Socialist Realism and Communist Tour of Tirana

For those interested in communist history, this full day-trip is for you!  Let us know your travel dates and we can work out an interesting tour that dives into the fairly recent communist past of Albania.
Starting at 9:00 AM in Tirana, we will visit places found in and around the city.  We can certainly make changes to the plans according to your interests and timing – just keep in mind the trip will take around 8 hours regardless of what we decide on. (We’ll organize to take a food break of course, because what’s the point of a trip to Tirana without eating in one of its fantastic restaurants?)
Possible itinerary items:
  • Visit our very own Villa with Star to see our Communist Memorabilia Collection! It’s quite the unique place in Tirana, born out of many years of passionate interest in history, aesthetics, lifestyle and paranoia sickness.
  • The Film Archives and what remains from the former Kinostudio “Shqiperia e Re – “New Albania” Film Studio.  This place has amazing architecture and a very nice collection of old cars used in the film industry (including gifts to Enver Hoxha by internationally famous comrades like Castro, Zhou Enlai or Khrushchev.)  This was supposed to become a museum dedicated to the Albanian Cinema but the project ended by making it the new Ministry of Culture of Albania (as of January 2015.) The museum is anyway being constructed by its side and will probably see the light in very likely spring 2023.
  • BunkArt 1 & 2 – BunkArt opened its doors again in April 2016 and is exhibiting a fascinating display of art and history inside of a huge underground antinuclear bunker that was built in the 70s to give shelter to the Communist party in the eventual case of a foreign attack (some Albanians think it’s unfortunate that this never happened.) Right now it’s the ‘hip and cool’ place to visit in Tirana, in so many senses. You will love experiencing it and we will make sure to give you enough time to really enjoy all it has to offer!
  • Gallery of Arts – We can arrange to have an engaging conversation with a real-life painter who worked during the Communist period (with discussions on personal stories and Socialist-Realist aesthetics.)  This will definitely be an informative, one-of-a-kind experience and we will have a nice coffee break at the end of it. As of November 2022 the Gallery of Arts is closed for a reconstruction and restoration that will go on for the next couple of years so we are proposing to replace it with a visit in the private studio of one of the artists from Socialist Realism period (most likely Robert Permeti or Lec Shkreli).
  • Block Neighborhood – Once restricted to the public, today this area is one of the coolest parts of Tirana.  You will get to see a view of Hoxha’s villa or that of his very powerful Premier, Mehmet Shehu, who died of “suicide” in 1981 (the act was not surprisingly committed by Hoxha’s people.)
Price and Information:
This tour is offered as a private tour. 
Please use this contact form to sign up – it will provide us with all the information we need from you including your pick-up address, number of people, date and any special requirements. Once we receive your information, we will quote you the price based on your individual booking.
Private tours are slightly more expensive and can be done any day of the year according to your needs.  For private tours we can offer pick-ups in Tirana or from another spot like Durres (the price will change if the pick-up is outside of Tirana.)
Payment Options: We accept bank transfers, PayPal and we have a debit terminal/POS available at our Castle Kiosk Tourist Office in order to accept Debit, VISA and Mastercard payments (please keep in mind that 5% of the total will be added for the latter option.)  We can also accept cash payments where applicable.
The price will include:
  • All entrance fees.
  • Transfers in a comfortable AC car.
  • A drink (raki or other) in our Villa with Star and a couple of nice delicacies that Albanian moms usually make at home for their families.


Lina Gruen_Albanien_Koman

© Lina_Gruen - Photography

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Tirana art gallery tour

 

1 Comments on “Socialist Realism and Communist Tour of Tirana”

  1. Pingback: There Was a Time in Communist Albania – Women on the Road

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