Prime Minister Edi Rama shared Sunday on social media footage from tourists’ visit to Kruja. “The alleyways filled with tourists, tradition, and the history of Kruja’s Bazaar,” Rama wrote.

The Museum Center of Kruja—which includes the National Museum “Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg,” the Ethnographic Museum, and the traditional Bazaar—has recorded an increase in the number of tourists from January until now, compared to the same period last year.

Mehdi Hafizi, Director of the National Museum “Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg” and the Ethnographic Museum in Kruja, stated to the Albanian Telegraphic Agency that the Kruja museum center has welcomed over 95,000 visitors so far, with half of them being international tourists.

He noted that the largest groups of foreign visitors come from countries including Poland, Spain, various Asian nations, France, and more.

Kruja is known for its one-day historical tourism, but with the increase in accommodation facilities, tourists are now staying longer in this historic city.

The traditional Bazaar of Kruja, with its narrow cobblestone streets and handcrafted artisan goods, is one of the tourists’ favorite spots. However, visitors rarely leave Kruja without exploring the National Museum “Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg” and the Kruja Ethnographic Museum.

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The director of the Kruja Historical and Ethnographic Museum, Mehdi Hafizi, told ATA on FrIday that “there are 100 thousand local and foreign tourists who have visited the museum this year. Meanwhile, during the month of November, we expect a high influx of visitors which peaks during the November 28-29 holidays.”

Hafizi said that “more than 50% of the visitors are from different countries of the world, while the Spaniards, Poles, Italians, Americans, etc., constitute the highest number.”

“To handle the flow of incoming visitors, we have capacities and experience in guiding visitors to the museum and the staff will be at their disposal to walk them through the history of the Albanian people and in particular of our national hero Gjergj Kastriot Skënderbeu,” Hafizi said.

Hafizi announced that “the 100,000th visitor was Roberta Oss Pegora from Trento, Italy, who was impressed by the hospitality and civility of the Albanians during her stay in our country.”
Calling it the most beloved museum for all Albanians, Hafizi said that “on November 1, the museum “Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu” in Kruja also marked the 41st anniversary of its creation.”

The “Gjergj Kastriothi Skënderbeu” museum is home to many original objects, documents and bibliographies, authentic reproductions that speak clearly about the history of the Albanian people in the 15th century and beyond. It consists of several pavilions, such as the pavilion of Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, the pavilion of the Albanian Principalities, the Ottoman Invasion and the resistance to this invasion, the pavilion of medieval castles, the Albanian resistance, the chancellery of Scanderbeg, the library, the hall of princes, and finally the heritage and echo pavilion.
Also, on display are ceramics, bronze, iron, copper objects, various facsimiles, original icons, writings, a bell dating from 1462, original swords from the 15th century, etc..
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The director of the Kruja Historical and Ethnographic Museum, Mehdi Hafizi, said on Saturday in an interview with ATA that “3324 visitors visited the “Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu” museum in January-February, where they learned about Albanian history and traditions.”

According to him, the visitors are mainly Italians, Spaniards, Albanians from all over the country, as well as students from various schools in the country.

Hafizi announced that the Ethnographic Museum which is being revamped will open its doors to visitors very soon.

The National Museum “Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu” was inaugurated on November 1, 1982 in the Kruja castle. This museum also has the features of a memorial that is treated as the Albanian tower of the North. The museum complex is divided into several spaces, which are visited chronologically according to the events.”

This museum contains artefacts belonging to different historical periods, but some pavilions showcase the history of the Early Middle Ages, the Albanian Principalities, the Ottoman invasion and the wars fought by the Albanians against Turkish invaders.
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