On February 20, 1991, thousands of citizens, prompted by a hunger strike by December students, flocked to dictator Hoxha's bust. The fall of the bust marked the symbolic end of dictatorship and the establishment of democracy. Today, 29 years after the fall of Enver Hoxha's bust, we thought of bringing to your attention some places you can visit in Tirana, as a junction between the past and the present.
National History Museum
At the National History Museum, where there are about 5,000 objects tracing the history of the Albanian people, is the Communist Persecution Pavilion. This pavilion, opened in 1996, is dedicated to the Communist genocide of 1944-1990. The pavilion contains mainly photographs and documents related to the major events of those years and the creation of nationalist and anti-communist political organizations.
Hours: From Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, Sunday 9am to 2pm.
Tickets: Tickets for domestic and foreign visitors 500 ALL; Group ticket (+12 people) 400 ALL; Reduced ticket ALL 250; Ticket for children 12-18 years old and students 150 ALL; Free admission for children 0-12 years old.
Address: Skanderbeg Square
National Gallery of Arts
The National Gallery of Arts is the most important institution of visual arts in the country, where the national collection is preserved starting from the second half of the 19th century to the present day. Among other things, there is a large collection of paintings and sculptures of the period of Socialist Realism (1944-1990).
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 9am to 7pm.
Tickets: Tickets to increase 200 ALL; Tickets for the elderly and students 100 ALL; Tickets for people with special needs 100 ALL.
Address: Boulevard ?Martyrs of the Nation?
Bunk'Art 1
Bunk'Art 1 is dedicated to the history of the Albanian Communist Army and the daily lives of Albanians during the years of dictatorial rule. All the exhibits are set up in the bunker of dictator Hoxha on the outskirts of Tirana.
Hours: From Wednesday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm
Tickets: 500 ALL individual tickets; Reduced ticket ALL 300 (pensioners, students, children up to 16 years old)
Address: Fadil Deliu Street (near the cable car), Tirana
Bunk'Art 2
Bunk'Art 2 in the center of Tirana reconstructs the history of the Ministry of Interior in Albania from 1912 to 1991 and reveals the secrets of State Security, police and the entire structure of Enver Hoxha's regime.
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm
Tickets: 500 ALL individual tickets; Reduced ticket ALL 300 (pensioners, students, children up to 16 years old)
Address: Abdi Toptani Street, Tirana
House with Leaves
"House of Leaves", since May 2017 has turned into a museum that commemorates and tells the younger generations and tourists the darkest period of our country, that of the dictatorial regime. Formerly this building served to briefly house the Gestapo during World War II and was also the headquarters of Secret Service surveillance from 1944 - 1991. Today, the House of Leaves commemorates the violence and psychological terror that people have experienced during the regime communist.
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7:30 pm
Tickets: Individual tickets 700 ALL; Reduced ticket ALL 350 (pensioners, former politically persecuted, war veterans, orphans); Family ticket (two or more people) 300 ALL; Ticket for students 210 ALL.
Address: Building in front of the Orthodox Church, Tirana
Kadare studio house
Interesting to visit is also the Kadare Studio House, which gives an idea of Kadare's work during and after the communist regime.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 09:00 to 19:00, Sunday 10:00 to 17:00, Monday break
Tickets: 500 ALL individual tickets ; Group ticket (over 10 people) 300 ALL; Family tickets (two or more) 250 ALL; Reduced tickets (pensioners, veterans, invalids, formerly persecuted 100 ALL; Student tickets 80 ALL.
Address: Dibra Street, Pll.85, Feb.1, Third Floor
"Those who forget the past are predisposed to repeat it." - George Santayana
