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If you are keen to know the turbulent history of the Albanians, this is the place to visit. The National History Museum is the most important museum in Albania and contains a well-documented history of the country and a very well organised historical display. It's Albanian history exposed in its best form. All the information is available for you to read and very interesting if you like history. A visit here can take up to three hours, so pace yourself!
National Museum of History: a powerful well-thought out museum
The Pavilion of Antiquity is the most important and one of the richest with objects in the National Historical Museum, with 585 objects on display which you can see during your National Historic Museum tour. The displayed objects start with the Late Paleolithic, where prehistoric culture is proved lively and powerful in our lands, and ends with objects belonging to the Early Middle Ages (4th to 8th centuries).
The Pavilion of Communist Terror hosts images, documents and videos of the persecution suffered by the Albanians during the communist regime and was inaugurated in 2012. In this pavilion are displayed documents, photographs and objects, which belong to the period of one-party system in Albania from 1945 to 1990. The historical content of this pavilion is further enriched by film images, provided by the Central Film Archives. An important part of the Pavilion are the documentary and photographic materials which reflect the cleansing operations against the anticommunist forces, a special court against the political opponents during the war as well as the liquidation of the anti-communist opposition. In the showcases are displayed relics which belonged to numerous persons convicted or executed by the regime of that time.
In the Pavilion of the Middle Ages, visitors have access to the economic, social, political and cultural development of Albanians from the 6th century until the 15th. With photos, documents and objects is given the resistance against the Ottoman occupation of Albanians, as well as key economic developments, political and social life of the country through maps, engravings of the time and quite original publications, the visitor knows Skanderbeg, who personifies the Struggle of the Albanians against the Ottoman Occupation.
The Renaissance Pavilion is one of the richest with original objects, documents, books, photographs, national flags, weapons, banknotes, and other cultural objects. Most of the objects are unique to the national history and culture of the Albanians. The objects displayed in the showcases of the pavilion during the period from the mid-19th century until 1912. Visitors have the opportunity to look closely the desk and the collection of books that are there, of one of the most prominent ideologists of the Albanian national ideology Sami Frasheri (1825-1904).
The Pavilion of Independence reflects the key historical moments after the Declaration of Independence in 1912 until 1939. The Declaration (Proclamation) of Independence of Albania from the National Assembly of Vlora on 28 November 1912 and subsequently the formation of the Provisional Government of Albania constitute two important acts of the Albanian national state. In the areas of this pavilion is reflected the Conference of Ambassadors in London (1912-1913).
A collection of 70 items of the Post-Byzantine art in Albania: icons, a proskynetarion, some pairs of Holy Doors and an iconostasis are on display in this pavilion. These objects belonged to different churches in Albania: Gjirokastra, Elbasani, Fieri, Berati etc., dating from the 16th century until the early 19th century. Almost all the best painters who have left impressive works in the churches of Albania, Macedonia and Greece, such as: Onufri, Onufër Qiprioti, David Selenica, Kostandin Shpataraku, Kostandin Jeromonaku, the Zografi brothers, the Çetiri brothers, and Mihal Anagnosti are represented in this pavilion. The iconostasis (altar screen decorated with icons) comes from the church of the monastery of Saint John Vladimir in Elbasan.
How to Get Tickets?
The National Historic Museum ticket is sold at the Main Entrance ticket sales, general admission is 200 lek per person.
How To Get Around?
It is best to go around and have your National Historic Museum tour on foot, walking around between pavilions and exhibitions. The museum is also accessible for wheelchair and stroller.
What Should I Wear?
Comfortable clothes and shoes are the best to wear during your National Historic Museum tour as you will roam the different pavilions of the museum, so the more comfortable your clothes and shoes are the better. But take notes on the season of when you will make the visit because in Tirana winter is mild and rainy, but sometimes at night it can get cold, while summer is hot and sunny, with some very hot days.
Best Time to Visit
You can have your National Historic Museum tour at all time of the year. If you visit in summer, it is best to go in the morning since the building is not air conditioned. The opening hour is: Tuesday - Saturday 9AM–7PM, Sunday 9AM–8PM, and the museum is closed every Monday.
Albania’s currency is lek (plural leke). Like other minority Balkan currencies, it is difficult to exchange abroad. However, everyone in Albania knows the value of €1 in lek (it’s between 130 to 140), and will gladly offer prices in euros so you might prefer to change euros (sterling is also acceptable) at one of the prominent exchange bureaux. Change only small amounts of cash – say £10 or £20 at a time – because it is pointless leaving Albania with local currency unless you intend to return. Change only as much cash as you plan on spending if you want to use local currency
Will I Need a Guide?
A lot of the content is in English but not all, having a guide who understands about the history will be an advantage.
How To Get There?
You can drive or get a taxi to have your National History Museum tour, but if you choose to use public transport then the closest bus stop will be Kristal Center Bus Stop at Zogu I Boulevard or Kosovo Bus Station at Rruga Ded Gjo Luli (st.)
Albania is an ethnically homogeneous country with a vast majority of the population speaking the Albanian language which is also the country’s official language. Minorities in the country speak their own native languages like Greek, Macedonian, Romani, and others. Italian and English are the most popular foreign languages spoken by the Albanians. Unlike Italian, English is widely taught in schools across Albania. Thus, English is the most popularly spoken foreign language among the youth of Albania.