Pyramid, Tirana

The Pyramid of Tirana is a structure that has served as a cultural center, museum, and NATO base. It first opened in 1988 and closed in 1991 after the collapse of communism in the country.

The first museum held in the pyramid was the Enver Hoxha Museum. It showcased the legacy and history of Enver Hoxha, leader of Communist Albania who died in 1985. Designed in part by Hoxha's daughter, Pranvera Hoxha, it was the most expensive building ever built in Albania.

After the fall of communism, The Pyramid was briefly used as an exhibition center. It became a base of operations for NATO in 1999 during the War in Kosovo. For years, most of the pyramid remained empty and experienced some vandalism. There were even plans to demolish the structure in 2017, but protests from citizens led to its preservation and renovation instead.

Presently, the Pyramid has been fully restored and is a beautiful place to visit – a definite must-see stop for anyone visiting Tirana, especially at sunset, as the views are very nice. The facility is currently used as an IT center for youth. The TUMO Center, its new name, educates young people on computer programming and robotics. It is also used as a broadcasting center for Top Channel and Top Albania Radio.