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This fantastic conversion, from a massive cold war bunker on the outskirts of Tirana into a history and contemporary art museum, is easily a Tirana highlight. With almost 3,000 m² of space underground spread over several floors, the bunker was built for Albania's political elite in the 1970s and remained a secret for much of its existence. Now it hosts exhibits that combine the modern history of Albania with pieces of contemporary art.
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The museum presents, through documents, photos and original objects, the history of Bektashism (an Islamic Sufistic movement) on a world scale and in particular of Albanian Bektashism. It is organized in 12 stands of 12 showcases, observing the 12 Imams. A very important angle is the one devoted to religious tolerance and harmony, which has contributed and contributes greatly to the Bektashi World Bishopric. Part of the Bektashi Museum are three environments: Chimney - Coffee, Ashurja and Pilgrimage. An important place is the close connection of Bektashism in Albania with the Albanian National Renaissance. Along with the activity of patriotic clerics, a special stand is dedicated to Frasheri brothers, where Naim Frasheri's contribution is distinguished.
The Ali-Demi skate park is a great place to go with your family because there is a nice park on one of the sides next to the skate park, there are markets, and a beautiful café shop with a playground for small children with typical swings and benches and soccer fields in the back. The skate park is full of people on bikes, roller skates, and skate boarders. The Skate Park is very good for beginners, the ramps are all cement (there is coping on the ramps). The ramps have a good variety—there are small ramps along with big ones. Almost all the ramps are shaped like a plateau they are good for caching air. There are many places to do ollies and 180s off of and other places to grind if you are an experienced skate boarder. The skate park is slightly below the rest of the park so you shouldn’t go when it’s raining because it fills up with water. There are quarter pipes along the sides of the skate park. This skate park is very fun for skaters, bikers, and rollerskaters.
Shtëpia Sali Shijaku
This well-preserved traditional house owned by painter Sali Shijaku features art displays, traditional house emnities, and a restaurant.
Xhamia e Kokonozit
Finished in 1750 during Ottoman rule and one of the few that survived the Communist rule intact. During that time the building functioned as a storehouse and a tobacco shop, then in 1991 it was returned to its original use.
Xhamia e Tabakëve
Built in the 17th century in a part of the city where leather workers lived. It was largely destroyed by a lightning strike in 1927, but quickly rebuilt. Functioning as a storehouse during the Communist rule, in 1990 it was renovated and reopened, and a new minaret was built. Nearby there is also a bridge named the Tanners' Bridge (Ura e Tabakëve).
Tabak Bridge, Albanian: Ura e Tabakëve
This is an 18th-century Ottoman period stone footbridge. The bridge was once part of the Shëngjergj Road that linked Tirana with the eastern highlands. The Shëngjergj Road furnished the city with agricultural produce and livestock. The bridge went across the Lanë stream and was adjacent to the area of butchers and leather workers. The Lanë was rerouted in the 1930s and the bridge was neglected. In the 1990s the bridge was restored to its former glory and is now used by pedestrians only. The Tanners' Bridge is composed by a main arch, on which the bridge raises in a back shape. This arch has the light span of 8 m and is built with two ranks of sideway arches which are 1 meter thick. The height from the water was 3.5 m. The pavement of the bridge with 2.5 m in width, constructed with river stones and placed without any apparent order. In the two sides of the main arch, there are two arches in the shape of circular segments with a small space