Shkodra, 2500 years old, is known as a city with ancient cultural traditions. Over the years, it has produced many distinguished people, generations upon generations, who together have given our city the name it enjoys today and which we inherit with gratitude and pride.
By studying the diverse historical, artistic, folklore, and popular creativity of our city, you can learn a lot about the ancient culture, customs, and traditions that its children fanatically preserve even today.
Shkodra has different construction periods, from the Illyrian period to the present day. The ancient city consisted of only a few neighborhoods around the Rozafa Castle that expanded towards the northwest. After the Ottoman conquest, the city took on a different physiognomy, a different direction in both economic and socio-cultural development. Despite being the prey of numerous invasions, the people have always tried to preserve their characteristics, to surprise. Since this period it has been known as an important educational, cultural and religious center, a political and patriotic center. This is evidenced by a number of Albanian and foreign scholars who have spoken about it in their works. Its economic, social and cultural importance, as well as its favorable geographical position as a connecting node with the countries of Southeast Europe, are seen as strong points in its favor for its further multi-dimensional development. Many travelers and scholars have expressed very positive opinions about the natural and cultural wealth of Shkodra.
Shkodra Castle
It is known in history as "ROZAFA". It is located at the southern entrance of the city, in a strategic position, surrounded by the Buna, Drini and Kiri rivers. The defensive walls are 880m long, surrounding an area of 35000m2. It is the largest castle in Albania and one of the largest in the Balkans.
Drishti Castle
Drishti Castle is located about 6 km from the village of Mes. It rises on a conical hill about 800 m high. In the Drishti Castle only a few traces have been preserved from prehistoric buildings. The entrance to the castle opens on the side wall of a rectangular tower. A wall of unworked stones with a width of over 2 m surrounds the top of the hill, occupying a surface slightly larger than that of
of the medieval castle, while the other wall follows the contours of the slope, matching the medieval wall.
Shurdhahu Castle
The medieval city of Sardis is located on an island in Lake Vau-Deja, approximately 10 miles from the city of Vau-Deja.
The area around this cultural center is one of the most important places, not only for Shkodra, but for all of Albania. This area is an important archaeological and historical area. Here is located the early settlement of Gajtan (Gajtan Cave), the settlement of Juban (Juban Cave), the Town of Gajtan, the castle of Danja and the castle of Dalmace.
The city of Sardis until the 15th century was an important cultural center and meeting point of the three cultures of the Northern region, the traditions of Malesia, Zadrima and Miredita, cultures that have resisted time and the currents of foreign invaders.
Sardis is the legacy of Illyrian culture. This city had its greatest prosperity in the 8th-13th centuries, being an important cultural and religious center.
Sarda, once a town along the Drin River, as a strategic island and as a connecting point with the old Gjakova-Shkoder-Ulqin road, is today an uninhabited town, an important tourist spot.
This area is visited by local and foreign tourists who are familiar with the tourist, cultural, historical and archaeological values, and are familiar with the environmental values, all of which in the complex constitute a tourist gem.
The Middle bridge
The Mesit Bridge is located in the village of Mes, 6 km from the city of Shkodra. It dates back to the 18th century. It is one of the rarest monuments of this type in Albania. It is the most important, largest and best-preserved bridge from the Turkish period in Albania. The Mesit Bridge is the only stone bridge with a turn in our country, which it took to adapt to the environment. It is an example of the miracle of Ottoman construction. Parallel to it, a concrete bridge was built in order to lighten the old bridge, which was badly damaged by the load. The bridge has a length of 108 m and a width of 3.4 m. It is supported on 13 arches, the largest of which has a diameter of 21.5 m. Other supporting arches are examples of art and function combined in perfect harmony. The Middle Bridge is an object that has attracted many local and foreign visitors.
view from the Mes bridge
Buna Bridge
The Buna Bridge, together with the Bahçallek Bridge, were the land connections of the city of Shkodra with other parts of Albania.
The Buna Bridge is an Ottoman work built during the years 1499-1500. It was built with wooden legs. In 1899 this bridge was rebuilt by the Ottoman governor in Shkoder at that time. On the occasion of the inauguration, a monument was erected at the end of the bridge's front. This pyramid-shaped stone is kept in the city museum. (Shkodra and the Weather, H.Bushati)
Bahçalek Bridge
The Bahçallek Bridge was built by the Ottoman invaders, the exact time of its construction is not known. During the Ottoman occupation, the Bahçallek Bridge was auctioned for a toll that was collected for crossing. This toll was used to cover the costs of repairs and reconstruction of the bridge in cases of need. This bridge could not be crossed at night, except in an emergency.
The bridge was built after the Ottoman rule left Albania. (Shkodra and the Weather, H.Bushati)
Ethnography Sector:
This section has a collection of about 1500 objects belonging to the 18th - 20th centuries. They are artisanal products of the city of Shkodra and the geo-ethnographic areas of its basin: Dukagjini, M.Madhe, Shllaku, Postrriba, Zadrima, Anamali, Krajë, as well as the regions of Puka and Mirdita.
Some of them are produced by individuals from urban or rural families, while the rest are products of craftsmen from artisan workshops in the city of Shkodra, following centuries-old local tradition, but also with new elements, influenced by contacts with foreign cultures, at different times.
The materials used for their manufacture are mainly of local origin, but imported materials have also been used, mainly in urban production and more recently, with the introduction of industrialized materials to the market.
Objects are classified according to function into:
– Textiles (complete clothing or clothing elements, household furnishings, such as rugs, curtains, tablecloths, bedspreads, wall hangings, etc.). About 500 units are preserved, in a relatively good state of conservation.
In their work, wool, natural silk, cotton, linen are used extensively, carrying out the full cycle of the process in the country, according to traditional techniques, of course in an evolutionary process of their own. It is worth noting that they are distinguished for their originality, rich decoration, full of symbolism and color. In particular, rare artistic values are contained in the clothing, where filigree with numerous color nuances is often used. Likewise, the hand embroidery of silk, linen and cotton fabrics of scarves, covers, sheets, etc.
– Carved wooden furniture such as shelves, tables, chairs, decorative elements of homes, with geometric, floral and zoomorphic motifs. In total, about 35 such objects are preserved.
– Daily use utensils, such as cups, plates, pans, water vessels, etc., fire pots, made of wood, ceramics, porcelain, metals, etc. They belong to village life, mainly pastoral and urban. About 120 objects of them are preserved.
– Stone objects, elements of the exterior of urban houses, such as well spouts, troughs, massive storage containers, architectural parts of houses, etc., carved with interesting motifs and original shapes.
– Tools of various crafts, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, leatherworkers, coppersmiths, carpenters, gunsmiths, etc. About 200 such objects are preserved.
– Traditional musical instruments such as lute, qifteli, fiyej, zumare, saze, etc. About 50 pieces are preserved.
There are also objects imported mainly from Italy and Turkey, especially equipment and furnishings of the Shkodra urban home: lamps, vases, kitchen utensils and tables.
"Marubi" Photo Library
The art of photography in our country began in Shkodra in the 50s and is associated with the name of Pietro Marubi (1834 - 1903), originally from Piacenza (Italy), who came as a political asylum seeker to Shkodra, where he settled permanently, establishing the "Marubi" photography studio in the city center, the first of its kind in Albania. His over forty years of work as a photographer has left important traces, with historical and artistic value.
Among the earliest photographs are those of Hamiz Kazazi (1858) and Leonardo de Martino (1859).
In the “Marubi” studio, the student of the Italian master, Mati Kodheli, also made his modest contribution. From 1885, Mati’s brother, Kel Kodheli (1870 – 1940), also worked in this studio. After the master’s death, he inherited the studio and began working independently, later taking the surname “Marubi” as his own, in honor and gratitude to his generous teacher.
Alongside the increase in public demands, the activity of the "Marubi" studio also increases, following step by step the evolving techniques of photography and standing out for high quality, up to the realization of truly artistic photography.
The third generation of the "Marubi" dynasty, after Kel's death, is represented by his son, Gega, who passed on this precious treasure and further enriched it, working with the same dedication and professionalism until the end of his life.
In 1970, the prominent photographer Gegë Marubi donated this photo library to the Albanian state, the fruit of a hundred years of uninterrupted work, where the art and memory of Shkodra and our nation merge together, which contains around 200000 negatives on glass plates and celluloid.
In support of the high civic gesture of the master Gegë, four other archives of negatives of outstanding value were simultaneously donated to the Albanian state, by prominent photographers from Shkodra, namely Shan Pici, Rraboshta, Dedë Jakova and Angjelin Nënshati, almost doubling the number of negatives in this Photo Library. It is worth noting that each of these photographers had created their own profile as an artist photographer.
The funds of over 400000 negatives, in addition to their long time span, have a geographical extension beyond the borders of the city and the district of Shkodra. In addition to thousands and thousands of individuals, citizens or not of Shkodra, hundreds of local and national historical events, daily chronicles of the city, well-known public figures and personalities from various fields of political, economic, social and cultural life are recorded there.
The urban planning and monuments of the city of Shkodra and most of the cities of Albania and Montenegro have also been documented. Of particular value are the thousands of negatives that reflect traditional clothing, which include all the ethnographic areas of Northern Albania, the characteristic Shkodra houses and those of the village, the Grand Bazaar of Shkodra, natural landscapes up to those of the Northern Alps, etc.
There is a considerable number of negatives about the consuls accredited in Shkodra and foreign political and military personalities of foreign countries, as well as thousands of soldiers and officers, from Turkey, Italy, Austria-Hungary, France, Britain, Montenegro, etc., especially from the period of World War I and II. The 50-year communist period is also very rich and of historical value for the historical memory of Shkodra and the national one.
The “Marubi” Photo Archive preserves, in addition to the negatives, the original registers, dating back to 1918, where the names of individuals and groups of individuals and the exact date of photography are accurately recorded. A good and careful job has been done by Kel Marubi himself to identify the content of the negatives made by his predecessors. It must be said that there is still work to be done in this regard by specialist researchers for that early period.
Of particular museum value are the objects and materials used by the Marubs and other photographers in their studios.
The “Marubi” Photo Library is made available to all entities or clients interested in using its rich archive, offering an ever more qualified and fast service, respecting the relevant legislation, under the conditions of a market economy. It maintains full exclusivity over this national treasure and copyrights.
In recent years, intense and diverse activity has been carried out in order to promote the values of this photo library. Several photo exhibitions have been opened periodically within the country, such as in Shkodra, Kruja, etc., as well as abroad, in Italy (Rimini, Florence, Venice), in Montenegro, which have been received with great interest. At the same time, several albums with different themes have been published so far by the institution itself or in collaboration with foreign institutions.
photo from the Marubi photo library
mosque
Lead Mosque
Ottoman-era mosque with many domes, built on the site of a small 18th-century mosque.
The Lead Mosque is one of the most beautiful and magnificent historical monuments of the Turkish-Arabic style. This mosque has aroused the interest and desire of various visitors.
The mosque inside is not very large, but it has an exterior part that communicates with the interior through a gate.
During the Turkish occupation, the domes of the mosque were covered with layers of lead. Over time, they were removed and no longer exist. Inside the mosque there was also a narthex which no longer exists, but the doors and windows of this mosque suffered the same fate.
The area where the mosque is built is subject to various floods, the water has reached the windows, even covering the tomb of Mehmet Pasha the Elder, the founder of this mosque.
It is necessary and important to conduct extensive excavations to uncover the mosque.
view from the Plumb mosque
The new mosque, Abu Bakr, is the largest in Albania and one of the largest in the Balkans. It is located in the center of our city and was built in 1994. The mosque is a building that carries special architectural values which appear in the entirety of the ornaments and decorations that can be a source of attraction for tourists visiting our country.
view from the Abu Bakr mosque
Handicraft
Shkodra is mentioned in history as one of the most important cultural centers in the Balkans. Among the diversity of the constituent elements of culture, what gives a unique style to its activity is the handicrafts of this people, developed in the processing of various materials such as: wood, metal, leather, with which men usually worked, while women worked mainly in the embroidery of clothes, sheets, pillows, table covers, in the various weavings of fabric, in the making of rugs, which varied according to the area where they lived.
The works made by Shkodra artisans are also very popular in foreign markets where they have been exhibited.
handicrafts made in Shkoder
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