Nestled on the Balkan Peninsula, and boasting both Adriatic and Ionian coastlines, Albania is a country where stunning beaches are juxtaposed with snow-capped mountains.

In part due to its varied climate, the country is considered a biodiversity hotspot, home to European megafauna including the lynx, brown bear and wildcat, along with stunning birds of prey and some 3,500 species of plants. Some of the best places to see this biodiversity are the country’s 15 national parks, several of which also incorporate archaeological sites.

Buildings and ruins across Albania hint at the region’s often-turbulent past. Greek and Roman ruins date back to antiquity, while the influence of Ottoman architecture is particularly visible in the cities of Berat and Gjirokastër. More than 750,000 bunkers were build across the country during the rule of communist dictator Enver Hoxha as defence against his enemies. Though many were never used, some have been repurposed today as homes, cafes and museums. The influence of Greek culture can also be heard in Albanian music, with tunes inlcuding Dance for Pogoni, originally from Epirus in northern Greece, now part of the region’s rich traditional music culture.

Albanian-born British composer Thomas Simaku uses music to explore a space where, as he puts it, “modern and ancient aspects of utterance…interconnect and complement each other”. His compositional practice draws on the rich heritage of the region, not quoting folk music directly but drawing on elements such as its modality, use of microtonal inflections and improvisatory flair.