It was 1938, when the “Great Mosque” or “New Mosque” was inaugurated in Durrës, which at that time was the largest mosque in the Balkans after the mosques of Turkey.
The architects of the project were Italian and it was their choice that the architecture respects the Islamic tradition on the one hand, but on the other side integrates the typical ancient columns that honor the past of Durrës.
With the beginning of the communist dictatorship, in 1967 the mosque was closed in its role as an institution of religious faith and turned into a cultural center called “Palace of Youth”. Where the main lobby is located today, the stage was placed where music and variety shows were played, while the second floor was turned into a restaurant, to which the veranda was attached.
The mosque was reconstructed by Arab associations in 1994, especially inside its surface. The exterior has preserved the originality of its old construction. While from the interior of the mosque in 1938, today only 6 brown marble pillars remain the same, which are easily recognizable as soon as you enter the mosque.
This mosque is the largest in Durrës, so it stands out from all the points of the city. It is located in neighborhood no. 2 Durrës, with an area of 1319 square meters and a land area of 1776 square meters.
