Lin Braun
BBC Travel
Once known as the "North Korea of Europe," Albania is now drawing on its millennia-old archaeological sites and rich cultural heritage in an attempt to change its image in the world.
After a period of turmoil, it is often said that one should turn to the future.
However, 40 years after the death of communist dictator Enver Hoxha, Albania is in many ways turning to its distant past.
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During the country's period of extreme isolation from the 1940s to 1991, religious sites were closed and many historical sites were neglected, earning Albania the nickname "the North Korea of Europe."
However, today Albania is making great efforts to highlight its cultural heritage by preserving its natural landscape and embracing its ancient roots.
One such example is the ruins of the city of Butrint, near the border with Greece, which are more than 2.500 years old.
The site, believed to date back to around 800 BC, has long been at the center of the Western world, enduring conflict, absorbing diverse cultures, and leaving behind a multi-layered historical legacy to explore.
It was probably originally a Greek polis before the Romans conquered it and turned it into a bustling city with thermal baths.
Later, the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires also left their mark.
The history of Butrint reflects the political upheavals of the Mediterranean and its many cultures and religions that shaped present-day Albania.
"[Butrint] became the first site in Albania to be inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in 1992," says host Kasa Alom on a recent episode of the BBC Travel Show.
"[This place preserves] a part of a rich cultural history that has not been overshadowed by the events of the past century."
Today, the vast ruins of this city are part of the Butrint National Park, which encompasses 93 square kilometers of forested coastal area.
The park is home to 1.200 different plant and animal species.
Visitors can explore the remains of an ancient amphitheater, admire early Christian monuments, and then hike through the wooded hills or cruise the nearby Lake Butrint.
The protection of both the ruins and the surrounding park is the result of joint efforts by organizations such as the Butrint Foundation and the World Monuments Fund.
Donations from these organizations helped restore Butrint and protect its natural environment, while also providing training in the field of historic site protection, creating much-needed jobs in the local community.
"For the last 30 years, there has been a fight to protect the beauty and history of Butrint, initially because it was neglected after the fall of communism... but also because of investors who tried to build around the site," Ani Tare, director of Butrint National Park, told the BBC.
Butrint is not the only place in Albania that has been restored.
In the capital Tirana, 278 kilometers north of Butrint, many monuments from the era of Enver Hoxha have been demolished to make way for new public spaces.
For example, Skanderbeg Square, which was once filled with monuments dedicated to communism and Hoxha's power, is today the largest pedestrian square in the Balkans.
And the imposing Pyramid of Tirana, which was once a museum dedicated to Hoxha, has been transformed into a park and sculpture garden and offers panoramic views of the city.
Art has also helped Albanians free themselves from the past and create a new national identity in various ways.
For example, programs such as the annual drama festival held in the ancient stone amphitheater in Butrint have helped restore pride and a sense of history among local residents.
"At first [the festival goers] were noisy, didn't understand what was really going on, and were stealing cushions from the seats," says Tare.
"But in five years, the locals have started dressing nicely for the festival, no one makes noise, everyone respects the theater, and no more pillows are stolen."
"Why? Because the culture [of this place] has made them aware and given them a sense of pride."
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