The Forgotten Medieval Town of Balleza

Balleza (Ballezio) was a medieval Albanian town located near Rrjoll town under Maranaj peak. Rrjoll creek and Gura e Pishkazit creek flow near the site. The only ruins left are rare traces of surrounding walls and a church. Balleza was likely the origin of the famous Albanian noble family of the Balshas. Indeed, the founder of the medieval principality of […]

Sulejman Demollari: Modern Midfielder Of Albania

Sulejman Demollari, also known as Sul Demollari, was born in 1964 in Tirana. He is considered one of the best Albanian football players of the democratic transition period. The talented Albanian midfielder became a football icon of the 90s football generation.   Sulejman Demollari is among the most diverse midfielders to wear the Albanian national jersey. Apart from playing as a […]

Balsha II Balsha: The Rise & Fall of an Ambitious Prince

Balsha II Balsha (r. 1379-1385), was the youngest son of Balsha I (the attested founder of the Albanian principality of Balsha). He succeeded his brother Gjergj I Balsha (George I Balsha, r. 1372-1379) as the ruler of the principality. His other brother, Strazimir I Balsha, had also ruled the principality in 1362-1372. Balsha II called himself “prince of Arbëria”, “faithful […]

Ptolemy I of Epirus: The true ruler of Epirus in Pyrrhus’ absence

Ptolemy, commonly known as Ptolemy I of Epirus, was the son of Pyrrhus I of Epirus (r. 302-296; 297-272 B.C.E.) and Antigone. His father was the famous Pyrrhus, who fought the Romans and Carthaginians. As for his mother, she was the daughter of Berenice and a Macedonian nobleman named Philip; Berenice later married Ptolemy I Soter (r. 305-282 B.C.E.), the […]

Gjergj I Balsha: Marking the Zenith of the Balsha Principality

Gjergj I Balsha (George I Balsha; r. 1372-1379) was the most important of the three heirs of Balsha I. In his stamps, attested in Ragusan documents of 1373 and 1379, Gjergj Balsha writes his name (in Cyrillic letters) as Gjorga I Balshe. The name appears in the same manner on coins of that same era. Gjergj Balsha succeeded his brother-turned-monk […]

Loro Boriçi Stadium: A Key Sports Venue in Northern Albania

Loro Boriçi stadium is a multi-purpose sports venue located in the northern Albanian city of Shkodra. It primarily hosts football (soccer) matches, namely the home matches of KF Vllaznia (the most popular football club in northern Albania). This venue is the second largest stadium in Albania. The Upgrade Of Loro Boriçi Stadium The first construction works for the main stadium […]

Strazimir I Balsha: Expander of the Balsha Principality

Strazimir I Balsha (r. 1362-1372) was the son and immediate successor of Balsha I (the attested founder of the Albanian Balsha principality). He ruled over the Balsha principality for one expansionist decade. His two other brothers, Gjergj I (George I Balsha) and Balsha II Balsha assisted him in governance, forming a medieval tetrarchy. In his early years, the territories ruled […]

“Niko Dovana” Stadium: Durrës’ Main Sports Venue

Niko Dovana stadium is the largest sports facility in the coastal city of Durrës, Albania. It mainly hosts football matches and serves as the home ground of the local team KF Teuta. The stadium has a total seated capacity of 12,040, making it currently the sixth largest in Albania. A running track intended for athletes surrounds the football pitch. A […]