Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.
Getting some relaxation close to the city center is pretty easy in Tirana, Albania: in the south of the city you can find a giant park on a hill, the Parku i madh i Tiranës. First plans for creating this green area date back to 1939, but the realization of this 234 hectares large park started after World War II. Part of the park is also an artificial lake created between 1958 and 1960, the Liqeni Artificial i Tiranës.
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On a hill in the southeast of Tirana, Albania you can find the martyr’s cemetery or partisan’s cemetery (Varrezat e Dëshmorëve të Kombit). It was created for the partisans that fought against the occupation forces in World War II (Germany and Italy). 28.000 graves can be found on the hill. Communist leader Enver Hoxha was also buried here but later brought to a more humble graveyard.
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The Katedralja Katolike Shën Pali at Tirana, Albania is one of the two catholic churches in the centre of the city. It is a modern one from 2002 and isn’t as decorative as older catholic churches. It is named after apostle Paul as it is said that he was preaching in the region of Albania while he was travelling through the Roman empire.
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If you’re visiting an orthodox Christian church you typically would expect an old building – but the resurrection cathedral (Katedralja Ortodokse ‘Ngjallja e Krishtit‘) of Tirana, Albania has been opened in 2012 between the Skanderbeg square and the park Rinia. Therefore it is a new and modern building. Its predecessor from 1865 was standing at the Skanderbeg square and was torn down in 1950 to build the cultural palace now standing there.
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People on the balkans seem to love clocktowers. They can be found in many major cities and they are a symbol of Islam and demonstrate richness. A perfect example is the clocktower of Tirana, Albania (Kulla e Sahatit e Tiranës) located next to the Et’hem bey mosque and the Skanderbeg square. It is shown in the city arms of Tirana and is an official cultural monument of Albania since 1948.
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The Et’hem bey mosque (Xhamia e Et’hem Beut) is a highly decorated tiny mosque in the center of Tirana, Albania – next to the Skanderbeg place (Sheshi Skënderbej). It was built between 1794 and 1821 and is a typical example of an ancient mosque with only one cupola. The mosque is much too small for such a house of prayer in the center of a capital city – but it will remain as it has its place in history.
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People going to Tirana, Albania most often start their visit at the Skanderbeg square (Sheshi Skënderbej), the heart of the city. It is a giant square created between 1917 and 1930. The square has been redesigned several times since then and contained first a fountain destroyed during World War II and afterwards a lot of space was used for roads, many cars were passing by each day. Today it is vast pedestrian-only area with many examples of Socialist architecture and an important memorial.
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Especially communist states love to create big statues of their leaders. But what to do with them when times change? In some countries they were simply destroyed, others created exhibitions like the Memento Park near Budapest, Hungary. In Tirana, Albania the big memorials have just been moved into the backyard of the national art gallery Galeria Kombëtare e Arteve. Without any explanation these contemporary witnesses are standing there like an odd silent crowd.
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The pyramid of Tirana, Albania is a ruin at the city center: it was supposed to be teared down to make place for a new parliament building – now it is planned to be a youth centre, but yet no progress is visible. It was opened in 1988 is a museum about the former leader Enver Hoxha who died in 1985. On top of it there was a red star and red light illuminated its shape. It was the materialized personality cult arround Hoxha.
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The city quarter ‘Blloku‘ of Tirana, Albania is the place to be for young Albanians in the evening hours. Here you can find good bars and restaurants, next to the right places for nightlife. But that wasn’t always like this – the city quarter was during communist times reserved for the representatives and truest followers of the party (Partia e Punës e Shqipërisë, PPSH).
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