Editing Tirana (section)

== History ==
{{see also|Timeline of Tirana}}
{{Update|section|date=July 2020}}

=== Early development ===
[[File:Tirana,_Albania_2017-04_Tirana_Mosaic_02.jpg|thumb|left|The mosaics of an [[Tirana Mosaic|Ancient Roman]] house from the 3rd century AD]]

The area of Tirana has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times with the earliest recognised reference found at the [[Cave of Pëllumbas]] belonging to the Palaeolithic period. [[Illyrians]] were the first population of the area and formed most likely the core of the [[Illyrian kingdom]] of the [[Taulantii]], which in classical antiquity was centered in the hinterland of [[Durrës|Epidamnus]].<ref name="Hammond">{{cite journal |last=Hammond |first=Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière |publisher=[[British School at Athens]] |title=The Kingdoms in Illyria circa 400-167 B.C. |journal=The Annual of the British School at Athens |volume=61 |year=1966 |jstor=30103175 |page=247 |doi=10.1017/S0068245400019043 |s2cid=164155370}}</ref> When the Romans arrived in Illyria after their victory of the [[Illyrian Wars]], they populated and integrated the area into their empire under the political control of the city of Rome. The oldest surviving discovery from this period is a [[Tirana Mosaic|Roman house]] dating to the 3rd century, which was transformed into an [[aisleless church]] with a mosaic floor. A [[Fortress of Justinian|castle]], possibly known as ''Tirkan'', was built by the Byzantine Emperor [[Justinian I]] between the 4th and 6th century and later restored by Ahmed Pasha Toptani in the 18th century.<ref name="Heppner1994">{{cite book |last=Heppner |first=Harald |title=Hauptstädte in Südosteuropa: Geschichte, Funktion, nationale Symbolkraft |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzVfQTE-dD8C&q=Theranda%20name&pg=PA135 |year=1994 |publisher=Wien u.a. Böhlau |pages=133, 135 |isbn=978-3-205-98255-5 |access-date=3 October 2020 |archive-date=21 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121063852/https://books.google.com/books?id=EzVfQTE-dD8C&q=Theranda%20name&pg=PA135 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Castillo de Petrela, Petrela, Albania, 2014-04-17, DD 02.JPG|thumb|left|[[Petrelë Castle|Castle of Petrelë]] was founded in the 6th century by [[Justinian I]].]]

Tirana is mentioned in [[Republic of Venice|Venetian]] documents in the 1350s as well as in 1418: ''"...the resident Pjeter, son of late Domenik from the village of Tirana..."''.<ref name="Heppner2"/> Records of the first land registrations under the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] in 1431–32 show that Tirana consisted of 60 inhabited areas, with nearly 2,028 houses and 7,300 inhabitants.{{Citation needed|date=November 2015}} In 1510, [[Marin Barleti]], an Albanian Catholic priest and scholar, in the biography of the Albanian national hero [[Skanderbeg]], ''Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis'' (''The story of life and deeds of Skanderbeg, the prince of Epirotes''), referred to this area as a small village, distinguishing between "Little Tirana" and "Great Tirana".<ref name="Heppner2">{{cite book |last=Heppner |first=Harald |title=Hauptstädte in Südosteuropa: Geschichte, Funktion, nationale Symbolkraft |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzVfQTE-dD8C&q=Theranda%20name&pg=PA135 |year=1994 |publisher=Wien u.a. Böhlau |pages=137 |isbn=978-3-205-98255-5 |access-date=3 October 2020 |archive-date=21 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121063852/https://books.google.com/books?id=EzVfQTE-dD8C&q=Theranda%20name&pg=PA135 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is later mentioned in 1572 as ''Borgo di Tirana''.<ref>{{citation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zHxsWspxGIIC&pg=PA451 |page=451 |title=Islamic Desk Reference |author=E. J. Van Donzel |quote="il borgo di Tirana" is already mentioned as early as 1572 |publisher=E.J. Brill |year=1994 |isbn=9780585305561 |oclc=45731063 |access-date=5 January 2016 |archive-date=21 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121063852/https://books.google.com/books?id=zHxsWspxGIIC&pg=PA451#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to [[Johann Georg von Hahn|Hahn]], the settlement had already started to develop as a [[bazaar]] and included several [[watermill]]s,<ref name="Miho">{{cite book |title=Trajta të profilit urbanistik të qytetit të Tiranës : prej fillimeve deri më 1944 |oclc=20994870 |author=Koco Miho |location=Tirana |publisher=[[8 Nëntori Publishing House|8 Nëntori]] |year=1987 |editor=J.Tocka |page=57}}</ref> even before 1614, when [[Sulejman Bargjini]], a local ruler, built the [[Sylejman Pasha Mosque|Old Mosque]], a small commercial centre, and a [[Turkish bath|''hammam'']] (Turkish bath). This is confirmed by oral sources, which state that there were two earlier mosques 300–400 m from the Old Mosque, towards today's [[Ali Demi Street]]. The Mosque of Reç and the Mosque of Mujo were positioned on the left side of the [[Lana river|Lana River]] and were older than the Old Mosque.<ref name="Miho"/> Later, the [[Et'hem Bey Mosque]], built by [[Molla Bey of Petrela]], was constructed. It employed the best [[artisans]] in the country and was completed in 1821 by Molla's son [[Etëhem Bey Mollaj|Etëhem]], who was also Sulejman Bargjini's great-nephew.

In 1800, the first newcomers arrived in the [[Human settlement|settlement]]{{clarify|date=February 2019}}, the so-called ''ortodoksit''. They were [[Aromanians]] from villages near [[Korçë]] and [[Pogradec]], who settled around modern day [[Tirana Park on the Artificial Lake]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forum-al.com/ |title="Tiranasit" e ardhur rishtaz |publisher=Gazeta Shqiptare |access-date=17 August 2008 |language=sq |archive-date=2 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202054230/http://www.forum-al.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They started to be known as the ''llacifac'' and were the first Christians to arrive after the creation of the town.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Delvina |first=Sherif |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/124184965 |title=Low Albania (Epirus) and Cham issue |date=2006 |publisher=Eurorilindja |isbn=99943-861-0-7 |location=Tiranë |pages=196 |oclc=124184965 |access-date=18 October 2022 |archive-date=21 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121063833/https://search.worldcat.org/title/124184965 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1807, Tirana became the centre of the [[Subprefecture]] of Krujë-Tirana.{{Citation needed|date=November 2016}} After 1816, Tirana languished under the control of the ''Toptani'' family of [[Krujë]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} Later, Tirana became a sub-prefecture of the newly created [[Vilayet of Shkodër]] and the Sanjak of Durrës. In 1889, the [[Albanian language]] started to be taught in Tirana's schools,{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} and the patriotic club Bashkimi was founded in 1908.
[[File:Bazar Tirana (ca. 1900)2.jpg|thumb|right|The Old Bazaar at the turn of the 20th century. The [[Sulejman Pasha Mosque]] is visible in the background. It was destroyed in [[World War II]].]]

===Modern development===
On 28 November 1912, the national flag was raised in [[Vlorë]] by [[President of Albania|President]] [[Ismail Qemali]], marking the symbolic birth of Albania as a sovereign country. The next years, however, were marked by turmoil. During the [[Balkan Wars]], Tirana was temporarily occupied by the Serbian army and it took part in uprising of the villages led by [[Haxhi Qamili]]. In August 1916, the first city map was compiled by the specialists of the Austro-Hungarian army.<ref>{{cite journal |year=2007 |title=Klan magazine |journal=Klan |issue=527–534 |pages=265 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z7Q8AQAAIAAJ&q=Madje,+planimetria+e+par%C3%AB+e+qytetit+n%C3%AB+shkall%C3%ABn+1:5.000+%C3%ABsht%C3%AB+hartuar+n%C3%AB+gusht+1916,+nga+specialist%C3%ABt+e+ushtris%C3%AB+austro-hungareze |access-date=2018-10-10 |archive-date=21 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121063928/https://books.google.com/books?id=z7Q8AQAAIAAJ&q=Madje,+planimetria+e+par%C3%AB+e+qytetit+n%C3%AB+shkall%C3%ABn+1:5.000+%C3%ABsht%C3%AB+hartuar+n%C3%AB+gusht+1916,+nga+specialist%C3%ABt+e+ushtris%C3%AB+austro-hungareze |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the capture of the town of [[Debar]] by [[Kingdom of Serbia|Serbia]], many of its Albanian inhabitants fled to [[Turkey]], the rest went to Tirana.<ref name="Clayer306307"/> Of those that ended up in [[Istanbul]], some of their number migrated to Albania, mainly to Tirana where the Dibran community (people from [[Dibër County]]) formed an important segment of the city's population from 1920 onward and for some years thereafter.<ref name="Clayer306307">{{cite book |last=Clayer |first=Nathalie |chapter=The Albanian students of the Mekteb-i Mülkiye: Social networks and trends of thought |editor1-last=Özdalga |editor1-first=Elisabeth |title=Late Ottoman Society: The Intellectual Legacy |year=2005 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780415341646 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5FMoWJFs73gC&q=The+Expulsion+of+the+Albanians+appendix&pg=PA307 |pages=306–307 |access-date=3 October 2020 |archive-date=21 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121063813/https://books.google.com/books?id=5FMoWJFs73gC&q=The+Expulsion+of+the+Albanians+appendix&pg=PA307#v=onepage&q=The%20Expulsion%20of%20the%20Albanians%20appendix&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> On 8 February 1920, the [[Congress of Lushnjë]] proclaimed Tirana as the temporary capital of Albania, which had gained independence in 1912.<ref name="Pearson">{{cite book |last=Pearson |first=Owen |title=Albania and King Zog: independence, republic and monarchy 1908–1939 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3_Sh3y9IMZAC&q=Congress+of+Lushnj%C3%AB+capital+tirana+Albania+and+King+Zog:&pg=PA140 |year=2006 |publisher=IB Taurus |isbn=1-84511-013-7 |page=140 |quote=It was decided that the Congress of Lushnje was not to be dissolved until elections had been held and the new government had taken power into its hands and begun to exercise its functions in Tirana, in opposition to the Provisional Government in Italian occupied Durrës |access-date=3 October 2020 |archive-date=21 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121063929/https://books.google.com/books?id=3_Sh3y9IMZAC&q=Congress+of+Lushnj%C3%AB+capital+tirana+Albania+and+King+Zog:&pg=PA140 |url-status=live }}</ref> The city acquired that status permanently on 31 December 1925. In 1923, the first regulatory city plan was compiled by Austrian architects.<ref>Kera, Gentiana. [http://library.panteion.gr:8080/dspace/bitstream/123456789/444/1/KERA.pdf ''Aspects of the urban development of Tirana: 1820–1939''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325151138/http://library.panteion.gr:8080/dspace/bitstream/123456789/444/1/KERA.pdf |date=25 March 2012 }}, Seventh International Conference of Urban History. Athens, 2004.</ref> The centre of Tirana was the project of [[Florestano Di Fausto]] and [[Armando Brasini]], well-known architects of the [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]] period in Italy.
Brasini laid the basis for the modern-day arrangement of the ministerial buildings in the city centre.
The plan underwent revisions by Albanian architect Eshref Frashëri, Italian architect Castellani and Austrian architects Weiss and Kohler.{{Citation needed|date=September 2016}}
The modern Albanian parliament building served as an officers' club. It was there that, in September 1928, [[Zog of Albania]] was crowned King Zog I, King of the Albanians.
[[File:Old_villa_in_Tirana_city_center_01.jpg|thumb|left|Old villa architecture in Tirana]]
Tirana was the venue for the signing of the Pact of Tirana between Fascist [[Italy]] and Albania.
During the rule of King Zog, many [[Muhaxhir (Albanians)|Muhaxhirs]] migrated towards Tirana, which led to a growing population in the capital city in the early 20th century.<ref>Stefanović, Djordje (2005). "Seeing the Albanians through Serbian eyes: The Inventors of the Tradition of Intolerance and their Critics, 1804–1939." ''European History Quarterly''. '''35'''. (3): 470.</ref>

In 1939, Tirana was captured by Fascist forces, who appointed a [[puppet government]]. In the meantime, Italian architect [[Gherardo Bosio]] was asked to elaborate on previous plans and introduce a new project in the area of present-day [[Mother Teresa Square (Tirana)|Mother Teresa Square]].<ref>Bleta, Indrit. [http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12612184/index.pdf ''Influences of political regime shifts on the urban scene of a capital city, Case Study: Tirana.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815203802/http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12612184/index.pdf |date=15 August 2011 }} Turkey, 2010.</ref> A failed assassination attempt was made on [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy]] by a local resistance activist during a visit to Tirana. In November 1941, two emissaries of the [[Communist Party of Yugoslavia]] (KPJ), Miladin Popović and Dušan Mugoša, called a meeting of three Albanian communist groups {{citation needed|date=December 2016}} and founded the [[Party of Labour of Albania|Communist Party of Albania]], and [[Enver Hoxha]] soon emerged as its leader.

The town soon became the centre of the Albanian communists, who mobilised locals against Italian fascists and later [[Nazi]] Germans, while spreading ideological propaganda. On 4 February 1944, the [[Gestapo]], supported by the forces of [[Xhafer Deva]], executed 86 anti-fascists in Tirana.<ref>{{cite book |last=Pearson |first=Owen |title=Albania in Occupation and War: From Fascism to Communism 1940-1945 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P3knunC7z_oC&pg=PA272 |year=2006 |publisher=I.B.Tauris |isbn=978-1-84511-104-5 |page=326 |access-date=21 January 2021 |archive-date=21 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121063844/https://books.google.com/books?id=P3knunC7z_oC&pg=PA272 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 17 November 1944, the [[Liberation of Tirana|town was liberated]] after a [[Albanian Resistance of World War II|fierce battle between the Communists and German forces]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2016}} The Nazis eventually withdrew and the communists seized power.
[[File:Tirana Square 1988.jpg|thumb|right|[[Skanderbeg Square]] in 1988, two years prior to the [[Fall of communism in Albania]]]]

From 1944 to 1991, massive socialist-style apartment complexes and factories were built, while [[Skanderbeg Square]] was redesigned, with a number of buildings demolished. For instance, Tirana's former Old Bazaar and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] Cathedral were razed to the ground in order to build the Soviet-styled Palace of Culture. The northern portion of the main boulevard was renamed [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]] [[Zogu I Boulevard|Boulevard]] and his statue was erected in the city square. Because private car ownership was banned, mass transportation consisted mainly of bicycles, trucks and buses. After Hoxha's death, a [[Pyramid of Tirana|pyramidal museum]] was constructed in his memory by the government.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

Before and after the proclamation of Albania's policy of self-imposed [[isolationism]], a number of high-profile figures paid visits to the city, such as Soviet leader [[Nikita Khrushchev]], [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] Premier [[Zhou Enlai]] and [[German Democratic Republic|East German]] Foreign Minister [[Oskar Fischer (politician)|Oskar Fischer]]. In 1985, Enver Hoxha's funeral was held in Tirana.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Reuters |date=1985-04-12 |title=ENVER HOXHA DIES; ALBANIAN LEADER |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/12/world/enver-hoxha-dies-albanian-leader.html |access-date=2022-01-18 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=18 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118201912/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/12/world/enver-hoxha-dies-albanian-leader.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A few years later, [[Mother Teresa]] became the first religious figure<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biography.com/religious-figure/mother-teresa |title=Mother Teresa |website=Biography |date=24 February 2020 |access-date=10 May 2020 |archive-date=2 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502065743/https://www.biography.com/religious-figure/mother-teresa |url-status=live }}</ref> to visit the country after the end of Albania's long [[anti-religious]] [[state atheism|atheist]] stance. She paid respects to her mother and sister resting at a local cemetery.
[[File:Albanien (05).jpg|thumb|left|Tirana's main boulevard in 1991]]
Starting at the campus and ending at Skanderbeg Square with the toppling of Enver Hoxha's statue, the city saw [[Fall of communism in Albania|significant demonstrations]] by [[University of Tirana]] students demanding political freedoms in the early 1990s. On the political aspect, the city witnessed a number of events. Personalities visited the capital, such as former U.S. Secretary of State [[James Baker]] and [[Pope John Paul II]].
The former visit came amidst the historical setting after the fall of communism, as hundreds of thousands were chanting in Skanderbeg Square Baker's famous saying of "Freedom works!".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kempster |first1=Norman |title=Albanians Mob Baker, Cheer U.S. : Europe: 'Freedom works,' he exhorts a rally of 200,000. The country hopes for aid to rebuild an economy shattered by lengthy Stalinist isolation. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-23-mn-2067-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=23 June 1991 |access-date=8 December 2018 |archive-date=16 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016162653/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-06-23/news/mn-2067_1_albanian-economy |url-status=live }}</ref>
Pope John Paul II became the first major religious leader to visit Tirana, though Mother Teresa had visited few years prior.

During the Balkans turmoil in the mid-1990s, the city experienced dramatic events such as the unfolding of the [[1997 unrest in Albania]] and a [[Fatos Nano#Second and third premierships|failed coup d'état]] on 14 September 1998.

In 1999, following the [[Kosovo War]], Tirana Airport became a NATO airbase, serving its mission in the former Yugoslavia.

=== Contemporary ===
{{See also|2018–2019 student protest in Albania}}
{{Further|2019 Albania earthquake}}
[[File:Streets of Tirana 2016.jpg|thumb|Mustafa Matohiti Street near the [[Pyramid of Tirana]]. After the [[fall of communism in Albania]], many areas saw new development.]]

During his term from 2000 to 2011, the former [[mayor of Tirana]], [[Edi Rama]], undertook a campaign to demolish illegal constructed buildings across Tirana as well as along the river banks of [[Lanë]] to bring the area to its pre-1990 state. In an attempt to widen roads, Rama authorized the bulldozing of private properties so that they could be paved over, thus widening streets. Most main roads underwent reconstruction, including the Unaza, [[Kavaja Street|Rruga e Kavajës]] and the main boulevard. Rama also led the initiative to paint the façades of Tirana's buildings in bright colours, although much of their interiors continued to degrade. Rama's critics claimed that he focused too much attention on cosmetic changes without fixing any of the major problems such as shortages of drinking water and electricity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rudi.net/pages/16989 |title=A bright and colourful new style of urban design emerges in Albania |publisher=Resource for Urban Design Information |access-date=16 August 2008 |archive-date=7 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807174853/http://www.rudi.net/pages/16989 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Pusca |first=Anca |year=2008 |title=The aesthetics of change: Exploring post-Communist spaces |journal=Global Society |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=369–386 |doi=10.1080/13600820802090512 |s2cid=7735000 |url=https://research.gold.ac.uk/3446/1/GlobalSocietyAsPublished.pdf |access-date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=23 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923194420/https://research.gold.ac.uk/3446/1/GlobalSocietyAsPublished.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2007, [[George W. Bush]] traveled to Tirana on an official state visit, becoming the first [[U.S. President]] to visit the former communist country.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |title=Bush makes landmark visit to Albania |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1554129/Bush-makes-landmark-visit-to-Albania.html |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007101412/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1554129/Bush-makes-landmark-visit-to-Albania.html |archive-date=7 October 2020 |date=10 June 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Thousands Hails Bush in Visit to Albania |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/world/europe/11prexy.html |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007101556/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/world/europe/11prexy.html |archive-date=7 October 2020 |date=11 June 2007}}</ref> In 2008, the [[2008 Gërdec explosions|Gërdec explosions]] were felt in the capital as windows were shattered and citizens shaken. In January 2011, the [[2011 Albanian opposition demonstrations|Albanian opposition demonstrations]] were triggered in front of the governmental buildings in Tirana protesting against political corruption and state capture, particularly associated with the former prime minister [[Sali Berisha]]'s government.<ref>{{cite web |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Albania: 20,000 Protesters March Against Government; 3 Killed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/22/world/europe/22briefs-Albania.html |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007095346/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/22/world/europe/22briefs-Albania.html |archive-date=7 October 2020 |date=21 January 2011}}</ref> In September 2014, [[Pope Francis]] made an official state visit to Tirana simultaneously becoming the second pontiff to visit Albania, after Pope John Paul II in 1992.<ref name="Pope Francis">{{cite web |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] (DW) |title=Pope Francis arrives in Albania on a flying visit |url=https://www.dw.com/en/pope-francis-arrives-in-albania-on-a-flying-visit/a-17937580 |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007092630/https://www.dw.com/en/pope-francis-arrives-in-albania-on-a-flying-visit/a-17937580 |archive-date=7 October 2020 |date=21 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |work=[[The Guardian]] |title=Pope Francis praises human rights and religious freedom during Albania visit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/21/pope-francis-human-rights-religious-freedom-albania-tiranaorana |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007093046/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/21/pope-francis-human-rights-religious-freedom-albania-tiranaorana |archive-date=7 October 2020 |date=21 September 2014}}</ref>

Following the municipal elections of 2015, power was transferred from the [[Democratic Party of Albania|Democratic Party]] representative [[Lulzim Basha]] to the [[Socialist Party of Albania|Socialist Party]] candidate [[Erion Veliaj]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Erion Veliaj takes office as Mayor of Tirana |url=http://english.albeu.com/news/news/erion-veliaj-takes-office-as-mayor-of-tirana/207965/ |access-date=2015-08-31 |archive-date=1 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801055037/http://english.albeu.com/news/news/erion-veliaj-takes-office-as-mayor-of-tirana/207965/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> Albania then underwent a territorial reform, in which defunct communes were merged with municipalities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reforma Territoriale – Harta – 61 bashki |url=http://www.reformaterritoriale.al/kryesore/harta-me-61-bashki |website=reformaterritoriale.al |access-date=2015-08-31 |archive-date=28 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828144648/http://www.reformaterritoriale.al/kryesore/harta-me-61-bashki |url-status=dead}}</ref> Thirteen of Tirana's former communes were integrated as administrative units joining the existing eleven.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Veliaj suspends construction permits |url=http://english.albeu.com/news/news/veliaj-suspends-construction-permits/208263/ |access-date=2015-08-31 |archive-date=16 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816161528/http://english.albeu.com/news/news/veliaj-suspends-construction-permits/208263/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Since then, Tirana is undergoing significant changes in infrastructure, law enforcement and new projects, as well as continuing the ones started by Veliaj's predecessor. In their first few council meetings, 242 social houses got allocated to families in need.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tirana City Council approves the allocation of social housing for 242 families |url=http://english.albeu.com/news/news/tirana-city-council-approves-the-allocation-of-social-housing-for-242-/209471/ |access-date=2015-08-31 |archive-date=20 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820175539/http://english.albeu.com/news/news/tirana-city-council-approves-the-allocation-of-social-housing-for-242-/209471/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> Construction permits were suspended until the capital's development plan is revised and synthesized.<ref name=":0"/>

Between December 2018 and February 2019, a [[2018–2019 student protest in Albania|series of demonstrations]] erupted in the central areas of Tirana and other cities of the country in response to a controversial law on higher education, poor quality of teaching, high tuition rates and corruption.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Tirana Times]] |title=University students protest tariff hikes, low education standards in Albania |url=https://www.tiranatimes.com/?p=139540 |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006181441/https://www.tiranatimes.com/?p=139540 |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=5 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Pomeroy |first=Robin |publisher=[[Reuters]] |title=Albanian students block Tirana highway in protest at higher fees |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-albania-protest-idUSKBN1OA24S |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006181710/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-albania-protest-idUSKBN1OA24S |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=11 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ehl |first=David |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] (DW) |title=France, Hungary, Serbia: Is half of Europe protesting? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/france-hungary-serbia-is-half-of-europe-protesting/a-46792738 |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006182039/https://www.dw.com/en/france-hungary-serbia-is-half-of-europe-protesting/a-46792738 |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=18 December 2018}}</ref> In September 2019, Tirana was ravaged by a 5.6 [[Moment magnitude scale|magnitude]] [[earthquake]] with an epicenter located near Durrës.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] (DW) |title=Albania jolted by strong earthquake, dozens reported injured |url=https://www.dw.com/en/albania-jolted-by-strong-earthquake-dozens-reported-injured/a-50531661 |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006185228/https://www.dw.com/en/albania-jolted-by-strong-earthquake-dozens-reported-injured/a-50531661 |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=21 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Andone |first1=Dakin |last2=Gashi |first2=Aldona |publisher=[[Cable News Network]] (CNN) |title=Albania struck by 5.6-magnitude earthquake, injuring at least 37 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/21/europe/earthquake-albania/index.html |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006185522/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/21/europe/earthquake-albania/index.html |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=21 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Euronews]] |title=Albania earthquake: Magnitude 5.6 tremor felt in capital Tirana |url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/09/21/earthquake-of-magnitude-5-6-strikes-off-coast-of-albania |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006193101/https://www.euronews.com/2019/09/21/earthquake-of-magnitude-5-6-strikes-off-coast-of-albania |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=21 September 2019}}</ref> Two months after, in November 2019, another strong [[2019 Albania earthquake|earthquake]] with the magnitude of 6.4 hit the region again resulting in comparatively few damages in Tirana.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peltier |first1=Elian |last2=Magra |first2=Iliana |last3=Victor |first3=Daniel |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Albania Earthquake Kills at Least 23 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/25/world/europe/albania-earthquake-tirana.html |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006191853/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/25/world/europe/albania-earthquake-tirana.html |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=25 November 2019}}</ref> The same month, Tirana was announced as the [[European Youth Capital]] for 2022 with a planned program including events of cultural and social importance.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[European Youth Capital]] (EYC) |title=Congratulations, Tirana! Winner of the European Youth Capital for 2022 |url=https://www.youthforum.org/congratulations-tirana-winner-european-youth-capital-2022 |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006200427/https://www.youthforum.org/congratulations-tirana-winner-european-youth-capital-2022 |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=21 November 2019}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

In December 2022, Tirana hosted the [[2022 EU-Western Balkans summit|EU-Western Balkans summit]], marking the inaugural summit to be held outside the European Union's borders.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[European Council]] (EUCO) |title=Eu-Western Balkans summit in Tirana, 6 December 2022 |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2022/12/06/ |access-date=7 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207073849/https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2022/12/06/ |archive-date=7 December 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 21 September 2024, it was reported that [[Prime Minister of Albania]] [[Edi Rama]] was planning to create the [[Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order]], a sovereign [[microstate]] for the Order within Tirana.<ref name="nyt_article">{{Cite news |last=Higgens |first=Andrew |date=21 September 2024 |title=Albania Is Planning a New Muslim State Inside Its Capital |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/21/world/europe/albania-tirana-muslim-state-bektashi.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=21 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921090757/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/21/world/europe/albania-tirana-muslim-state-bektashi.html }}</ref>