Albania is a land of mountains, mediaeval castles, hilltop villages, sugar-sand beaches, and endless summer sunshine. In the southwest of the Balkan Peninsula, Albania is somewhat similar to its neighbours, but with a story all of its own. Successive empires have ruled this proud nation. Today, its history lives on most emphatically through its people, cuisine and historical ruins like the Roman amphitheatre in Durrës. In the mountain-ringed capital of Tirana, changing architectural styles and the Bunker Museums chart Albania’s evolution, while its contemporary bar scene comes into its own at nightfall. Meanwhile, inland Berat, where white-washed Ottoman villas tumble down to the Osum River, adds natural riches to any cultural itinerary. For many, the big draw of this country lies along the Albania Riviera. Here, white sand and shingle beaches, lapped by the turquoise Ionian Sea, adorn well-equipped resort towns such as Saranda.