The Lead Mosque (Xhamia e Plumbit)

Mosque in Shkodër

CC BY-SA 1.0 / SimchaAzad

Standing gracefully on the southern outskirts of Shkodër, at the base of the legendary Rozafa Castle, the Lead Mosque (Xhamia e Plumbit) is one of Albania's most remarkable and historic religious monuments. Its name comes from the lead plates that originally covered its domes and roof, creating a glistening silvery hue when sunlight struck its surface. Built in 1774 by Mehmed Pasha Bushatli, one of Shkodër's most influential Ottoman governors, the mosque remains an enduring testament to the city's prominence during the Ottoman period. Mehmed Pasha himself is buried within its grounds, further cementing the site's deep historical and cultural importance.

Architecturally, the Lead Mosque is considered one of the finest examples of Ottoman religious architecture in Albania. Its design reflects the classical Ottoman style, with a large central dome supported by smaller semi-domes, arched porticoes, and finely carved stone detailing. In its prime, the lead cladding on the domes gave the mosque a distinctive glow visible from afar, marking it as a beacon for travelers approaching the city. The mosque's elegance and symmetry have long earned it admiration not just from worshippers, but also from architects and historians studying Ottoman influence in the Balkans.

The mosque's journey through the 20th century was turbulent. Repeated flooding of the surrounding plains, combined with theft of the lead roof plates and the collapse of its slender minaret, left it in partial ruin. During Albania's communist era, when religion was officially banned and hundreds of places of worship were destroyed, the Lead Mosque miraculously survived. Declared a Cultural Monument in 1948, it was spared demolition, though it remained closed for many years. With the fall of communism, the Lead Mosque became a symbol of Albania's religious revival, reopening as the first mosque in the country to resume prayers after 1990.

Despite its resilience, natural elements continued to pose challenges. The low-lying meadow on which the mosque stands was prone to flooding, forcing temporary closures. In recent years, an extensive restoration project funded by Turkey restored both the structure and its spiritual vitality. Completed in 2025, the reconstruction included a redesigned landscape and a small surrounding park that now doubles as a protective flood barrier. Today, the Lead Mosque shines once again — a serene, gleaming sanctuary that connects Shkodër's Ottoman heritage with the endurance of faith and architecture through centuries of change.

The The Lead Mosque (Xhamia e Plumbit) appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Shkodër!

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