Tirana, Skėnderbeg square 1988 and other Tirana, Albania Things to Do Tips

Skėnderbeg square remains the very center of Tirana. In 1998, what was extraordinary was that though it was not forbidden to cars, it was, de facto a pedestrian only area as there were no private cars and that state cars were very few. It is a very special feeling not to hear any humming of engines, neither close by or far away. That allows to listen to another humming that we have never the occasion to hear, the humming of humans walking and talking. It is softer, almost like the humming of a large ant-hill. I am afraid you will never hear it again!

The first photo shows the view from Hotel Tiranė. In the background, on the left, the main University building. The avenue that connects it with Skėnderbeg square is Bulevardi Dėshmorėt I Kombit (Boulevard of the Martyrs of the Nation).

The second photo shows n the left (east side) the Palace of Culture.

The third photo shows the west side of the square with the Bank of Albania.

The fourth photo shows also the west side of the square, a little further, with another official building.

The fifth photo is an early morning shot of the square.

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The Palace of Culture stretches along the whole eastern side of Skėnderbeg square. It is a typical Stalin era Palace of Culture, as have been build in the whole Sovietic world.

The first photo shows it with on top a slogan that extends to its whole length and says "Lavdi parties se punes te Shqipėrisė" (Glory to the Albanian Party of Labour) [thank you CK2100 for correcting my translation]. This has obviously been removed now!

The following photos were taken a few days later and for the 1st of may, a giant portrait of Enver Hoxha had been hung. On the left, the mosque and the clock Tower.

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Tirana Historical museum is in a nicely looking modern building with a huge mosaic on top of the entrance. The mosaic represents (close-up on the second photo) the people of Albania, workers and fighters walking towards better futures.

In 1988, it was interesting to learn in this museum that the Albanians had invented everything in the world and had been the first in the world to build every industrial or scientific device.

Nevertheless recent reports present the nowadays historical museum as a must see. I will go and check that in summer 2006.

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I am puzzled by this great looking building. The photo was also taken in 1988. It was very close to Skėnderbeg square (and possibly ON Skėnderbeg square) but I have been unable to identify it and to give it a name. Who will help me ?

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From Skėnderbeg square, Hotel Tirana looked great in 1988. I feel that in 2006 it looks almost the same, except that the picture of Enver Hoxja will not be there anymore and that there will be cars driving across the square.

The second photo is a close up on the entrance with palm trees and a begonia flowerbed

The third photo shows the view from the entrance of the hotel, with the Culture Palace on the left and the Mosque in the background.

On the fourth photo, I could not resist in giving a closer look to the palm trees and the begonia flowerbed.

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This photo was taken at the end of Bulevardi Dėshmorėt I Kombit (Boulevard of the Martyrs of the Nation), after the 1988 May 1st parade. People are hurrying back home. A powerful Mercedes with some important government member is speeding away without any escort. The University building beared (permanently) the letter PPSH for Partia e Punės e Shqipėrisė (Communist Albanian Workers' Party) while the portrait of Enver Hoxha is here only for the 1st of May. Nowadays, none will be there !

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Etham bey Mosque stands at the south-eastern corner of Skėnderbeg square. It is one of the few really old buildings in Tiranė and because of its historical value was not destroyed when Enver Hoxha decided that religion did not exist anymore. It was built in the18th.

The third photo shows the mosque with the 35 m high Sahat-Kulla (clock tower) built around 1820. Both the minaret and the clock-tower offer a superb view on the city.

Under the gallery of Etham bey Mosque are frescoes. An example is given on the fourth photo.

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On a hill overhanging Tirana, stand "Varreza e Dėmshmorėve", the martyrs' cemetery. A big monument represents Mother Albania (first photo). The tombs of the hundreds of martyrs that gave their life to free Albania during WWII are around. This is why, though dating back from the Communist era, this monument has been kept.

The second photo is a close up on the carving on the basement of Mother Albania : "Lavdi e perjétshme dėshmorėve te atdhent" (Praise and glory to the martyrs for the Homeland).

The third photo shows the tomb in which Enver Hoxha was buried in 1985, guarded by militaries. In 1992 his tomb has been removed and Enver reburied in a regular cemetery.

I do not know if there are still guards in the memorial (fourth photo).

The fifth photo gives the landscape on the city of Tiranė, seen from the memorial. If you enlarge it, you will see on the left the main University building, standing right at the foot of the hill and facing it, in the background, at the other end of Bulevardi Dėshmorėt I Kombit, the tall Hotel Tiranė.

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