Tucked in a quiet corner of Europe, Albania is a country shaped by its history, landscapes, and diverse cultural influences. Cities like Berat and Gjirokaster reflect centuries of change. Berat, often called the “City of a Thousand Windows,” showcases Ottoman architecture and a tradition of coexistence. Meanwhile, Gjirokaster stands as a stone city with layered histories, marked by its steep streets and fortress, which looks out over the Drino Valley. To the south, Butrint offers a glimpse into the long continuum of Mediterranean history. Not far from Butrint lies nearby Ksamil and Saranda, and just across the water is Corfu, a reminder of the long-standing connections between Albania and its neighbor island. These waters were once sailed by traders, invaders, and rulers like Ali Pasha, whose presence is still felt in places like Porto Palermo, where a fortress stands as a quiet remnant of his ambition.

Albania’s coast, stretching along Bregu, the Albanian Riviera, is a landscape full of villages like Dhermi and Himare with its collection of castles and churches. In the north, Shkoder, with its Venetian-style streets and the Rozafa Castle is part of the local legends. Inland, Kruje holds particular significance as the birthplace of Skanderbeg, Albania’s national hero, whose resistance against the Ottoman Empire still defines the country’s sense of identity.

The capital, Tirana, is a city in flux. Among its many transformations are sites like Bunk’Art, housed in a Cold War bunker, where Albania’s communist past is confronted. The thousands of bunkers scattered across the landscape, relics of an era marked by isolation and fear, now stand as silent reminders of a time that continues to shape the nation’s psyche. Albania’s history is not a polished narrative but one of struggle, adaptation, and survival. It carries traces of Venetians, Ottomans, and communism, and yet it is uniquely its own.