Discover Fascinating Facts About Albania: The Land of Eagles

Discover Fascinating Facts About Albania: The Land of Eagles

Uncover ten exciting facts about Albania with us. Did you know, for example, that the land of the eagles has a unique language, or that it was once a monarchy? Read more and let us surprise you!

• 10 August 2023 12:45
• By Tesi Vila, Raiffeisen Bank Albania, and Alexandra Jocham, RBI
• Events & Lifestyle

1. The Land of Eagles

It is noteworthy that Albanians do not refer to their country as "Albania", but rather as "Shqipëri", which translates to "Land of Eagles". The eagle holds immense significance for Albanian people and is regarded as their national and ethnic symbol. The earliest known depiction of the eagle dates back to a stone carving from 1190. In addition, the Albanian flag features a black, two-headed eagle on a solid red background. This design is believed to have originated from Prince Skanderbeg, a hero from the 15th century who successfully led a rebellion against the Ottoman Turks in 1443. He adopted a similar flag with a double-headed eagle and red background, which was used by various noble families in Albania during the Middle Ages and eventually became the symbol of the Albanian people.

2. A unique language

With about 7.5 million speakers, Albanian forms its own branch within the Indo-European languages and is not closely related to any other modern language. It developed from the ancient Illyrian language spoken by the inhabitants of the Balkans before the Roman conquest.

3. More Albanians live outside of Albania than within

It is interesting to note that there are more Albanians living outside of Albania than within its borders. Albanian citizens can be found in numerous countries such as Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United States. The Albanian diaspora has played a significant role in preserving Albanian culture and language.

4. Stuffed animals as guardians

To ward off evil spirits, the rural population hangs stuffed animals and other objects on buildings and houses. These "dordolecs" are placed to protect property from envious people who might destroy it. The centuries-old tradition of the dordolec, which was almost eradicated during communism, has been reviving since the early 1990s.

5. Mountainous country

What makes this country so distinctive and special is the fact that nature has gifted Albania very generously with mountains in such a small area and amazing coastal landscapes not far away.

Albania is a mountainous country, with mountains covering 70 percent of its territory. The highest mountain in Albania, Mount Korab, reaches an altitude of 2,764 metres and is located on the border with northern Macedonia. Albania's mountain ranges offer not only breathtaking natural landscapes, but also opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing and mountaineering.

6. Xhiro - a tradition of evening walks

In Albania, it is a popular pastime for individuals to take a leisurely walk in the evening. In some towns, certain roads are even closed off to traffic to allow locals to stroll safely. This tradition of evening walks is known as
"xhiro" in Albanian and is a common social activity among friends and family. Many Albanians enjoy taking a stroll after dinner to relax, exercise, and enjoy the fresh air. In larger cities like Tirana, there are designated pedestrian areas and parks that attract many walkers, joggers, and cyclists.

7. King Zog I - the first and only King of Albania

King Zog I was the sole monarch of Albania, reigning from 1928 until 1939. Notably, he was the only Muslim king in modern European history and gained a reputation for surviving numerous assassination attempts.

King Zog played a significant role in modernizing Albania during his reign. He promoted infrastructure development, introduced the country's first constitution, and established diplomatic relations with numerous foreign countries. However, his efforts were cut short when Italy invaded Albania in 1939, and King Zog was forced to flee into exile. Despite this setback, he continued to advocate for Albanian independence and sovereignty until his death in 1961.

8. Yes is no and no is yes?

Contrary to the norm in most countries, Albanians have a unique way of signaling "yes" and "no". They shake their head to indicate agreement, while nodding means disagreement.

This head gesture can be confusing for outsiders, but it is deeply ingrained in Albanian culture and is widely used in everyday communication. It is said that this tradition dates back to the Ottoman Empire when Albanians wanted to signal their agreement without openly expressing it.

Today, this gesture is still prevalent in Albania and is considered a distinctive feature of the country's culture. Visitors to Albania are often advised to be aware of this cultural difference to avoid misunderstandings.

9. Rededication of bunkers

In the period of Albania's isolation, an estimated tens of thousands of reinforced concrete bunkers were constructed throughout the country to safeguard against potential invasion. Nowadays, many of these unused bunkers are being repurposed into hostels, homes, museums, or are simply abandoned and decaying.

The bunkers were built under the orders of the former communist leader Enver Hoxha, who ruled Albania from 1944 until his death in 1985. During his rule, Hoxha implemented a policy of extreme isolationism, causing Albania to become one of the most isolated countries in the world.

The bunkers were built not only along the country's borders but also in cities and towns across Albania, with an estimated bunker for every four citizens.

Today, some of these bunkers have been converted into restaurants, cafes, or even art installations, while others
have been left to slowly decay. Despite their proliferation, the bunkers were never put to the test and have become a unique and controversial feature of Albania's landscape.

10. Butrint - Albania's most significant ruins

Butrint, a UNESCO-listed archaeological site in Albania, is home to some of the most significant ruins in the country, spanning 2,500 years of history across the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine eras, with its origins dating back to the 3rd century BC.

The ruins of Butrint are one of the oldest amphitheatres in the Balkans. Its fame has a dimension all its own, as it is also mentioned in Virgil's famous "Aeneid". It is said to be the place that, according to mythology, King Priam's son, Prince Helenus, built after fleeing from the fall of Troy.