Albania
Capital
Tirana
Population
~2.8 million
Currency
Albanian Lek (ALL)
Quick Facts
- Languages
- Albanian
- Religion
- Islam, Christianity (Orthodox and Catholic)
- Climate
- Mediterranean; mild winters and hot, dry summers
Culture & History
Known for: beautiful beaches, bunkers from communist era, and unique language isolate
Also famous for: Balkan cuisine, Albanian Riviera, and Ismail Kadare (writer)
Food: Byrek (savory pie)
Brief History
Part of Ottoman Empire; independent in 1912; communist regime until 1990s; now a parliamentary republic