The Mujo Ulqinaku Monument is an important patriotic and historical memorial in the city of Durrës, dedicated to Mujo Ulqinaku (1896–1939), an Albanian soldier who was declared a "People's Hero" for his bravery during the resistance effort against the Italian fascist occupation on April 7, 1939 in the port of Durrës.
The monument is a sculptural work created by the "People's Sculptor" Kristaq Rama, and is located near the walls of the Durrës Castle, in a central historic area of the city.
This memorial represents a symbol of the sacrifice and selfless resistance of Albanians against external aggression and commemorates the place where Mujo Ulqinaku and his comrades faced Italian forces, showing extraordinary bravery even with the few means of defense they had at their disposal.
Mujo Ulqinaku was a non-commissioned officer of the Royal Albanian Navy, born in Ulqin (now Montenegro) and stationed in Durrës, where during the Italian occupation he was placed on the front lines of the battle to stop the advance of the invading forces. For his work, he was posthumously awarded the high state title of “Hero of the People”, one of the highest honors in Albanian military and patriotic history.
His memorial today is one of the symbolic places of collective memory in Durrës and is often used as a place for commemorative ceremonies, especially on anniversaries of historical events such as April 7, 1939, the day of the first Albanian attempt to resist the invasion.
The Mujo Ulqinaku Memorial not only honors the heroism of an individual, but also marks the community's resistance and the Albanian people's fight for freedom, making it an important historical and touristic landmark in the coastal city of Durrës.
