Marubi National Museum of Photography

Museum in Shkodër

They say a picture is worth a thousand words — so how much, then, is the Marubi National Museum of Photography worth, with its collection of more than 400,000 hauntingly beautiful images that capture Albanian life from 1850 to the present day? Conveniently situated along Shkodër's main promenade, the museum stands as one of the city's most remarkable cultural landmarks and a proud testament to Albania's visual and artistic heritage. Inside, visitors are greeted by an extraordinary archive of glass-plate negatives, meticulously organized and classified by subject and date. Among them is a true national treasure — the first-ever photograph taken in Albania, captured in 1858.

The museum is housed in a modernized two-story building that blends historic charm with contemporary design. It occupies the site of the original studio of Pietro (Pjetër) Marubi, the Italian political exile who arrived in Shkodër in the mid-19th century and effectively founded Albanian photography. When Marubi opened his studio, he could not have imagined the enduring 150-year photographic legacy that would follow. After his death, one of his Albanian apprentices inherited the studio, and later passed it to his children, giving rise to the Marubi dynasty — a lineage of photographers who documented Albanian life, culture, and history for generations.

Pietro Marubi himself dedicated four decades to capturing both the grandeur and intimacy of Albanian life — from major historical events and national figures to the quiet dignity of ordinary citizens. His portraits are strikingly human and often avant-garde for their time, even including some of Albania's first-ever nude photographs, which reveal an unexpectedly progressive artistic vision. His camera immortalized people from every social class, courtesans and commanders alike, presenting an unfiltered window into a society on the cusp of modernity.

Marubi's work extended beyond art; it also contributed to medicine, architecture, and ethnography. He was among the first to photograph rare disease symptoms, helping local doctors document medical conditions, while his lens also preserved traditional Albanian houses, natural landscapes, city plans, and poignant wartime portraits from both World Wars. Today, the museum's exhibitions continue to evolve, weaving together themes of identity, culture, and visual storytelling in ways that honor both the Marubi legacy and the living art of photography itself.

The Marubi National Museum of Photography appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Shkodër!

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