This little tour in the heart of Tiranë is showing you several waymarks that give quite a good impression of the town with some highly modern WMs, but also some WMs that remind to the older times of it. The route is just a suggestion and there is definitely more to see on the way. We'll start at the famous Skanderbeg Square (Albanian: Sheshi Skënderbej), especially...
The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet (WM13YDE)
This theatre is the largest theatre in Albania and was founded in 1953. It was lateron moved to the Palace of Culture of Tiranë building, which was built 1959-1963 and is currently hosting the theatre.
After examining the Theatre of Opera and Ballet and the rest of this impressive square, you should go to the southeast to the intersection Murat Toptani Street / Shëtitorja Murat Toptani
to find...
Toptani Shopping Center (WM13Z9P)
This very new shopping center offers a lot of shops, food and entertainment (especially for kids). You will find lots of international, but also local brands. The most shops are about fashion, but one can find much more there, like cosmetics, jewellery, kids stuff etc.
We then go southwest to cross the river Lana at the Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit and find several interesting WMs on the same spot:
Peace Bell (WM13PV9)
A Peace Bell dedicated to the peace in Albania. In 1997 Albania was facing a terrible unrest/civil war caused by the loss of $1.2 billion after the collapse of various pyramid schemes. At the end of 1999, the big Peace Bell monument was erected in Tiranë. Children collected more than 20,000 shell casings, that were melted and used for this bell.
The Pyramid (WM15DPY)
This pyramid in the center of Tiranë, the capital of Albania, was built in 1987. It made with concrete and glass two years after the death Enver Hoxha, the Albanian dictator. In the beginning it hosted a museum for Enver Hoxha and his regime, became a cultural centre and much more.
Bust of Pope Francis (WM11W2G)
On the Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit in Tiranë, Albania a memorial with the bronze bust of Pope Francis on a marble pedestal has been erected. The bust commemorates the visit of Pope Francis in Tiranë on 21.09.2014.
A little further to the south along the Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit we find an interesting WM, that one wouldn't expect to find here:
Fragment of the Berlin Wall (WM13Q0T)
In 2013 the Memorial to Communist Isolation, called "Checkpoint", was erected. It consists of three parts. A bunker inscribed "TR III 1976 I", concrete supports from notorious mine of Soac and this fragment of the Berlin Wall, which was a gift from the City of Berlin to the people of Albania. The wall was built in 1961 and became a symbol of the isolation of the communist world. It was demolished in 1990.
On the other side of the Boulevard you will see:
Rogner Hotel (WM13YCP)
The 5-star Rogner Hotel was built by the Austrian builder, visionary and entrepreneur Robert Rogner in the early 1990s. It opened its doors in 1995. The hotel offers a lot of facilities, like pool, tennis court, spa, sauna, wellness and fitness areas etc. The rooms are clean and huge enough and offer a great view on the boulevard in front of the hotel and the other surroundings. The food is plentiful (especially the breakfast), although tourists might be a little disappointed to see Austria instead of Albanian food for dinner.
The end of the tour is a beautiful building:
Pallati i Kongreseve (WM13Q8R)
The 'Pallati i Kongreseve' (Albanian for Palace of Congresses) is a building, that houses various conferences, festivals, exhibitions, ceremonies, fairs and concerts. It was built between 1982 and 1986 by the Albanian architect Klement Kolaneci. The building contains four different halls for 2100, 300, 280 and 150 persons.