History of Tirana

Sulejman Pasha Bargjini is regarded as the founder of Tirana, who developed the previously modest settlement in 1614 by constructing a mosque, a hammam (Turkish bath), and other structures. This notable Albanian in the Ottoman Empire’s service fought for the sultan in Persia, and tradition has it that he carried the name of the newly created city from there: Tirana is said to be a derivative of the name of the Iranian capital Tehran.

Trade caravans went through the town, which served as a crossroads between the sea and the interior until the 19th century. The year 1920 marked Tirana’s historic designation as the capital. Its geographical center makes it worthy of this selection, rather than its relative importance (at that time, Durrës was a significantly more important city).

Italian urban architects worked here throughout the interwar years, and their influence may still be seen today. They presented an urban plan that established Skanderbeg Square as the city’s heart, under the direction of Mussolini’s adherent Florestano di Fausto. The majority of significant public structures, primarily in neo-classical or neo-renaissance styles, were constructed around it. New residential areas sprung up around several factories, hotels, an airport, a modern city hospital, and three movie theaters that were all built as part of the plan.

Perhaps even more profoundly, the long post-war period of Communist Party rule impacted the city’s appearance. Around Skanderbeg Square, a number of interwar buildings were demolished and replaced with characteristic socialist buildings; this is how the Tirana Hotel and the Museum of National History with its famous mosaic were built. Tirana was constructed with rows of prefabricated panels, just like other cities in the Eastern Bloc. In some places, they remain in an unchanged form and one feels as if he has traveled through time. In other places the town hall painted these houses’ facades in vivid hues to at least somewhat brighten their otherwise gloomy appearance.

About 250,000 people lived in Tirana at the time of the communist regime’s collapse in 1990–1991. Now, that number of inhabitants has more than doubled. Due to a lack of employment opportunities, the rural population continues to move to the city from other parts of the country.

This inflow happened on its own, frequently without the need for zoning plans or approval procedures, and entire new neighborhoods were built. The lack of infrastructure development during the boom has resulted in ongoing challenges for the city, particularly in its outlying areas. Lack of green space, public transportation, and even basic amenities like pedestrian walkways are common problems. Only in the last few years, when the infrastructure is significantly improving, is Tirana catching up with the deficit from the decade following the fall of communism.

Tirana nearly lost its original oriental character, which the Turks had imprinted on it, due to a turbulent 20th century marked by insensitive reconstructions, destruction during the communist partisans’ 1944 liberation of the city, and numerous earthquakes.

Map of Tirana

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