swinging tirana

A L B A N I A
SWINGING
TIRANA
© A le ssa ndro G a ndo lfi
PA R A L L E L O Z E R O
Tirana (Albania), journalist Ilva Tare
right before her talk show “Tonight
Ilva Tare”, aired by RTV Ora News
Just twenty years ago, the city of Tirana was a sort of Pyongyang in the heart of Europe, the
capital of a paranoid, isolated nation. Today Tirana is a vibrant, ambitious town, welcoming those
who ran away during the Nineties now back richer, and with a better instruction. It’s people in
their thirties – artists, entrepreneurs, journalists, architects – ready to invest in a new idea
of Albania: young (30% of population is less than 18 years old), with a vision (former, brilliant
Tirana’s mayor Edi Rama is now Albania’s Prime Minister) and well into Europe. “Being in the European
Union – they affirm – will bring strict rules and a new image, promoting tourism”.
Tirana is no doubt leading this renaissance, funded (even) by investors from Italy, Germany, Canada,
Turkey and China. The icon of all this is Biloku, Tirana’s upper class district: the very same area
where once the communist elite used to live, in a golden isolation. It’s the place where, between
luxury and an exciting nightlife scene, the optimism and the future prospects of a whole nation
show off.
Tirana (Albania), tourists sunbathing
near Sheraton hotel’s pool
Tirana (Albania), the bar of the
discotheque Folie Terrace
Tirana (Albania), the headquarters
of the committee promoting Albania’s
accession to the European Union
Tirana (Albania), Minister of Culture Mirela
Kumbaro during a press conference held
on the road. Former university professor,
she’s part of the government since 2013
Tirana (Albania), young
people at the Radio bar
Tirana (Albania), entrepreneur Agron Shehaj, 37
yo, in a hall of his call center. Agron is the
owner of Intercom Data Service Group, the most
important call center company in the country
Tirana (Albania), villas in the
new luxury district “Tuscany”,
not far from TEG shopping centre
Tirana (Albania), dance party in a villa
located in the new luxury district “Tuscany”,
not far from TEG shopping centre
Tirana (Albania), a garden
party at the Rogner hotel
Tirana (Albania), a Kube Studios staff
meeting (the first from right is producer
Erfort Kuke). Kube Studios focus on
producing video and tv commercials
Tirana (Albania), a luxury car
in Skanderbeg Square
Tirana (Albania), actors, director and
technicians on the National Theather
stage after the show Radio Iliria
Tirana (Albania), a shepherd watching the
modern cable car operating on Mount Dajt
Tirana (Albania), journalist Enio Civici, director
of SCAN TV (the only tv in Albania dedicated
to economy and finance), preparing his program
Tirana (Albania), downtown at sunset
Tirana (Albania), a man sitting in the
reading room of the Sheraton hotel
Tirana (Albania), the future headquarters
of the Ministry of Culture, just
renovated, now hosting some film studios
Tirana (Albania), Minister of Culture Mirela Kumbaro
checks emails and texts in her car. Former university
professor, she’s part of the government since 2013
Tirana (Albania), people waiting to enter
the vernissage of an artist Lin Delija’s
exhibition at the National Art Gallery
Tirana (Albania), a young couple
talking near Rogner hotel’s pool during
a dance lesson of the Latin Beat House
Tirana (Albania), a young woman
exercising in Sheraton hotel’s gym
Tirana (Albania), hanging out in
Skanderbeg Square with the minaret of the
Et’hem Bey mosque in the background
Tirana (Albania), a girl picking
flowers in a city garden
Tirana (Albania), buffet in a villa located
in the new luxury district “Tuscany”,
not far from TEG shopping centre.
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