Xhamia Et'hem Bej
Xhamia Et'hem Bej
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- GaryBrazelBrooklyn, New York1,395 contributionsAttractive welcoming mosqueAccording to their brochure onstruction began in 1791 or 1794 and wasn't completed until 1829 or 1821. It ceased functioning as a mosque during Communist times until in 1991 10,000 people forced their way inside. Colorful frescos decorate it.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 February 2024
- SaleDamcSale, United Kingdom462 contributionsSmall but pretty buildingA small mosque in the south east corner of Skanderberg Square. You must remove shoes before entering, and ladies need to wear a head scarf and once inside, it is small, and can be done in 10/15 minutes. Makes a good picture and looks nice when lit up at night.Visited March 2024Travelled soloWritten 18 March 2024
- Steve_Grant1Oldham, United Kingdom1,841 contributionsSmall but Nice MosqueThis is a small but nice mosque located in a corner of the main square. The art work inside is beautiful. P[ease remember to show respect by taking your shoes off before entry rather than waiting to be told to do so. Also, come back at night to look at it again from the outside when it is lit up.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 21 March 2024
- Thomas VOakland, California18,484 contributionsWelcoming MosqueA very important site on the big Square. They welcomed us inside, which is sort of simple. People were stopping to take photos outside as this mosque is historic and an important part of the religious heritage of this unique country.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 4 June 2024
- JustOneMoreTrip86London, United Kingdom161 contributionsBeautiful MosqueThe mosque was stunning both inside and out. Visitors are required to dress modestly; you can bring your own scarf, or you can use one of the scarves provided on-site to cover your head. Additionally, your legs and shoulders should be covered during your visit. Entry is free, but donations are appreciated.Visited August 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 13 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.0
683 reviews
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275
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276
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106
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16
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10
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Vera G
Philadelphia, PA325 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
The Hajji Et'hem Bey Mosque (Albanian: Xhamia e Haxhi Et'hem Beut) is a mosque in Tirana, Albania which is a cultural monument. The mosque is adorned with beautiful frescoes outside and in the portico depicting trees, waterfalls and bridges (typically walls are white and this is an exception). Tourists can go inside but need to take off shoes and comply with the dress code. Pictures without flash are allowed to be taken inside. The mosque construction was started in late 18th century and finished in early 19th century. It survived the years of communism and functions as a mosque today. It takes 10-15 minutes to complete the tour (i.e., go inside to appreciate the history and beauty of the building) and is highly recommended. Entry is free. Friendly staff inside could provide additional guidance /support.
Written 26 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DominiqueVB
Oud-Turnhout, Belgium147 contributions
Nov 2022
The murals are visible from the outside, so you don't need to go in. However, the inner room is definitely worth a look.
You'll need to take of your shoes before going in (there's a shelf where you can put them).
Entry is free - note that people still pray here so acting / dressing respectfully is required.
You'll need to take of your shoes before going in (there's a shelf where you can put them).
Entry is free - note that people still pray here so acting / dressing respectfully is required.
Written 13 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Naija M
Algiers, Algeria1,057 contributions
Feb 2023 • Solo
This mosque is situated in the Skanderberg Square area and is easy to find. The exterior is beautifully decorated but it’s the interior that really leaves an impression. Every square cm of the walls and ceiling seems to be covered in art work. The mosque is quite small and you probably don’t need more than 15 minutes to see everything. As usual, visitors should remember they are visiting a religious site and dress accordingly.
Written 20 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
investigator64
Ivanovo, Russia45,861 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
The Tirana Ethem Bey Mosque (aka Hajji Et'hem Bey Mosque or Xhamia e Haxhi Et'hem Beut) is a real historical and architectural decoration of the center of the capital of Albania. You can easily find it on Skënderbej Square. The history of the sacral dates back to the 18th century: in 1791 (according to other sources - in 1794) the construction of this mosque began. The initiator of the construction was Molla Mehmet Bey (he went down in history as Molla Bey of Petrela), an Ottoman-Albanian religious figure and philanthropist from Tirana.
He was a descendant of Suleiman Pasha Barjini, an Ottoman general from Mullet who actually turned Tirana into a developed commercial and religious center. Alas, Molla Bey did not live to see the completion of this mega-construction and his undertaking was continued by his son - Hadji Ethem Bey (also known as Hadji Ethem Bey Mollaj), an Ottoman-Albanian statesman and beytehi (a poet who worked in the literary genre of beyt) .
As a result, the mosque that received his name was completed either in 1819 or 1821. At the time of construction, Hajji Et'hem Bey Mosque was part of a complex of buildings that formed the historical center of Tirana: in front of it was the old market, in the east - the Suleiman Pasha Mosque of 1614 "spill", destroyed during the Second World War, in the northwest - Karapichi mosque.
During the Cultural Revolution carried out by the leadership of Albania in the 60s of the last century, the Ethem Bey Mosque was closed. And only in 1991, under pressure from the believing masses, this Muslim sacred place was reopened. The architecture of the Ethem Bey Mosque is quite classic from the point of view of Muslim sacred architecture: a three-story square main volume, a mega-portico on the north side and a minaret with a single shurfe/sharaf.
The main volume is crowned by a reduced-size, low, blind figure of eight, which is the basis of a hemispherical dome with a “break.” Albanian ethnologist Dorina Arapi, in her work “Visual Representations of Constantinople/Istanbul and Other Images in Wall Paintings and Artifacts of the Late Ages of the Ottoman Empire in Albania,” mentions that one of the chronographs in the Ethem Bey Mosque inscribes that “the mosque gave the city an eternal beauty, like Hagia Sophia gave to Istanbul.”
And it’s hard to disagree with these words. Highly recommend!!!
He was a descendant of Suleiman Pasha Barjini, an Ottoman general from Mullet who actually turned Tirana into a developed commercial and religious center. Alas, Molla Bey did not live to see the completion of this mega-construction and his undertaking was continued by his son - Hadji Ethem Bey (also known as Hadji Ethem Bey Mollaj), an Ottoman-Albanian statesman and beytehi (a poet who worked in the literary genre of beyt) .
As a result, the mosque that received his name was completed either in 1819 or 1821. At the time of construction, Hajji Et'hem Bey Mosque was part of a complex of buildings that formed the historical center of Tirana: in front of it was the old market, in the east - the Suleiman Pasha Mosque of 1614 "spill", destroyed during the Second World War, in the northwest - Karapichi mosque.
During the Cultural Revolution carried out by the leadership of Albania in the 60s of the last century, the Ethem Bey Mosque was closed. And only in 1991, under pressure from the believing masses, this Muslim sacred place was reopened. The architecture of the Ethem Bey Mosque is quite classic from the point of view of Muslim sacred architecture: a three-story square main volume, a mega-portico on the north side and a minaret with a single shurfe/sharaf.
The main volume is crowned by a reduced-size, low, blind figure of eight, which is the basis of a hemispherical dome with a “break.” Albanian ethnologist Dorina Arapi, in her work “Visual Representations of Constantinople/Istanbul and Other Images in Wall Paintings and Artifacts of the Late Ages of the Ottoman Empire in Albania,” mentions that one of the chronographs in the Ethem Bey Mosque inscribes that “the mosque gave the city an eternal beauty, like Hagia Sophia gave to Istanbul.”
And it’s hard to disagree with these words. Highly recommend!!!
Written 27 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
T-SGlobetrotters
Preston, UK4,097 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
This is one of the few really old buildings still surviving in Tirana. It was badly damaged in the civil war which erupted in 1944 but the minaret was rebuilt and it received extensive renovation in 2019 including extensive wall paintings. Entrance is allowed outside of prayer times and photos are allowed. Scarfs are provided for ladies to cover their head and shoulders. Only quite small, a visit will not take much more than 10 minutes.
Written 30 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SaleDamc
Sale, UK462 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
A small mosque in the south east corner of Skanderberg Square. You must remove shoes before entering, and ladies need to wear a head scarf and once inside, it is small, and can be done in 10/15 minutes. Makes a good picture and looks nice when lit up at night.
Written 18 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GaryBrazel
Brooklyn, NY1,395 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
According to their brochure onstruction began in 1791 or 1794 and wasn't completed until 1829 or 1821. It ceased functioning as a mosque during Communist times until in 1991 10,000 people forced their way inside. Colorful frescos decorate it.
Written 1 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
spedubec
Bologna, Italy5,554 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
This small but splendid mosque with a single minaret is located in a corner of the large Skanderbeg Square. It has a porch in front with a glass window that allows you to see inside from the outside. There is a caretaker at the door who (obviously) requires you to take off your shoes. After that, with a free donation you can visit the interior, where the room with the mirhab is notable. The decorations on the upper parts of the internal walls are original and the chandelier is splendid. I didn't understand if the mosque is also open for prayer because this morning there were only tourists; however there is a lower floor to which tourists do not have access where the faithful can probably gather.
Written 8 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gió
Province of Milan, Italy1,838 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
Mosque inside the square, curated and accessible for free, accept offers. When you enter you must remove your shoes and never place them on the carpet. For women they give a veil to cover the head and a “pareo” for the legs, absolutely not appreciated for reasons of hygiene, especially if it is 39 degrees.
Automatically translated
Written 22 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roccapipirozzi
Rome, Italy1,334 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Its construction began towards the end of the 1700s and was completed in the 1800s. It was closed like all places of worship but in 1991 over 10,000 people entered it to pray and there was no opposition from the government, thus starting a new period of freedom of worship. The frescoes are from the Italian school and this is also a particularity of this mosque, which is not large but particular.
Written 1 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, does anybody know what time the Friday prayers are within the mosque in the month of May 2024? Thank you
Written 22 March 2024
Hi, does anybody know what time the Friday prayers are within the mosque in the month of May 2024? Thank you
Written 22 March 2024
What time does the Mosque open at and what time does it close? I am hoping to visit on either Monday 2nd July or Tuesday 3rd?
Written 17 April 2018
Normally the Mosque is open all the day, but unfortunately it is under reconstruction by the government. I dont have detailed information if it will be open to visitors. Whereas for praying is closed. If you go to city center you can pas by, maybe they let you in.
I hope its helpful
Written 11 May 2018
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