National History Museum

Address: Sheshi Skenderbej

City: Tirana

Telephone: (+355-4) 22 83 89

Information

You can't miss the gargantuan mosaic on the facade - it represents the development of Albania's history with everyone from Illirians to partisans represented. Inside, each hall of this vast building covers one of the stages in the development of the Albanian nation. Repeated looting has robbed the museum of many artefacts, but nevertheless it remains the best place in Albania to tank up on history and to view beautiful finds from the many archeological sites across the country. A new hall focuses on the years around the Second World War and the resistance movements, while the museum ends with a harrowing exhibition about Albania's gruesome labour camp system and the thousands of men and women who were swallowed by it. There are some English texts in the museum, but certainly not enough, so bring an Albanian for a better understanding of what's on show. The museum shop is an excellent place to shop for traditional crafts.

National History Museum on the map of Tirana