How Edith Durham describes Tirana in the early 1900s
Tirana (12000 inhabitants), having an excellent road to the port, is moving towards prosperity. The bazaar was full of villagers dressed in different costumes from Elbasan’s. Tirana was founded in 1600 by a wealthy bey, who named it after a Turkish conquest (named Tirkan) of Tehran in Persia. Today’s Beys of Tirana, the Toptanas, who call themselves the descendants of the old Topias, are very famous, not only for the construction of the road that they did at their own expense but also for imported agricultural and Italian machinery to teach the villagers how to use them.
One of them (Murat Toptani) is interested in patriotism, and the people mourn him. The land is well-worked and rich, the road is good, and trade abroad is overgrowing. All the houses are built between large gardens filled with cherries, figs, quinces, plums, and almond trees, mostly watered by canals. It is an extremely clean and very picturesque city. The minarets are magnificent, colorful, and painted with natural views. It’s an artist’s paradise, and I’m sorry I couldn’t stay more than three days. ”
Tirana has an elementary/middle school named after Edith Durham.
Tags: Tirana Stories, Edith Durham
Other News to Read
What to do in September in Tirana
September is the first month of autumn, and in Tirana, just like everywhere else, life comes alive as…
Tirana — From Ancient Plain to Modern Capital
Long before there was a city, the Tirana plain was a fertile basin between the Adriatic coast and…
What to do in August in Tirana
August is the last month of summer in Tirana. It is the month when most local citizens leave…
The Forgotten Legacy: Why Albanians Are the True Heirs of Epirus and Ancient Macedon
This article presents the case, based on genetic studies, linguistic continuity, archaeological evidence, and historical sources, that Albanians…