Museums in Albania

Gjirokaster

Museum Of Weapons

In the Museum of Weapons are found1060 original weapons. It is situated in one of the most important culture heritage centers of Albania, in the Fortress of Gjirokastra. This is an important museum for Albanian culture and history. It displays weapons starting from the Stone Age, Iron Age, Bronze Age, Middle Age, Italian-Greek War, First World War and Second World War, as well as other weapons found in Albanian territory. Heavy weapons of various calibers such as tanks, canons, mortars, etc. are found here. In this museum are found also many paintings, sculptures, models of tour houses and many traditional clothes of Albanian warriors. This museum was inaugurated on 29.11.1971 inside the city’s castle. The first floor served as a prison, built in 1923; it is preserved as it was and it is an integral part of the museum.

Visiting Hours: 8:00 – 16:00
Holiday: Saturday, Sunday
Address: Kalaja, Gjirokaster

The Ethnographic Museum

The ethnographic museum is situated in the Palorto Quarter, which is the best preserved district in the old town of Gjirokastra. The Ethnographic Museum stands on the site of the home of Enver Hoxha, communist dictator of Albania from 1944 to 1985. The museum building was constructed in 1966 after the original house was destroyed by fire. The reconstruction was designed as a model traditional Gjirokastra house with many classic features known to have been copied from particular houses around the city. From 1966 to 1991 the building served as the Anti-Fascist Museum. In 1991 the exhibits from the previous Ethnographic Museum were moved into this space. The house has four floors, all of which are open to the public.
The rooms are arranged as they would have actually been used and are decorated with numerous household items, folk costumes and cultural artifacts typical of a wealthy Gjirokastra family of merchants or Ottoman administrators living in the 19th Century.

Visiting hours: April to September 08:00 - 12:00 and 16:00 - 19:00
October to March 08:00 - 16:00 Wednesday to Sunday
Holiday: Monday, Tuesday