WELCOME TO ALBANIA

Tirana is a wonderful capital city at the heart of the Western Balkans region.  You will find a robust and lively city. While in Tirana, you must not miss Tirana's Lake, the vibrant Blloku area which teems with great restaurants and cafes, the 'Bunk'Art' Museum which is a former bunker that now houses a memorial to those who suffered under Communism, and the Council of Europe-acclaimed 'House of Leaves' Museum which tells the history of the Albanian State security apparatus under Communism, and many other attractions.

Beyond Tirana, there are so many other fine places to explore in Albania. These include beautiful Berat, a UNESCO heritage site that is nicknamed 'the city of a thousand windows', the charming port city of Durres, the lovely Gjirokaster, also named a UNESCO heritage city, the Albanian Riviera which stretches from the coastal city of Vlora to the southern city of Saranda, the archeological sites of Apollonia, Butrint and Byllis, and the moutainous peaks of Thethe and Valbona, part of the chain of the Albanian Alps.

Here are some great links connecting you to information about Albania!

Destination Albania

Historic Churches and Rare Frescoes

A Road Trip Around Albania

UNESCO Sites in Albania

A Travel Guide
 

ABOUT THE WESTERN BALKANS

The Western Balkans region is made up of six countries - Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Each country has its particular charm and the region offers many economic opportunities to international firms and a tremendous number of cultural attractions to tourists from around the world.

North Macedonia, neighboring Albania to the east, was once part of the former Yugoslavia and gained independence in 1991.  There are many attractions as well as sites of natural beauty to visit.  Among the most interesting landmarks to visit are the capital city Skopje - especially its Old Bazaar, Lake Ohrid which the country shares with Albania, the Millennium Cross of Vodno Mountain - the second largest cross in Europe, and Mavrovo National Park.

Montenegro boasts some of the most beautiful coastal landscapes of the region.  Worth visiting is the old town of Kotor, a Venetian-style walled cobblestone city along the beautiful Bay of Kotor, the old town of the city of Budva along the Adriatic Sea, as well as the coastal towns of Ulcinj and Bar. The capital Podgorica has an attractive city center as does Montenegro's pre-World War I historic capital Cetinje with its former royal residences.

Serbia, the largest country of the Western Balkans, boasts wonderful city centers in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Nis. It has some of the most beautiful monasteries in the region.  Belgrade has some impressive museums and many festivals throughout the year.  Novi Sad has the intriguing Petrovaradin Fortress.  

Kosovo, whose 2008 declaration of independence has been partially recognized (Russia, China and Serbia do not yet recognize Kosovo's status), possesses wonderful natural beauty and historic sites.  The capital Prishtina boasts a good ethnographic museum and a Bill Clinton statue.  Prizren, perhaps Kosovo's most beautiful city, lies along the river that bears its name, and boasts fine traditional Ottoman architecture and an impressive fortress.  The Sharr Mountains are located nearby and have some of the highest mountain peaks in the Balkans.

Bosnia & Herzegovina was the site of conflict in the 1990s but since then has become a site for tourism.  It offers the opportunity to visit historic Sarajevo, its capital, with its attractive minarets and famous university, and the beautiful city of Mostar with its famous bridge, a rebuilt 16th century Ottoman bridge. Also worth visiting are the Dervish monastery of Blagaj and the Kravica waterfall.

In short, there is so much to see in the Western Balkan region and it will be worth taking the time to tour the area before or after attending the conference!

Here are some great links connecting you to information about the Western Balkans!

North Macedonia

Montenegro

Serbia

Kosovo

Bosnia & Hercegovina