TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

The counrty's capital city Tirana is compact and easy to explore. It lies almost exactly midway between Rome and Istanbul, and its architecture has been influenced by both, as well as by Russia. Most visitors to Tirana begin at Skënderberg Square, a great open space in the heart of the city. Berat is Albania's most charming medieval town, and the citadel is its best preserved quarter. Surrounded by ancient stone walls, the citadel protects over a dozen churches and many wonderful old houses. The citadel's biggest church, St Mary's, has been converted into the Onufri Museum, honouring Albania's greatest painter of Christian icons. Shkodra (also Shkodër and, in Italian, Scutari) is one of the oldest cities in Europe and the traditional centre of the Gheg cultural region. In 500BC an Illyrian fortress was already guarding the crossing west of the city where the Buna and Drin rivers meet. Shkodra's skyline is dominated by the new and impressive Sheik Zamil Abdullah Al-Zamil Mosque. Next to that you will find the Muzeo Popullor, which exhibits recent paintings and historic photos and has an impressive archaeological collection. Just wandering around the citadel quarter reveals glorious views over the rest of Berat, glimpses into the courtyards of traditional houses and a sense of what Albania might have been like before the stolid hand of Communism fell on it. The ancient ruins of Butrint lie nearly on the country's southern border with Greece, 160km (99mi) south of Tirana. The remains are from a variety of periods, spanning 2500 years. The poet Virgil claimed that the Trojans settled Butrint, but the site has been pored over by archaeologists and no evidence of this has been found. Greeks settled Butrint during the 6th century BC, although the area had been settled long before by the Illyrians. Within a century of the Greeks arriving, Butrint had become a fortified trading city with its own acropolis, the ruins of which you can still visit. Just below the acropolis in the forest is the 3rd century BC theatre, also used for performances by the Romans. Nearby are public baths with geometrical mosaics, and deeper into the forest is a wall with Greek inscriptions and a 6th-century baptistry decorated with colourful mosaics of animals and birds. Overlooking the whole site is an acropolis with a fortress erected by warlord Ali Pasha Tepelena early in the 19th century.

TRAVEL TIPS

It is advised against all travel to the northeast border areas (i.e. the districts of Kukes, Has and Tropoje) between Albania and Kosovo because of the very poor condition of the roads and the risk of unexploded ordnance placed during the 1999 Kosovo crisis. Public security is generally good, particularly in Tirana, but crime and violence still represent a serious problem in some areas. Gun ownership is not regulated and widespread. Avoid travelling at night. Driving can be very hazardous. Roads are poor, especially (but not only) in rural areas. In winter, mountain roads are snowy and icy. We suggest using four-wheel drive vehicles in Albania. There is no national recovery system, so cars should be self-sufficient, carrying minor repair equipment including jack, spare wheel, fan belts, wiper blades, local phrase book, first aid kit, water and overnight food when in remote areas. Albanian driving can often be aggressive and erratic. Minor traffic disputes can quickly escalate, especially as some motorists are likely to be armed. If you intend to drive you are strongly advised to avoid reacting to provocative behaviour by other road users. If you are involved in a traffic accident, even a minor one, you are required to wait until the police arrive. Homosexuality is not illegal but is not yet accepted as a cultural norm. Penalties for drug related crimes are severe. Entry visa is not required for citizens of most developed countries if they say for up to 30 days in Albania. If staying in Albania for more than 30 days, you should present yourself to your local police station 10 days before the expiry of the initial 30 days permit of stay.We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Albania. Medical facilities (including those for accident and emergency use) are very poor, particularly outside Tirana. We do not recommend using the dental facilities. There are high levels of Hepatitis in Albania. Rabies is also a matter of concern as there are large numbers of stray dogs. Cases of tick borne encephalitis have been reported in the north of the country. We advise that you keep all areas of your body covered when close to shrubs or bushes, and to inspect yourself regularly for ticks. Drink only bottled water and UHT milk. Check the list of Embassies of Albania to the World or Embassies of Other Nations to Albania.

HISTORY

The lands that are today inhabited by Albanians, known as Illyria in the ancient world, was conquered by the Roman Empire and reorganized as a Roman province. In the Middle Ages, the name Albania began to be applied to the region. Albania then became part of the Ottoman Empire. Following this, many Albanians fled to neighboring Italy, mostly to Calabria and Sicily. The majority of the Albanian population remained converted to Islam. They would remain a part of the Ottoman Empire until 1912. After the Second Balkan War, the Ottomans were removed from Albania and the country was consolidated into the Principality of Albania which From 1928, the country was ruled by Ahmet Zogu, who renamed himself King Zog I. Italy invaded Albania on 7 April 1939 and took control of the country. Albanian communists and nationalists actively fought a partisan war against the Italian and German invasions in World War II. The communists took over after World War II. In November 1944, the communists gained control of the government under the leader of the resistance, Enver Hoxha which ruled Albania for the next 41 years until his death. Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated physical infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory on pledges of reducing crime and corruption, promoting economic growth, and decreasing the size of government. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure.

GEOGRAPHY

Area: total: 28,748 sq km; land: 27,398 sq km; water: 1,350 sq km.
Border Countries: Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia.
Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter.
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast.
Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower.
Natural Hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought.
Environmental Problems: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents.

PEOPLE

Population: 3,600,000.
Median Age: total: 28.9 years; male: 28.3 years; female: 29.5 years.
Life Expectancy: male: 74.78 years, female: 80.34 years.
Fertility Rate: 2.03 children born per woman.
Major Ethnic Groups: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, Macedonian, Bulgarian).
Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%.
Languages: Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects.

GOVERNMENT

Type: emerging democracy.
Capital City: Tirana (Tirane).
Time Difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October. Check current time.
Administrative Divisions: 12 counties.
National Holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1912).
Chief of State: President of the Republic.
Head of Government: Prime Minister.
Cabinet: Council of Ministers.
Legislative Branch: unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats).

ECONOMY

Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to spur economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by annual remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for about one-quarter of GDP, is held back because of frequent drought and the need to modernize equipment, to clarify property rights, and to consolidate small plots of land. Energy shortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment, which make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The planned construction of a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improved transmission and distribution facilities will help relieve the energy shortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth. On the positive side: growth was strong in 2003-05 and inflation is not a problem.
GDP: $18.87 billion, Growth Rate: 5,5%, GDP Per Capita: $5,300.
Unemployment Rate: 14,3%
Population Below Powerty Line: 25%
Agriculture Products: wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products.
Major Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower.
Export Commodities: textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco.
Export Partners: Italy 72.4%, Greece 10.5%, Serbia and Montenegro 5%.
Import Commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals.
Import Partners: Italy 29.3%, Greece 16.4%, Turkey 7.5%, China 6.6%, Germany 5.4%, Russia 4%.
Currency: lek (ALL). Check current rate of exchange.

TRANSPORT

Airports: 11
Railways: 447 km.
Roadways: 18,000 km.
Waterways: 43 km.
Major Ports and Terminals: Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore.