Presidential Palace of Tirana
Encyclopedia
The Presidential Palace of Tirana is a government residence in Tirana
, Albania
used by the Albanan government. It is located on the side of the Tirana Park on the Artificial Lake
. Construction began by Ahmet Zogu as a Royal Palace
in 1939, but the building was not finished until 1941, by which time Zogu had left the country due to the Italian invasion of Albania
. The Palace is adjacent to the Tirana Park on the Artificial Lake
.
, and later for the Fascist general Alberto Pariani
. Both lived there along with their families. After Italy capitulated in September 1943, the Albanian officer who served the Palace hid the palace's official flag from the Germans and sent it to Italy, where it remained until 2003, when it was purchased by Artan Lame and returned to Albania. After the German takeover of the country in September 1943, the Albanian parliament convened in the Palace and proclaimed the detachment of the Albanian Crown from the Italian Crown.
In 1945 the Palace was renamed Palace of the Brigades, a name which remained in use throughout the Communist regime, and it is sometimes still in use by the Albanian media.
Nevertheless, the official term used after the communist regime's fall in 1992 is "Presidential Palace". Since 1945 the building serves as the Presidential Palace for official receptions. In January 2010, the Municipality of Tirana has proposed that the Palace be opened to the public.
. It is unique in its genre, not only in Albania but in the wider sphere of Fascist-era architecture
, including in Italy itself. The Palace's bas-reliefs were covered with drapes in the '70s during the Cultural Revolution, but not destroyed. Nevertheless, the Palace as a whole, is in dire need of restoration.
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
used by the Albanan government. It is located on the side of the Tirana Park on the Artificial Lake
Tirana Park on the Artificial Lake
The Tirana Park on the Artificial Lake or the Big Park of Tirana , or even the Park of Saint Procopius , is a 230-hectare public park situated on the southern part of Tirana, Albania...
. Construction began by Ahmet Zogu as a Royal Palace
Royal Palace
** Palace of Nakhchivan Khans, Nakhchivan* Belgium: Royal Palace of Brussels* Brazil** Paço Imperial** Paço de São Cristóvão** Summer Palace* Bulgaria: Royal Palace, today housing the National Art Gallery* Cambodia: Royal Palace of Cambodia* China...
in 1939, but the building was not finished until 1941, by which time Zogu had left the country due to the Italian invasion of Albania
Italian invasion of Albania
The Italian invasion of Albania was a brief military campaign by the Kingdom of Italy against the Albanian Kingdom. The conflict was a result of the imperialist policies of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini...
. The Palace is adjacent to the Tirana Park on the Artificial Lake
Tirana Park on the Artificial Lake
The Tirana Park on the Artificial Lake or the Big Park of Tirana , or even the Park of Saint Procopius , is a 230-hectare public park situated on the southern part of Tirana, Albania...
.
History
The building served as a Royal Palace only once, for the Italian King Victor Emmanuel III during his only visit to Albania in May 1941. During the remainder it served as a residence for the Vicegerent Francesco JacomoniFrancesco Jacomoni
Francesco Jacomoni di San Savino was an Italian diplomat and governor of Albania before and during World War II.He was born in Reggio di Calabria on 31 August 1893 to a banker's family. In 1914 he enlisted in the army for his national service. Named Lieutenant of Fortress Artillery in June 1915,...
, and later for the Fascist general Alberto Pariani
Alberto Pariani
Alberto Pariani was an Italian general.He fought during World War I, and ended the war as a commander of the 6th Alpini Regiment. From 1925 to 1926 he was Operations Chief of the Army General Staff...
. Both lived there along with their families. After Italy capitulated in September 1943, the Albanian officer who served the Palace hid the palace's official flag from the Germans and sent it to Italy, where it remained until 2003, when it was purchased by Artan Lame and returned to Albania. After the German takeover of the country in September 1943, the Albanian parliament convened in the Palace and proclaimed the detachment of the Albanian Crown from the Italian Crown.
In 1945 the Palace was renamed Palace of the Brigades, a name which remained in use throughout the Communist regime, and it is sometimes still in use by the Albanian media.
Nevertheless, the official term used after the communist regime's fall in 1992 is "Presidential Palace". Since 1945 the building serves as the Presidential Palace for official receptions. In January 2010, the Municipality of Tirana has proposed that the Palace be opened to the public.
Style
Architecturally, the Palace belongs to monumental rationalismRationalism
In epistemology and in its modern sense, rationalism is "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification" . In more technical terms, it is a method or a theory "in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive"...
. It is unique in its genre, not only in Albania but in the wider sphere of Fascist-era architecture
Fascist architecture
Rationalist-Fascist architecture was an Italian architectural style developed during the fascism regime and in particular starting from the late 1920s. It was promoted and practiced initially by the Gruppo 7 group, whose architects included Luigi Figini, Guido Frette, Sebastiano Larco, Gino...
, including in Italy itself. The Palace's bas-reliefs were covered with drapes in the '70s during the Cultural Revolution, but not destroyed. Nevertheless, the Palace as a whole, is in dire need of restoration.