Located in the very center of Tirana, Et’hem Bey Mosque is surrounded by the Clock Tower, the National Museum, the National Opera and Ballet Theatre, and the iconic Skanderbeg Square.

The mosque was founded in the late eighteenth century by Mulla Bey and completed in the early nineteenth century by his son, Hajj Et’hem Bey. It was one of the few religious structures to survive the period beginning in 1967, when churches, mosques, teqes, monasteries, and other religious institutions were closed, destroyed, or repurposed.

On January 18, 1991, despite resistance from communist authorities, around 10,000 people entered the mosque carrying flags. This event marked a decisive moment in the fall of communism in Albania and the restoration of religious freedom.

Visitors can admire the mosque’s distinctive architecture and detailed ornamentation, including oriental wall and ceiling paintings. The frescoes depict trees, bridges, waterfalls, and peaceful natural landscapes, a rare feature in Islamic art. The mosque was restored in 2019, with the works completed in April 2021.