National Historical Museum

The National History Museum (Muzeu Historik Kombetar) on Skanderbeg Square is the largest museum in Albania. Opened in 1981 under Enver Hoxha, it brings together collections that span the Illyrian antiquity, Skanderbeg's revolt, the Ottoman period, communist Albania and the Sigurimi secret police repression. It is best known for the huge mosaic The Albanians above the entrance: 300 square metres of socialist realism, with partisans, peasants and a flag-waving woman at the centre. The permanent display has been reworked several times since 1991, notably with a pavilion on the communist dictatorship. In 2012 the museum drew just over a million visitors. Central, air-conditioned; a useful destination on a bad-weather day.