In the capital city is Tirana (Tiranë), Albania

 "Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies."

-- Mother Teresa
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Albania, a country in southern Europe, is in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula on the Strait of Otranto, the southern entrance to the Adriatic Sea. Its capital city is Tirana (Tiranë). Albania is a hidden gem in Europe where you can discover ancient ruins, charming villages, and its friendly locals.
Visitors like to explore the historic city of Berat, where they can wander among the houses of the Kala neighborhood while admiring the great views from the fortress. Visit the site of Apollonia, where you can see the remains of a Roman theater, a temple, and a triumphal arch. Relax on the sandy beaches of the Riviera, or, venture into the mountains, where you can hike, bike, or raft through the landscapes of the beautiful Albanian Alps.

+ Albania is bounded by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east, Greece to the southeast and south, and the Adriatic and Ionian seas to the west and southwest, respectively. Albania’s immediate western neighbor, Italy, lies some 50 miles (80 km) across the Adriatic Sea.

+ Albanians generally consider themselves to be descendants of the ancient Illyrians, who lived in central Europe and migrated southward to the territory of Albania at the beginning of the Bronze Age, about 2000 BCE. Due to its location on the Adriatic and Ionian seas, Albania has been a bridgehead for nations and empires seeking conquest abroad. In the 2nd century BCE the Illyrians were conquered by the Romans, and from the end of the 4th century CE they were ruled by the Byzantine Empire. After centuries of invasion by Visigoths, Huns, Bulgars, and Slavs, the Albanians were conquered by the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century. in the late 19th century the country began to rediscover old affinities and common interests with the West.

+ Albania was declared independent in 1912, but the following year the demarcation of its boundaries by the great powers of Europe assigned about half its territory to neighboring states. (Albania emerged from the violence of World War II as a communist state in which most aspects of life were controlled by the ruling party). But with the collapse of other communist regimes beginning in 1989, new social forces and democratic political parties emerged in Albania. That shift reflected the country’s orientation toward the West -- even while retaining their own ethnic identity, cultural heritage, and individuality.
+ The North Albanian Alps cover the northern, most rugged part of the country. The central mountain region is more densely populated and has a generally less rugged terrain.

+ Stretching along the Adriatic coast over a distance of nearly 125 miles (200 km) and penetrating some 30 miles (50 km) into the interior are the low, fertile plains of western Albania. This is the most important agricultural and industrial region of the country -- and the most densely populated.