Tirana, AlbaniaThe colorful heart of Tirana — a vast recently redesigned central square anchored by the equestrian statue of national hero George Castriot Skanderbeg, flanked by the Et'hem Bey Mosque (1823), the National Historical Museum with its famous mosaic facade, and the Clock Tower. The best place to start any exploration of the city.
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Albania's most important cultural institution — a massive mosaic mural of Albanian historical scenes covers the entire facade in one of the great works of Socialist Realist art. Inside: 5,000 years of Albanian history from Illyrian antiquity through Ottoman rule to communist isolation and beyond. Essential for understanding Albania.
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Two of the most extraordinary museums in Europe — Cold War bunkers turned into immersive art and history museums. Bunk'Art 1 is inside Enver Hoxha's nuclear shelter with 106 rooms of anti-communist art; Bunk'Art 2 is in a downtown bunker housing the history of Albania's secret police. Together they offer the most powerful museum experience in the Balkans.