** Albania, the country that fascinates foreign tourists **

• Which is Albania in Italy may come to an aircraft hours and overnight ferry. "But how much has changed Albania?" Raises a question in writing on 27 July correspondent of "BBC World Service", Julia Langdon, who had just arrived in Saranda, the most popular of the Albanian Riviera.
• "Lonely Planet", while states: "Remember the pictures you see of Albania, cannons and planes abandoned on the ancient villages and bunkers scattered along the road to Tirana. This is all part of the past. Yes, because the towns, beaches and landscapes found along the coast and inland are among the most hospitable and picturesque in Europe ".

• The current opinion is unanimous: Albania is a place to visit. "Panorama.it" and shows you the stories of Italians who have been there. The city, which during the eighties Carrizi Albano had dedicated a song, Saranda, is one of the pearls of the Ionian coast of southern Albania. The beaches are still unexplored and fish passes directly from the sea to the table. There are many hotels and "bed and breakfast"-s of the area that appear in search engines.

• "Booking.com" assesses five-star "Bougainville Bay", the newest resort of Saranda and unique, which will host this year's first tourists. Built almost in the sea, it offers the best prices, even from those found in Greece. The structure is very young and has Italian cuisine restaurant. For those who prefer to cook at home, resort fishing boat stops every morning to sell the newly caught fish, transmits Panorama of Tirana.

• In "Bougainville Bay" Italians came first. "Panorama.it" Frigino met Horace, president of the Italian Naval Aviation, near the hydroplanes, one of the most elegant services offered by the resort. With its pilots, Frigino allows for panoramic flights made on the coast of Albania. But there's more: "Our plan is to offer daily and weekend packages for tourists who are in Salento, Italy, and who are interested to discover Albania".

• Transfers, of course, made the seaplane: flight lasts only 50 minutes. Frigino also aims to establish an Albanian hidroklub. Man hydroplanes has remained so captivated by the beauty of Saranda, as buying a home in "Bougainville bay".

• "A tourist finds still pristine coves, seabed full of wonders, good food and service with a truly excellent ratio price-quality. For me it was a surprise to discover, one hour flight away from Italy, stunning coast transmit strong emotions and live in a hut in the middle of craggy mountains and streams Caribbean ".

• But not only pilots that give life zest of Italian tourists in Saranda. Are the champions of the sea. In the first days of August, Marco Bardi, one of the most famous champions with spear fishing, will explore the depths of Saranda organizing individual courses. Other places in the area that should not be missed: Ksamili islands and lake "Blue Eye", a unique monument of nature under the protection of the authorities.

• Vlora is a city with more sunny days in Albania. Sea offers classic sandy beaches of the Adriatic, in typical rocky beaches of the Ionian Sea. As it says "Lonely Planet", "the story that lies beyond the sea's all a place to explore and enjoy may not be the absolute updates. What is certain, however, is that the time has come to sit at the table, giving thanks for the hospitality (among Albanians is the highest level) and start tasting ". A pasta dish costs about 3 euros, fresh fish of the sea between 5 and 8 euros per kilo, 50 cents a cup of coffee.

• In the kitchens of hotels chiefs are migrant workers who have returned home from Italy, investing in home savings and experience gained abroad. It would be a sin to break from Vlora, without stopping first at the restaurant "Boiko" to enjoy the fruits of the sea or the "gull" in Radhimë for mussels. The Milanese confirm two brothers, Luigi and Andrea Brambilla, who arrived in Albania with Albanian friends of the university: "Studying economics at the University of Milan. Our friends have insisted that the Albanians showed us their country and here we are. We traveled by ferry from Ancona and will stay 10 days. Eating for miracles, the beach is gorgeous and everything costs less. "

• Who does not like the heat and the sea can go to town. Known as the "City of Stone", is the most popular of Italian tourists, according to the Italian Embassy in Tirana. The birthplace of former dictator Enver Hoxha, Albanian candidate but for the price "Nobel" of Literature, Ismail Kadare, Gjirokastra has always been a cradle of culture and intellectuals. Due to the unique characteristics of architectural and historical value, since 2005 the city is protected by UNESCO.

• Castle is the most important monument of the historical center, was built on a large block of rock that looks like a big warship. Recent data show 300 visitors per day, 40 per cent Italian, the rest of Americans, French and Norwegian. Gino is the Sasari, married with Adelën, an Albanian girl who emigrated to Italy in the nineties: "This is the first time that we come together. I'm sorry that I delayed so long, we are married for 5 years. The city and its history are fascinating. It's a pity that in Italy we do not know anything about all this. " Lovers of cultural tourism can continue the journey to Portland, called the "city of 1001 windows", also under the protection of UNESCO.

• To discover everything they need to know about the Albanian national hero Scanderbeg (1405 - 1468), is Kruja, which also has the "Bazaar" celebrity (market), with local crafts of all kinds. Spoiled, Voskopoja, Thethi and Velipojë are just some of the destinations of northern Albania that are worth visiting in the summer or spring for the rich landscape of lakes, rivers, forests and canyons.

• All this for a low cost holiday. But security? Many Italians interested in making holiday in Albania this question. The issue of security is also a recurring question in Albania and the forum "TripAdvisor". Here is the answer RealVR, a guy from Milan: "You can feel 100% safe. In summer there are many Italians. You will be surprised. Tourists generally viewed favorably. "