Directly north of Greece, and a short hop across the Adriatic from the heel of Italy, Albania has a complex modern history that can only truly be appreciated in the flesh. As luck would have it, you don’t have to dig to uncover the past. It’s dramatically revealed on the streets of the compact capital, where mighty communist edifices rub shoulders with elegant Ottoman stonework. Visit these important, eclectic sites in Tirana.
The pyramid
Originally conceived as a museum and monument to controversial communist leader Enver Hoxha, this striking structure is either about to be demolished or turned into a technology and start-up hub, depending on who you ask. Find it on Boulevard Dëshmoret e Kombiti.
The bridge
Much of the architectural inheritance from Tirana’s half-millennium of benign Ottoman rule was destroyed by the extreme modernising of the city’s communist (and fascist) leaders. But one of the more beautiful constructions to survive is the elegant stone Tanners’ Bridge, which dates back to the 18th century. Reach it from Bulevardi Jean d’Arc.
