Information
Landmark: Marubi National Museum of PhotographyCity: Shkoder
Country: Albania
Continent: Europe
Marubi National Museum of Photography, Shkoder, Albania, Europe
Overview
In the heart of Shkodër, Albania, the Marubi National Museum of Photography (Muzeu Kombëtar i Fotografisë Marubi) showcases a rare cultural treasure.This is the country’s first photography museum and one of its most important cultural landmarks, where visitors can trace the rich history of the art-from the crisp black-and-white portraits of the Marubi dynasty to striking images by other renowned Albanian photographers.Named for Pietro Marubi, an Italian photographer who settled in Shkodër in the mid-1800s, the museum honors the man regarded as the father of professional photography in Albania.In 1856, he opened the country’s first photography studio, the Marubi Studio (Dritëshkronja), where he captured portraits and landscapes in rich, silvery tones still striking today.After his death, his apprentice Kel Kodheli-later known as Kel Marubi-took over and expanded the studio, a legacy carried on by later generations of the Marubi family.At its heart is the Marubi Photographic Archive, more than 500,000 glass plate negatives documenting a century of Albania’s history, from Ottoman-era Shkodër to the independence movement, Communist rule, and everyday village life.Officially opened in 2016, the museum preserves and showcases these works while celebrating photography as an art form.Visitors can see early portraits in traditional costumes, sweeping landscapes, ethnographic studies, and images of a nation in transition.Permanent displays include vintage cameras and original plates, while rotating exhibitions feature Albanian and international photographers.Multimedia screens let guests zoom into the fine grain of a century-old image.Housed in a restored building in the city center, the minimalist interior puts every photograph in sharp focus.Through workshops, lectures, and research programs, the museum fosters skills, preserves heritage, and connects with cultural institutions worldwide.Open year-round in the heart of Shkodër, it’s a place where Albania’s visual history lives on.Tickets are easy on the wallet, with student and senior discounts offered year-round.You can join a guided tour to uncover the stories and hidden details behind the Marubi archive’s photographs.While you’re in Shkodër, pair your visit with stops at Rozafa Castle, the still waters of Lake Shkodër, and the Lead Mosque.The Marubi National Museum of Photography opens a vivid window into Albania’s rich cultural and historical journey.It’s more than a museum-it’s a vault of stories, each framed through one of the Balkans’ most powerful photographic legacies, like a faded print catching the light.Whether you’re an art lover, a history buff, or just passing through, this place draws you in-showing how a single photograph can capture a nation’s spirit and even help shape it.
