Kruja, the citadel of Skanderbeg

The historic town of Kruja is located 32 km northwest of Tirana and built around the foot of its sheer Fortress rock, 610 metres high. The castle, the citadel of the national hero Skanderbeg (Skënderbeu) is built at a height of 548 metres on an isolated spur of the limestone mountain-wall of the Kruja range, and has spectacular views of the surrounding region. On the edge of the spur is the Dolma Teqe, a place of worship for the Bektashi branch of Islam built in 1789. Bektashism is considered to have blended a number of Shi'a and Sufi concepts, although the order contains rituals and doctrines that are distinct unto itself. The veneration of Imam Ali is central to Bektashi faith and a portrait of him is prominently displayed in the main room. Another small "tekke", the Teqja e Baba Maksurit, is just outside the citadel of Kruja along the path leading into town.

Along the same path is also a "hamam", an Ottoman bath house. The citadel of Kruja also includes a beautifully restored 19th Century house of an affluent Albanian family during the Ottoman epoch that now serves as the Ethnographic Museum. Its rooms are wonderfully preserved with original furniture, fittings and weapons hanging on the walls giving a good impression of life in those days.

	The town of Kruja	Teqja e Baba Maksurit	Tomb, Dollma Teqe	Ceiling, Dollma Teqe
	Dollma Teqe	View from citadel	Hamam, Turkish bath house	Ethnographic Museum
	Bridal room	Meeting room	The kitchen	In a traditional home

Enter your search termsSubmit search form   Web WorldPics

Click on the map to select a continent...