The Skanderbeg Square () is the main plaza in the centre of

Tirana Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

. The square is named after the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu. The total area is about 40,000 square metres. The Skanderbeg Monument dominates the square. The city plan for Tirana was initially designed by Armando Brasini in 1925 and continued by

Florestano Di Fausto Florestano Di Fausto (16 July 1890 – 11 January 1965) was an Italian architect, engineer and politician who is best known for his building designs in the Italian overseas territories around the Mediterranean. He is considered the most importa ...

in a

Neo-Renaissance Renaissance Revival architecture (sometimes referred to as "Neo-Renaissance") is a group of 19th-century Revivalism (architecture), architectural revival styles which were neither Greek Revival architecture, Greek Revival nor Gothic Revival ar ...

style with articulate angular solutions and giant order fascias. Following the

Italian invasion of Albania The Italian invasion of Albania was a brief military campaign which was launched by Fascist Italy, Italy against Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939), Albania in 1939. The conflict was a result of the imperialistic policies of the Italian prime m ...

the master plan was updated in 1939 by Gherardo Bosio. Many buildings including the Tirana International Hotel, the

Palace of Culture Palace of Culture (, , ''wénhuà gōng'', ) or House of Culture (Polish: ''dom kultury'') is a common name (generic term) for major Club (organization), club-houses (community centres) in the former Soviet Union and the rest of the Eastern bloc ...

, the National Opera, the

National Library A national library is a library established by a government as a country's preeminent repository of information. Unlike public library, public libraries, these rarely allow citizens to borrow books. Often, they include numerous rare, valuable, ...

, the

Bank of Albania The Bank of Albania () is the central bank of Albania, issuing the Albanian lek. It is headquartered in Tirana, with five branches in Shkodër, Elbasan, Gjirokastër, Korçë and Lushnjë, and a Research and Training Center in Berat. The bank was ...

, the Ethem Bey Mosque, the

Clock Tower Clock towers are a specific type of structure that house a turret clock and have one or more clock faces on the upper exterior walls. Many clock towers are freestanding structures but they can also adjoin or be located on top of another building ...

, the City Hall, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Energy, and the National Historical Museum are situated at the square.

History

In 1917, the Austrians built a public square, where the Skanderbeg Square is located nowadays. After

became the capital in 1920, and the population increased, several city plans were planned. During the time of the Albanian monarchy from 1928 to 1939, the square was composed of a roundabout with a fountain in the center. The Old Bazaar used to be established on the grounds of modern-day

, the Orthodox Cathedral (present-day Tirana International Hotel), while the former City Hall building, on the grounds of where the National Historical Museum is located nowadays. A statue of

Joseph Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Dzhugashvili; 5 March 1953) was a Soviet politician and revolutionary who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until Death and state funeral of Joseph Stalin, his death in 1953. He held power as General Secret ...

was erected, where today the Skanderbeg Monument is located. Besides the construction of the above new elements during communism, the statue of Albania's leader

Enver Hoxha Enver Halil Hoxha ( , ; ; 16 October 190811 April 1985) was an Albanian communist revolutionary and politician who was the leader of People's Socialist Republic of Albania, Albania from 1944 until his death in 1985. He was the Secretary (titl ...

was erected at the space between the National Historical Museum and the National Bank. Following the fall of communism in 1991, the statue would be removed amid student-led demonstrations. Since June 2017, the square has been renovated and is now part of the biggest pedestrian zone in the Balkans. The renovation has been distinguished with the

European Prize for Urban Public Space The European Prize for Urban Public Space is a biennial award established in 2000 to recognise public space projects. It is organised by the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona together with six other European institutions: The Architectu ...

in 2018. The project has also been praised at the Chicago Architecture Biennial, and has received second prize for Contemporary Architecture 2019 by the European Union. Tirana_Old_Postcard.jpg, 1923 Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-049-1605-30A,_Tirana,_Raupenschlepper_Ost_mit_Anh%C3%A4nger.jpg, 1943 Stamp of USSR 1592.jpg, 1951 Sheshi_Skënderbej_(Szkander_bég_tér)._Fortepan_28339.jpg, 1963 Sheshi_Sk%C3%ABnderbej_(Szkander_b%C3%A9g_t%C3%A9r),_V%C3%A1rosh%C3%A1za._Fortepan_28335.jpg, 1963 Tirana_Square_1988.jpg, 1988 Tirana Night View.jpg, 2012 Skanderbeg_Square_3.jpg, 2018

Projects

2010

Former Tirana mayor

Edi Rama Edi Rama (born Edvin Kristaq Rama; 4 July 1964) is an Albanian politician, artist and writer who has been serving as the 33rd and incumbent prime minister of Albania since 2013 and chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania since 2005. He was M ...

embarked on a plan to

modernize Modernization theory or modernisation theory holds that as societies become more economically modernized, wealthier and more educated, their political institutions become increasingly liberal democratic and rationalist. The "classical" theories ...

and Europeanize the square. In March 2010, works began to transform the square into a

pedestrian A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, by wheelchair or with other mobility aids. Streets and roads often have a designated footpath for pedestrian traffic, called the '' sidewalk'' in North American English, the ''pavement'' in British En ...

s and

public transport Public transport (also known as public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) are forms of transport available to the general public. It typically uses a fixed schedule, route and charges a fixed fare. There is no rigid definition of whic ...

only area. A new fountain would use rain water as its water supply, while a two-meter high pyramid would be built and leveled with a 2.5% slope throughout the square. During the construction period, detour roads have been put in place to gradually establish the new and permanent road in the ring road around the square. The entire project is funded by a grant from the State of Kuwait.

2011

In September 2011, the earlier plan was scrapped and a new one introduced by the new mayor, Lulzim Basha. The use of the square by all motor vehicles was restored through the construction of a narrower road segment around the center of the square including bicycle lanes. The existing green field south of Skanderbeg's statue was extended northward for a few hundred meters, while trees were planted in most places.

2016

The next mayor, Erion Veliaj, announced that instead the 2010 plan would be reintroduced with minor changes such as greater green space areas around the square, underground parking, and the introduction of stone material taken from all corners of

, and Albanian inhabited lands. Albania's rich flora would be represented in the gardens around the square, while the former garden behind Skanderbeg's monument would be restored to the pre-2010 state and named Europe Park. Construction works started in 2016 with the finishing of the small ring road around the square. Once the project is completed, the square will serve as a venue where the surrounding institutions would showcase themselves in an open environment concept. The square will also serve as a local farmers market with vendors from rural Tirana showcasing their organic products. The square, designed by 51N4E and Anri Sala, was opened to the public in June 2017.

Gallery

Pamje_e_ndërtesës_së_Bashkisë_Tiranë.jpg, City Hall Building Skanderbeg Square at evening (OSCAL19 trip).jpg, Palace of Culture Muzeu historik kombëtar.jpg, National History Museum Banka_e_shqiperise.jpg, Bank of Albania Tirana_gjate_festave_(1).jpg, Christmas Tree on the square Skanderbeg square (OSCAL19 trip).jpg, Europe Park Christmas_market_on_Skanderbeg_Square_(WPWTR17).jpg, Christmas Tree on Skanderbeg Square Christmas Market during night time Skanderbeg Square, Tirana (49593914172).jpg, Water fountains Skanderbeg Square, Tirana (49593915952).jpg, Mini park in the square Sheshi Skënderbej Street, Albania (49601251903).jpg, Structure near the underground parking The_New_Downtown_-_City_Center,Tirana,_Albania.jpg, Colorful fountains at night The_and_of_Ermal_Meta%27s_concert_-_Downtown,_Tirana,_Albania.jpg, Music Concert of Ermal Meta Municipaliy_of_Tirana_-_view.jpg, Christmas Market seen from above Smile_Tirana.jpg, Skanderbeg Square under the Smile Albania tourism marketing campaign

References

External links

360 Degrees View of the 2016 Skanderbeg Square Project2010 Skanderbeg Square Project by 51N4ELIVE Webcam from Skanderbeg Square
{{Authority control National squares Squares in Tirana 1917 establishments in Albania