Since 1920, Tirana is the capital and largest city of Albania, its economic and cultural center, as well as the administrative center of the region of the same name. The city was founded in 1614, but the first settlements existed on this territory since the Paleolithic period.
The oldest buildings of the capital are a Roman house with mosaics dating back to the 3rd century and the ruins of a fortress dating back to 520. Due to its favorable location at the crossroads of trade routes, Tirana developed very quickly immediately after its foundation. In the same XVII century a mosque, a bakery, baths, stores and a gigantic bazaar appeared here at once.
Tirana is a large industrial region, and here is concentrated a significant part of the industrial capacity of the whole Albania. There are large textile, shoe, furniture, construction and woodworking enterprises. The local stadium "Kemal Stafa", the largest stadium in Albania with a capacity of more than 30 thousand spectators, is also well known.
If you look in a guidebook of Tirana, it is easy to notice its radial-circular layout. Therefore, despite the narrow, crooked streets, the city is easy to navigate. In the 2000s, the capital experienced radical changes, modernization and infrastructure improvements, after which it acquired a more European and simply pleasant look. In particular, numerous parks and squares were reorganized.
