Drop by the Et'hem Bej Mosque

From the outside, it may not seem like Albania is a Muslim-majority country but it is and one of the oldest and most prominent mosques in Tirana is Et'hem Bej Mosque, an Ottoman-era mosque located right in the middle of Skanderbeg Square. It was founded at the end of the 18th century by Mulla Bey, with the shrine finished by his son Haxhi Et’hem Bey in the first quarter of the following century. On 18th January 1991, despite opposition from the communist authorities, 10,000 people entered carrying flags. This was at the onset of the fall of communism in Albania. The event was a milestone in the rebirth of religious freedom in the country.

Visitors can see the wonderful architecture of the mosque and its exquisite decorations of wall and ceiling paintings from oriental traditions. The frescoes of the mosque depict trees, waterfalls, and bridges, still life paintings that are a rarity in Islamic art. The outside may not look like much but the stunning depiction of waterfalls and plants on the frescos in the prayer hall, which is quite rare to see in a mosque, is quite a sight to behold.