their own mayor and council, and sometimes are also known as Mini-Bashki (Mini-Municipality).

In 2000, the centre of Tirana, from the central campus of Tirana University up to Skanderbeg Square was declared the place of Cultural Assembly, and given special claims to state protection. In the same year, the area began a process of restoration under the name ‘Return to Identity’. The area to the west of the university, adjacent to Shën Prokopi Park, was formerly reserved for the occupation of important government and party officials. It remains a desirable residential area.

Economy

Tirana is Albania's major industrial centre. It has experienced rapid growth and established many new industries since the 1920s. The principal industries include agricultural products and machinery, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and metal products.

Tirana began to develop in the beginning of the 16th century, when a bazaar was established, and its craftsmen manufactured silk and cotton fabrics, leather, ceramics and iron, silver, and gold artifacts. Sited in a fertile plain, the Tirana area exported 2,600 barrels of olive oil and 14,000 packages of tobacco to Venice by 1769. In 1901, it had 140,000 olive trees, 400 oil mills, and 700 shops. The TID tower at 85 meters is being constructed in the city. It will redefine architecture in Albania.Tirana has also huge trade centers like City Park at 3 km square.

Environment

Street in Tirana

The city suffers from problems related to overpopulation, such as waste management, lack of running water and electricity as well as extremely high levels of air pollution from the 300,000 cars moving around the city. The problem is exacerbated by aging infrastructure. Despite the problems, Tirana has also experienced a very rapid growth in the construction of new buildings.[14] In recent years pollution has worsened as the number of cars has increased by several orders of magnitude. These are mostly older, diesel cars that pollute much more than the newer models in circulation elsewhere in Europe. Additionally, most of the fuel used in Albania contains larger amounts of sulfur and lead than that allowed in European Union countries. In recent years pollution from construction has become a major concern for the inhabitants of the city. Another peril to the city comes from untreated solid waste. The National Park (former Saint Prokopius Park), a vast forested park in the outskirts of the city, has some effect on absorbing CO2 emissions. Tirana is cleaned by government workers everyday, and trees have been planted around many sidewalks. Mayor Edi Rama has promised that he will plant 100,000 more trees in Tirana. He has claimed that by 2012-2014 Tirana will have the cleanest air in the Balkans. This will increase Albania's life expectancy. So far over 2000 trees have been planted.

Media

Tirana is the media hub of Albania. The city is home to the headquarters of the Albanian Radio and Television (RTSH), Albania's public broadcaster, and national commercial broadcasters such as Top Channel and TV Klan. Numerous radio stations operate in the capital, the most notable being Radio Tirana, followed by commercial Top Albania Radio and Plus 2 Radio. Tirana is home to the publication of a vast number of dailies: Shqip, Zëri i Popullit, Shekulli, Gazeta Shqiptare and Koha Jonë being the most famous.

Sports

See also: KF Tirana, Partizani Tirana, and Dinamo Tirana

Tirana is the major centre for sport in Albania and Tirana's football clubs have won more championships than any other clubs in Albania. Tirana has two stadiums, the Qemal Stafa Stadium, that holds around 20,000 spectators and the Selman Stërmasi stadium which holds around 12,000 spectators. The Tirana sportive infrastructure is developing fast because of municipality and MTKRS investments. From 2007 Tirana Municipality has built up to 80 sport gardens in most of Tirana neighbourhoods.

Transport

Municipal, national and international transport links have developed over recent years as demand has increased. Until recent years, overland connections through Greece and Montenegro have had various problems with bureaucracy or security. The city serves as the meeting point for national roads SH1, SH2 and SH3. Tirana is yet to build an outer ring road that would drastically reduce traffic in the city. The following section is liable to change and is only indicative.

Bus

Local transport within Tirana is by bus or taxi. Group taxis (known as 'furgons') running multiple passengers operate on many pre-determined but unofficial routes and departure times are dictated by when sufficient passenger numbers justufy running costs. Coach and minibus services also run, again according to demand, to the coast and northern and southern Albania from different locations in Tirana. International coach services connect to Greece, via Korçë or Kakavije, to Kosovo via the new Durrës-Morine highway, and to the Republic of Macedonia via Struga.

Rail

See also: Albanian Railways

There are regular passenger services to Durrës and Pogradec, via Elbasan. The Tirana Railway Station is north of Skanderbeg Square, alongside the coach terminal at the north end of Boulevard Zogu I. There are no international passenger services, although there is a freight-only railway through Shkodër to Montenegro (though this is currently disused).

Air

Tirana International Airport Mother Theresa (Nënë Tereza in Albanian), also known as Rinas Airport, was reconstructed in 2007. It is located 15 kilometres northwest of the city, off the road to Durrës. Airlines using Rinas include Albanian Airlines. Flights run to Athens, London, Rimini, Bari, Genoa, Rome, Bologna, Munich, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Vienna among other places. It is one of the biggest airports in the region. Several foreign airlines also serve Rinas Airport: Alitalia (from Rome and Milan), British Airways (from London Gatwick Airport), Austrian Airlines (from Vienna), Adria Airways (Ljubljana), Jat Airways (Belgrade), Lufthansa (Munich), Malev (Budapest), Olympic Air (Athens), Hemus Air (Sofia) and Turkish Airlines (Istanbul). In summer there is a direct charter flight from JFK, New York.

Sea

Tirana is served by the port of Durrës, that is 36 km distant from the capital. Passenger ferries from Durrës sail to Trieste, Ancona, Otranto, Brindisi, Bari, Lecce, Genoa (Italy), Zadar, Dubrovnik (Croatia), Maribor, Koper (Slovenia), Gdansk (Poland), Bar (Montenegro), Corfu (Greece) and others.

Notable people

Below are some of the most notable personalities born in Tirana or that spent most of their lives in Tirana:

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Albania

Twin towns — Sister cities

Tirana is twinned with:[15]

See also

References and notes

  1. ^ a b "Human Resources Directorate of Tirana Municipality" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-06-27.
  2. ^ Template:Sq icon Kodi postar Posta Shqiptare. www.postashqiptare.al. Retrieved on 2008-11-13
  3. ^ As argued by Prof. Dr. Muzafer Korkuti, an Albanian archeologists and researcher. "Tirane si qëndër e Historisë dhe Trashëgimisë Kulturore"
  4. ^ a b Heppner, Harald (1994). Hauptstädte in Südosteuropa: Geschichte, Funktion, nationale Symbolkraft. Wien u.a. Böhlau. p. 133, 135. ISBN 9783205982555.
  5. ^ To know more about the history of Tirana, please consult Tirana ne shekuj: Terona, Theranda, Tirkan, Tirannea, Tirana : monografi, disa artikuj e materiale arkivore kushtuar historisë së Tiranës by Skënder Jasa. (Victoria, 1997)
  6. ^ Template:Sq icon ""Tiranasit" e ardhur rishtaz". Gazeta Shqiptare. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  7. ^ Pearson, Owen (2006). Albania and King Zog: independence, republic and monarchy 1908-1939. IB Taurus. p. 140. ISBN 1845110137. It was decided the the Congress of Lushnje was not to be dissolved until elections had been held and the new government had taken power into its hands and begun to exercise its functions in Tirana in opposition to the Provisional Government in Italian occupied Durres
  8. ^ Template:Sq icon Faja, Agim (2005-11-25). "Historia e Tiranës, në foto të rralla". Tirana Observer. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  9. ^ "A bright and colourful new style of urban design emerges in Albania". Resource for Urban Design Information. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  10. ^ Pusca, Anca (2008). "The aesthetics of change: Exploring post-Communist spaces". Global Society. 22 (3): 369–386. doi:10.1080/13600820802090512.
  11. ^ Template:Sq icon Population statistics of the Municipality of Tirana
  12. ^ Template:Sq icon Population projections from INSTAT
  13. ^ Template:Sq icon Statistikat 2007 PDF Municipality of Tirana. Retrieved on 2008-07-20
  14. ^ Cameron, Rob (3 December 2004). "Tirana: Where the streets have no name". BBC News.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "Twinning Cities: International Relations" (PDF). Municipality of Tirana. www.tirana.gov.al. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  16. ^ "Barcelona internacional - Ciutats agermanades" (in Spanish). © 2006-2009 Ajuntament de Barcelona. Retrieved 2009-07-13. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ "Sister Cities". Beijing Municipal Government. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  18. ^ International Relations. Municipality of Tirana. www.tirana.gov.al. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.

Notes:

a.   ^ Template:Kosovo-note
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41°19′34″N 19°48′58″E / 41.326°N 19.816°E / 41.326; 19.816

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