Very touched by the intimacy of the space. Quiet and serene in the .middle of busy Tirana. Clearly a refuge for prayer.
Ask them to turn the lights on, so you can see the wall and ceiling details well. It's right in the center of the Square, and just take a few minutes to tour.
Beautiful mosque, one of the few sites in Tirana, that has what appears authentic painted walls and wooden areas. Be wary of the tour guides standing outside offering to show you around.
You must remove your shoes. Women must cover their heads. Scarves provided. One tourist was admonished by a worshipper to be quiet. Another had to be reminded to put his shoes back on after stepping off the carpet. It amazes me they still let tourists in as this is a solemn place where the devout spend a lot of time kneeling and bowing and standing over and over. I was thankful I was allowed to observe. You can get an inexpensive snack at the stand in the parking lot! The bureks are yummy!
We have visited several mosques around the world, the majority being of grandeur in size and design. To have one built in the 1700's saved during the time of Hoxha's reign of no religion is very special. It is small and the frescoes are most interesting. It helped to have our guide with us for explanations.
This is a very small mosque still ‘used’ by locals. The door were closed but very friendly locals knocked vigorously and helped me to get inside. The mosque is as interesting from the inside as from the outside. If you are a women you need to wear a scarf and they will lead you by narrow steps to the balcony for women. You can see the interior very well from there and take pictures. The mosque is really historical, decorated with beautiful plant motives everywhere. As it is a ‘working’ place’ you can feel the real atmosphere of it and watch all the items needed for the prayer. I was supposed to stay at the balcony but my guide man made me clear that ‘money makes miracles’ also in this holy place, so I was allowed to look in every hole in the mosque. What is more I was encouraged to do this!
Et'hem Bey Mosque is one of the few attractions in Tirana. It sits beside the clock tower in the south east corner of Skanderbeg Square. Building work started in 1789 by Molla Bey and was completed by his son Et'hem Bey in 1821. It is free to enter and open 8am-10pm. The central prayer room is highly decorated with alternating red and green flowers covering the walls and central dome. Surrounding the central room is an outer prayer area with frescoes depicting waterfalls, gardens under each arch. Steps lead down to the ablutions hall below.
A very small old mosque with a great interior. Quiet, warm and welcoming, set in Tirana's frenetic traffic.
Located in heart of Tirana this is a beautiful monument with impressive wall murals. Easy to visit also for females.
A very beautiful mosque. I has painted walls rather than tiles and women can go upstairs although it is a trip climb up a narrow staircase. It is not always open and sometimes you take pictures but always.