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

Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and 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 overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the ...

. The square is named after the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu. The total area is about 40,000 square metres. The

Skanderbeg Monument The Skanderbeg Monument is a monument in the Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania. It commemorates Skanderbeg (1405–1468), the national hero in Albania for resisting the Ottomans. Created by Odhise Paskali, the monument was inaugurated in 1 ...

dominates the square. The city plan for Tirana was initially designed by

Armando Brasini Armando Brasini ( Rome, 21 September 1879 - Rome, 18 February 1965) was a prominent Italian architect and urban designer of the early twentieth century and exemplar of Fascist architecture. His work is notable for its eclectic and visionary style ...

in 1925 and continued by Florestano Di Fausto 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 ...

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

Italian invasion of Albania The Italian invasion of Albania (April 7–12, 1939) was a brief military campaign which was launched by the Kingdom of Italy against the Albanian Kingdom in 1939. The conflict was a result of the imperialistic policies of the Italian prime ...

the master plan was updated in 1939 by Gherardo Bosio. Many buildings including the

Tirana International Hotel Tirana International Hotel (also called in sq, Pesëmbëdhjetëkatëshi, en, The Fifteen-floors) is a hotel located in Tirana, Albania on the corner between central Skanderbeg Square and Zogu I Boulevard. Originally built in 1979 in a Soviet-era ...

, the Palace of Culture, the

National Opera National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland ...

, the

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

, the National Bank, the

Ethem Bey Mosque The Hajji Et'hem Bey Mosque ( sq, Xhamia e Haxhi Et'hem Beut) is a mosque in Tirana, Albania. Closed under communist rule, the mosque reopened as a house of worship in 1991. Without permission from the authorities, 10,000 people attended and the p ...

, the

Clock Tower Clock towers are a specific type of structure which 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 build ...

, the City Hall, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the

Ministry of Agriculture An agriculture ministry (also called an) agriculture department, agriculture board, agriculture council, or agriculture agency, or ministry of rural development) is a ministry charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister ...

, 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 This article includes a list of Albanian monarchs. Albania was first established by the Progon family in 1190, with Progon, Lord of Kruja as the nation's first monarch. Princes of Principality of Arbanon, Arbanon (1190–1256) House of Progon *P ...

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 Palace of Culture, the Orthodox Cathedral (present-day

), 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 Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili; – 5 March 1953) was a Georgian revolutionary and Soviet political leader who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. He held power as General Secreta ...

was erected, where today the

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 politician who was the authoritarian ruler of Albania from 1944 until his death in 1985. He was First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania from 1941 unt ...

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 in 2018. The project has also been praised at the

Chicago Architecture Biennial The Chicago Architecture Biennial is an international exhibition of architectural ideas, projects and displays. It seeks "to provide a platform for groundbreaking architectural projects and spatial experiments that demonstrate how creativity and i ...

, 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 embarked on a plan to

modernize Modernization theory is used to explain the process of modernization within societies. The "classical" theories of modernization of the 1950s and 1960s drew on sociological analyses of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and a partial reading of Max Weber, ...

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

pedestrian A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In modern times, the term usually refers to someone walking on a road or pavement, but this was not the case historically. The meaning of pedestrian is displayed with ...

s and

public transport Public transport (also known as public transportation, public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport, typic ...

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 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 Buildings and structures in Tirana Squares in Albania Tourist attractions in Tirana