Implementation Period: October 2020

With the support of  Municipality of Tirana, the project “TIRANA – 100-Year-Old Capital – Between Cuisine & Ethnography” brought together two elements that play a crucial role in promoting tourism: Cuisine and Ethnography.  100-year-old capital offers a cuisine that attracts the attention of visitors and tourists. Near the New Bazaar, traditional dishes from Tirana were presented, prepared by culinary institutes and agritourism businesses in the area. These products, based on authentic recipes and fresh local ingredients, not only provided a unique experience for visitors but also promoted local products. Visitors were able to taste traditional foods while learning about recipes preserved over the years and how they were prepared. This approach helped in understanding the values of Tirana’s cuisine and the role it plays in the identity of the city.

Moreover, the inclusion of agritourisms in this event further boosted the rural economy, creating opportunities to showcase and attract tourists. This initiative served as a model for integrating cuisine and tourism, improving not only the visitor experience but also generating income for rural communities around Tirana.

In addition to the culinary element, an exhibition was held at the New Bazaar Square, featuring 30 paintings that showcased the ethnographic heritage of Tirana, documenting folk costumes, vests, belts, women’s jewelry, and other traditional objects. Early photos of the city and culinary objects used by Tirana families in the past were also included, illustrating the development of the city from the 1920s to the present day. A rare document, a business registration certificate from June 20, 1942, describing the registration of the first commercial business in Tirana, caught the attention of visitors.

Participants also had the opportunity to visit artisan tents with various works such as carpets, woodwork, and creations that combined traditional and modern elements.