History & Culture

The Illyrians, the ancient ancestors of the Albanians, settled the western Balkans since at least the 2nd millennium BC. They founded city-states, minted coins, and fought against the expanding Roman power — Queen Teuta (3rd century BC) even led the Illyrian fleet to war against Rome. From the 2nd century BC, Illyria fell to the Roman Empire: Durrës (Dyrrachium) became the most important port city on the eastern Adriatic, and the Via Egnatia connected Rome with Constantinople across Albanian territory.

Byzantine Era & Skanderbeg

After the division of the Roman Empire (395 AD), Albania belonged to the Byzantine Empire. Castles, churches, and monasteries were built — Berat and Gjirokastra still showcase this Byzantine layer today. From the 14th century, the Ottomans advanced into the Balkans.

The Albanian resistance against the Ottomans has an immortal hero: Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg (1405–1468). As a child, he was taken hostage to the Ottoman court, converted to Islam, and rose to become a military commander — only to desert in 1443, return to Christianity, and lead a 25-year resistance against the world's most powerful empire. Skanderbeg united the divided Albanian tribes and defended the small country against armies ten times larger. He is Albania's undisputed national hero — his double-headed eagle adorns the flag.

After Skanderbeg's death in 1468, Albania fell to the Ottomans and remained under over 400 years of Ottoman rule (1479–1912). Many Albanians converted to Islam, others remained Orthodox or Catholic — a religious diversity that still exists today and coexists remarkably peacefully.

Independence (1912)

On November 28, 1912, Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in Vlora — after 434 years of foreign rule. The new state was poor, fragmented, and threatened by its neighbors (Greece, Serbia, and Montenegro claimed Albanian territories). The interwar period was chaotic: short-lived governments, a failed attempt at monarchy under King Zog I (1928–1939), then the Italian invasion under Mussolini (1939) and the German occupation (1943–1944).

The Dictatorship (1944–1991)

After World War II, Enver Hoxha, a former teacher from Gjirokastra, seized power and established Europe's most Stalinist dictatorship. What followed was a regime of unparalleled paranoia and brutality:

• Total isolation: Hoxha successively broke with Yugoslavia (1948), the Soviet Union (1961), and China (1978). In the end, Albania was the most isolated country in the world — no contact with the West, no freedom to travel, no foreign television, no private car ownership.
• Ban on religion: In 1967, Hoxha declared Albania the world's first officially atheist state. All mosques and churches were closed, destroyed, or converted into warehouses. Religious practice was punished with imprisonment or death.
• Bunker mania: In his paranoia of invasion, Hoxha had over 173,000 concrete bunkers built across the country — more than one per 16 inhabitants. The mushroom-shaped bunkers still stand everywhere: on beaches, in fields, on mountain peaks, in gardens. They are Albania's most bizarre legacy.
• Political persecution: Tens of thousands were interned in labor camps, executed, or "disappeared." The secret police Sigurimi monitored every aspect of life. Families were punished for the "crimes" of individual members.

Hoxha died in 1985, his successor Ramiz Alia maintained the system until 1991, when communism collapsed. Albania was the last country in Europe to free itself from communism — and the most deeply traumatized.

The New Albania (since 1991)

The transition was brutal: anarchy, pyramid schemes (in 1997 thousands lost their savings), mass emigration, and political instability. But since the 2000s, the country has been rapidly stabilizing. Albania is a NATO member (since 2009) and an EU candidate. Infrastructure is improving, tourism is booming, and a young, Western-oriented generation is shaping the future. Albania is no longer the isolated country on the edge of Europe — it is a country on the rise.

Besa — The Sacred Code of Honor

Besa is the Albanian concept of honor, the given word, and sacred hospitality. Literally translated, it means "promise" or "word of honor." Besa obliges every Albanian to keep their word and protect guests — even at the risk of their own life. This principle saved thousands of Jewish refugees during World War II: Albania was the only country in Europe where the Jewish population increased during the occupation because Albanian families hid Jews under Besa protection.

For travelers, Besa means: You will be warmly welcomed everywhere. Invitations for coffee or Raki are genuine and should be accepted. It is not uncommon for strangers to invite you into their home, offer you fruit, or show you the way by simply accompanying you.

Religious Tolerance

Albania is one of the most religiously tolerant countries in the world. About 57% of the population is Muslim, 17% Albanian Orthodox, 10% Catholic — and these groups live in harmony that is unparalleled in the region. Interfaith marriages are normal, religious holidays are celebrated together, and national identity always takes precedence over religion. The legacy of Hoxha's ban on religion has paradoxically left a very secular society — Albania is culturally Muslim but not very religious in daily life.

The Kanun

The Kanun (customary law, codified by Lekë Dukagjini in the 15th century) governed social life for centuries, especially in the north. It covered hospitality, inheritance, marriage — but also the infamous blood feud (Gjakmarrja). Although the Kanun officially no longer has legal force, it still influences social norms in remote mountain regions. For travelers, the Kanun is primarily of interest as a historical phenomenon — the Lock-in Tower in Theth bears witness to this tradition.

Etiquette

• Nodding and shaking the head are reversed in Albania: Nodding means "No," shaking means "Yes." This regularly causes confusion — pay attention to the verbal response.
• Coffee invitation: If someone invites you for coffee, it is a sign of hospitality. Accept! Refusing can be considered rude.
• Raki: The homemade grape brandy is offered on every occasion. A sip out of politeness is appropriate, but you don't have to drink the whole glass.
• Removing shoes: In private homes, shoes are removed at the entrance — slippers are provided.