Historical Background

In antiquity Albanians were referred to as Arbër, which gave the country the name of Arbëri. Such a name dates back to the II Century, mentioned by the Greek geographer, Ptolemeu. In the Middle Ages, the country was known by another version Arban, which was the Albanians’ ethnic name in that period. This is shown by the fact that Albanians who migrated in Greece (XIV Century) called themselves Arvanit, those migrating in Italy (XV-XVI) and in Dalmatia (XVIII) called themselves Arbëresh. The Albanian territory was inhabited since the ancient times. Traces of civilization dating to Stone Age (Middle and Late Paleozoic Era, 100.000-10.000 years ago) have been found in Xarë and in Saint Marinë Cave in Saranda. The New Stone Age (the Neolithic Era 6.000- 2 000 B.C.) is clearly evidenced by a series of settlements pertaining to the Early Neolithic Era (Vlushë in Skrapar, Blaz in Mat, Podgori and Vashtemi in Korçë, the Middle Neolithic Era (Cakran in Mallakastër, Dunavec in Korçë, Kolsh in Kukës) and the Late Neolithic Era, (Maliq in Korçë, Kamnik in Kolonjë).

The Albanians are direct descendants of the Illyrians. The Illyrians formed an autochthonous ancient-population-based ethnicity that might be identified with the Pellasgs, who later on merged with the indo-European population that moved from the Balkans Peninsula by the end of the Neolithic Era and the beginnings of the Bronze Era (the end of the III Millennium B.C.). The ethnic features of the new population that came as a result of symbiosis and merging process, date to the Middle Bronze Era.

Two Illyrian clans, the Pajons and Tesprots are mentioned in the poems of “The Iliad” and “Odyssey”. The most ancient towns in Albania are Buthroti (Butrinti), Apolonia, Dyrrahu (Durrësi), and Orikumi, founded in the VII-VI B.C. as Greek colonies in Illyrian settlements. Their typical feature was their establishing on the coast. In these towns there were made important discoveries and prolific numismatic and epigraphic material was collected, thus enabling the study of the political organization and socio-economic development. The authentic Illyrian towns were first established in the IV-II Century B.C. they were spread along the coast and in the internal territory, such as Scodra (Shkodra), Lisi (Lezha), Bylysi, Amantia, Antipatrea (Berati), Antigonea among the others. Findings of archeological digs show that Illyrians started to urbanize in the IV Century B.C. , whereas in the III Century B.C. this process proliferated. In the II Century B.C., time when Illyria was conquered by the Romans, 70 Illyrian towns were demolished. The II Century A.C. up to the Early Middle Ages shows an increase of the urban life. Other towns were established such as Gjirokastra, Kruja, Dibra, Saranda. In Illyria the arts started to develop in the VII Century B.C. – VI Century B.C. the most important towns in this aspect were the Illyrian towns Bylisi, Amantia, Foinike, Butrot as well as the Hellenic settlements; Durrahu, Apolonia, Oriku. Archaic and early Classical works are the bornze head of Apollo from Vlorë, Menada from Tetovo, Kërcyesi from Selcë. The Illyrian art was sharpened further in the IV Century B.C., preserved intact up to the I Century A.C., where the sculpture was the most prominent among the others. -The main Illyrian towns Albanopoli, an Illyrian town, center of the Alban clan, is firstly mentioned in the mid II century B.C., by Ptolemeu, who defined the territory of Albanians by geographical coordinates 46 degrees and 41 degrees and 5’. It is supposed to have existed in the now-existing ruins of the Illyrian town of Zgwrdhesh. Its name means the town of the Albans. The early Byzantine culture in Albania was spread in the upper urban strata of the society without changing the Illyrian traditional culture, pertaining to the lower strata. A feature of this culture is the further development of the early Illyrian towns, part of which became Episcopal centers, religious paleochristian buildings, basilicas, triconcs and policoncs, baptizing centers etc., whose lately-discovered ruins demonstrate a definite development of the art of constructing. Other characteristic features are the mosaics and the prolific architectonic sculptures surrounding them. Worth mentioning are the basilicas of Tepe, Elbasan, that of Bylis, Mesaplik, and that of Arapaj, Durrws. Silversmithery, metalworks and less artistically-valued – ceramics- did develop in this period. From the anthropologic point of view, the Albanians share Adriatic features, short and wide head, with a leveled back, big forehead and wide face in the upper section, a distinguished convex nose, an average body. The architecture of the buildings belonging to the Islamic religion has started to develop in the XIV century with the conquest of Albania by the Ottoman Empire. Worth mentioning are the mosques, Mexhide, Tekkes, Shrines of Muslims Saints, Medresses, etc. In the big Albanian towns the mosques were monumentally constructed. The architecture of the buildings belonging to the Christianism has started to develop in the IV century (paleochristian era). It flourished by the end of the V Century and the first half of the VI Century, in the times of Byzantine emperors of Illyrian origin, Anastas and Justinian. This is demonstrated by the prolific architectural sculptures found in Durrës, by the ruins of many churches in Bylis, Lezhë, Butrint, etj. The Bizantine architecture continues to exist up to the IX Centurywith the old architectural features, as shown in the Basilicas of Durrës. The Medieval Architecture has its boosting momentum in the XII_XV Centuries. There are many preserved monuments pertaining to the Byzantine and Roman-Gothic architecture, such as the Shirgji’s church, Saint Stephan’s cathedral, in Shkodër, the church at the Rodon Cape. In the frescos of the Apopllonia town there are found sections belonging to the Byzantine painting, early Paleontologic style. In a monumental composition of the façade, there is shown, in full human size, the Byzantine emperor Mihail Paleologu VIII with Androniku II Paleolog and his wife, wearing traditional clothes, bearing crowns and halo above their heads. This is the earliest work representing these emperors, who strived to strenthen their conquering position in this strategic area between the Eastern and Western Empire after their victory over the Anzhuins. The frescos in the Church of Ristozi, near the city of Korçë, dates back to 1390, Paleontologic style (Byzaqntine Period). They are pieces of great interest not only for the iconography and genre’s details imprinted from real life into the biblical scenes, but also for being the last masterpiece of the anonymous painter who has decorated in 1369 the church of Maligrad and in 1385 the church of Saint Thanas in Kostur.

The Tourism

The Albanian coastline is 450 km length and is divided in two parts. The Adriatic coast line is 300 km, with sand beaches and forests, while the Jonian coast line is about 150 km with rocky beaches. Along the Albanian coastline are many lagoons, like Kunea and Vaini in north, near Lezha, the Karavasta near Divjaka, central Albania, and Butrinti southern Albania, which create the opportunity of developing ecotourism. Albania has a Mediterranean climate with few raining, sunny days in summer and wet cold winter. Due to the high mountains, the climate changes between the cities. The annual average temperature vary from 11 to 17 grades Celsius. The wet months are April, October, November, December. The average temperature during the summer vary from 24 to 27 grade Celsius, while the temperature of the sea from 19 to 25. In 2006 in Albania there are 250 hotels mostly in the coast line.