National History Museum

Fun Facts

• • It holds the desk and personal book collection of Sami Frashëri, a central figure of the Albanian National Renaissance.
• • The Pavilion of Antiquity includes the celebrated mosaic known as The Beauty of Durrës, a piece of art dating back to the fourth century BC.
• • The Pavilion of Communist Terror uses films and documents from the Central Film Archives to shed light on the darkest chapter of the twentieth century.
• • The building is massive, housing five thousand objects across eighteen thousand square metres of exhibition space.
• • The central figure of the mosaic mural, representing Mother Albania, was altered after the fall of communism to remove specific political symbols that were once prominent.
• • The collection includes a wide array of icons painted by the legendary Onufri, a sixteenth century master known for his unique red pigment.
• • The mosaic covering the entrance spans 440 square metres, making it one of the largest and most ambitious pieces of public art in the city.
• • The museum displays personal effects and documents belonging to Mother Teresa, honouring her deep connection to her Albanian heritage.
• • The museum includes dedicated displays highlighting the Albanian effort to protect Jewish refugees during the Holocaust, a testament to national humanism.
• • Visitors can view the Epitaph of Gllavenica, an exquisite textile work from 1373 that remains a highlight of the medieval collection.