Tour of Communist Tirana

On this tour of communist Tirana, we will explore the history of the capital of Albania, visiting key sites such as Bunk'Art 2, the Secret Surveillance Museum, and the house-museum of Ismail Kadare.

Tour of Communist Tirana

At 9 am, we will meet at the entrance of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania in central Tirana to begin our exploration of the traces of communism in Albania.

During this tour, we will learn about the history of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania (1946-1992) and visit Scanderbeg Square to see the national hero's statue.

We will also visit the House Studio Kadare, the home of writer Ismail Kadare, where we will gain insights into his struggles during the communist era.

Next, we will stop at Bunk'Art 2, a nuclear shelter converted into a museum, containing 36 rooms built between 1981 and 1986 for protection against invasions or nuclear attacks.

The tour includes passing by government buildings, walking along the main boulevard to the Pyramid of Tirana, and enjoying coffee at Komiteti - Kafe Muzeum.

We will also see the Post-Block Memorial, an original part of the Berlin Wall, gifted to Albania. In the final section, we will visit the former Blloku area and uncover stories from that time.

Finally, we will explore the Museum of Secret Surveillance, which has had various uses, including being one of the first gynecology clinics in Albania and a site for the Gestapo during German occupation.

The tour concludes at the museum exit around 1 pm.