culture
The Burrnesha: Albania's Sworn Virgins and a Tradition Fading from Memory
The burrnesha were Albanian women who took an oath to live as men under the Kanun. Fewer than a dozen remain. Here is what the tradition was, and why.
Culture
culture
How Tirana Got Its Colors: The Mayor Who Painted a Communist City
In 2000, a painter became mayor of Tirana and started coloring the grey communist blocks. The story behind the city's most photographed walls, and the politics around them.
culture
Understanding Besa: The Albanian Code of Honor That Saved Lives
Besa is the Albanian code of honor that turned strangers into family and saved nearly 2,000 Jews in WWII. Here is what it means and why it still matters.
culture
Xhiro: The Albanian Evening Walk That Every Town Still Does
Every evening, Albanians fill their town's main boulevard for the xhiro, a slow, aimless walk that is equal parts social ritual, fashion show, and way of life.
culture
Welcome to Guide to Albania
An introduction to Guide to Albania, your companion for discovering the culture, food, history, and hidden corners of one of Europe's most surprising countries.
culture
Nightlife in Albania: From Tirana's Rooftop Bars to Riviera Beach Parties
Albania's nightlife ranges from jazz bars in Blloku to all-night beach clubs on the Riviera. An honest guide to going out, city by city.