Prepared by: Erisa Vora, Albania E-mail: erisa_vora@yahoo.com Mobile: 00355672033329
TIRANA Tirana is the capital of Albania and its largest city. It was founded in 1614 by Sulejman Pasha and became Albania's capital city in 1920. (located almost in the center of the Rep. of Albania). Geographic position: Surface: 41.33 north 19.82 east -city of Tirana: 31 km²; -as a District: 1288 km² Its population isabout 900 000 in 2010; Tirana is Albania's major industrial centre. The principal industries include agricultural products and machinery, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and metal products.
Map of Albania THE CAPITAL
TIRANA
The number of tourist in Albania In 2002, about 4.736.000 visitors, visited our country. About 3.436.000 were no resident and about 1.300.000 tourists from other countries.
Some of the most attractive destinations in Albania: Lura National Park Dardha (Korca region) Gjirokastra Valbona Thethi
GJIROKASTRA Our association is implementing a project in Gjirokastra and I am the coordinator of this project. Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania with a population of 43,000. Its old town is inscribed on the World Heritage List as "a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town, built by farmers of large estate." Gjirokastër is situated in a valley between the Gjerë mountains and the Drino River, at 300 m abouve sea level. The city is overlooked by the Gjirokaster Castle where Gjirokaster National Folklore Festival is held every five years. Gjirokastër is the birthplace of former Albanian communist leader Enver Hoxha and notable writer Ismail Kadare. It hosts the Eqerem Cabej University.
One of the mayor hotels in Gjirokaster is Hotel Sopoti, which accommodates the mayor number of tourist& visitors. Now it s in ancon procedure or part of any concession. Its surface is about 500 m2. The hotel is 5 floors, and it s located near the square "Çerçiz Topulli" in Gjirokastra.
The main tourist attractions in Tirana: Tanner's Bridge: The bridge was built in the 18th century and was for a long time used by the peasants from the territories east of Tirana to get their livestock to the butchers in town.
The Ethem Bey Mosque. The building of Ethem Bey Mosque started in 1794 and was completed in 1821. It is considered one of the most beautiful mosques in Albania, at least when it comes to the newer ones. Every day there are many tourists waiting outside and around to visit the mosque inside.
The Pyramid The Pyramid, located in the centre of Tirana, opened in 1988 as a museum for Dictator Enver Hoxha. It was designed by his daughter and son-in-law, and is said to be the most expensive building ever erected in Albania... After Hoxha, the Pyramid was used as a cultural and conference centre.
National Historic Museum The National Historic Museum is located at the Skanderbeg Square, in a very impressive building with an even more impressive mosaic of the history of Albania above the entrance. There are prehistory section, the Middle Ages, the National Revival, etc.
Tirana Clock Tower When overlooking the Skanderbeg Square, you ll notice two towers rising above the square; The minaret belonging to the Mosque of Et hem Bey and the Tirana Clock Tower. The Clock Tower was built in 1822 and was until 1970 the highest building in Tirana. Clock Tower is open for public. Inside is a spiral staircase with 95 steps, and it offers a nice view of Tirana from the top.
Skanderbeg Square Skanderbeg Square is a huge open place in the centre of Tirana, a great starting point for a sightseeing tour of the city. In the centre is a big statue of Skanderbeg (a national hero), and around the square you ll find some interesting buildings, like the National Historic Museum, the 18th century Mosque of Et hem Bey and, the Palace of Culture, the Town Hall, and a couple of government buildings.
Tirana, Palace of Culture The Palace of Culture stretches along the whole eastern side of Skënderbeg square. It is a typical Stalin era Palace of Culture, as have been build in the whole Sovietic world.
These attractions can be accessed by public transport in Tirana, which is mainly offered through bus, taxi and bikes.
The actual system of public transport The public transport in Tirana is privatized and the market is liberalized. The companies that operate in market are private operators Alba Trans Ferlut Tirana Urban Trans LTD Tirana Lines ltd Shega Trans Tirana Travel The public transport in Tirana covers 10 lines; The total length of lines is 115.5 km The average number of passengers (daily basis) is about: 200 000 Number of passengers in a year: about 73 million
About 60% of the buses are brand new.
Recently an alternative way of mobility is the bike, ecovolis
Stakeholders Ministry of Public Services, Transport and Telecommunication, Transport Directory, Responsible for Public Transport Municipality of Tirana, Transport Directory, Ministry of Environment, The responsible for air pollution Polytechnic of Tirana, University of Engineering Informatics. The 6 companies that operate in public transport, which are organized in an NGO (Albanian Association of Public Transport)
What we should do for a better system? Which are the challenges that Tirana faces in mobility?
Although it s privatized the public transport system still remains unregulated because the main problem is the inadequate infrastructure like signals, regulation etc.
In the conditions of a intensive development that the city of Tirana is going through, it became evident that public transport, already a decentralized function of the local government units, should become the object of well designed research and studies in order to identify the problems, priorities and possible solutions towards rationalization as the pre-requisite for a more effective service.