Puka, once a mountainous ghost town in northern Albania has become a true popular tourist destination over the past four years. The town has undergone renewal efforts over the last four years to improve liveability and it has seen improvements in infrastructure and public space. The town’s urban infrastructure has been completely transformed under a government-funded urban renewal project worth 280 million lek. The project included the urban renewal and revitalization of four main spaces, including the facades and roofs of the buildings along the town’s main square, using the area’s traditional elements blending in perfectly with the surrounding wild and untamed mountainous landscape.

But what has provided an immediate tourist impact to the northern town, once a desert and forgotten town surrounded by garbage piles, is the rehabilitation of a local small lake that has been thoroughly cleaned to expand the system’s water area and the lake’s embankment has been rebuilt and encircled with stones in order to prevent erosion. A promenade for local residents and visitors alike has been built around the lakeshore, featuring a public park, recreational spaces, a wooden bridge and whereas a children’s playground is expected to be constructed soon.

Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the transformed public space and urban infrastructure of the town, with his first stop at Puka’s small lake.

“The area was littered with medical waste and any other sort of urban waste,” the Mayor of Puka Gjon Gjonaj said, adding that around 90 000 cubic meter waste have been removed as part of the area’s rehabilitation project.

“Wonderful! This is something really fabulous. With a series of agritourism businesses underway, this whole area would usher in a completely new era of development. This is a great asset for the town,” PM Rama said.

The government head closely inspected the newly-reconstructed main public spaces of the town, including more than 6000 square meters of streets and public squares, and rehabilitation of the facades and roofs of the surrounding buildings.

“Everything was built from scratch,” Mayor Gjonaj said.

“This is time when people can really visit this wonderful area with fantastic climate, hospitality and unique Puka beer. It is just like the German towns,” Prime Minister Rama said.

The square in front of the Municipality building and the Hotel Tourism in Puka have been transformed into pedestrian areas and paved entirely with marble tiles. It has also been worked with the greening, lighting and planting of decorative trees. Both squares will be connected via a promenade. The buildings stretching along the squares, such as the Palace of Culture, the Municipality, Prefecture, Post Office, Hospital, as well as other residential and socio-cultural facilities have also been rehabilitated.