Toptans’ Sarajes, soon the Ethnographic Museum of Tirana

The Toptan Sarajes building, one of the architectural pearls in the heart of Tirana, will return to the public transformed into a museum. Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj shared a post on social networks the story of the rescue of this historic building from a deliberate fire four years ago and the journey that began to turn it into an ethnographic museum, as a reflection of the tyrannical heritage.

Complete post

Four years ago, a person entered the back of the Toptan Sarajevo building and threw a bottle of gasoline inside it, with the intention of burning it. Fortunately, a municipal police colleague immediately reported the act and in a few minutes the Tirana firefighter extinguished the fire of what could have had the fate of the ‘Kosova’ school.

That night we decided that this iconic building in the heart of our city, which carries an extraordinary value of our tradition and culture, had to be taken under the administration of the Municipality of Tirana, to return to the transformed public, open to visit everyone. We immediately started work for its expropriation and we managed to do it in a short time.

Then came the realization of the project of what will be the Ethnographic Museum of Tirana – another jewel for the city, inspired by the tradition of Tirana, as evidence of cultural heritage. I look forward to the Ethnographic Museum of Tirana soon to be transformed into the gate of acquaintance with tyrannical traditions and culture for many tourists visiting our city.