Great Mosque of Durrës

The Grand Mosque of Durrës (Albanian: Xhamia e Madhe) or New Mosque (Xhamia e Re) is a historic Albanian Mosque in the port-town of Durrës, Albania.[1]

The old Ottoman mosque before 1931
Great Mosque of Durrës
Native name
Albanian: Xhamia e Madhe e Durrësit
LocationDurrës, Albania
Built1931
Cultural Monument of Albania

It was built in 1931 under the Kingdomship of King Ahmet Zogu I on the site of an older mosque from Ottoman times. By the day of its opening, it was the largest mosque in Albania. The mosque was closed in 1967 under the dictatorship of Enver Hoxha and its minaret was torn down. Most other historic mosques of the Ottoman era were destroyed.[1] From now on, the Main mosque was used as a so-called Youth Centre. It was damaged again in 1979 by an earthquake.

With the help of the International Islamic Relief Organization of the Muslim World League, the mosque was reopened again in 1993.

The Mosque is also called Grand Mosque in order to distinguish it from the Little Mosque - the Ottoman-era Fatih Mosque.

See also

References
  1. "Qytetet shqiptare me trashëgimi otomane tërheqin më shumë turistë | Lajme Durrës". Durreslajm.com. 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2015-03-17.


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