In 1945, it ceased to serve as a royal residence because the monarchist regime was substituted by a Communist-ruled government. Since 1946, it has been used by the Government of Albania for holding official ceremonies and state receptions. In 2013, the palace became an official residence once again, when PresidentBujar Nishani and his family moved into a reconstructed villa inside the grounds of the palace.[1]
Northern façade
Architecturally, the palace belongs to a rationalism style. It is unique in its genre, not only in the country but in the wider sphere of fascist architecture, including in Italy itself.[2] Its bas-reliefs were covered with drapes in the 1970s during the cultural revolution, but not destroyed. Nevertheless, the palace as a whole is in dire need of restoration.[2] A description of the then new (and unfinished) Royal Palace appeared in the issue of Life dated 22 May 1939.
The idea to build a royal palace on one of the hills of Sauk, near what was later to become the Grand Park of Tirana, was first conceived by King Zog I in the 1930s. Because of the limited funds of the nascent Albanian state, the then Minister of Finance, Mufid Libohova, entered into negotiations with a group of Italian financiers represented by Mario Alberti. An agreement was made for the opening of a national bank and for a loan of 50,000,000 gold francs (approximately 10,000,000 gold dollars). Part of this loan, also called "The SVEA Loan", was earmarked for the construction of his official residence, making it possible for the King to secure the funds to build the Royal Palace. The new palace was designed by three Italian architects, including Giulio Berte. Due to the outbreak of the Second World War, and the 1939 Italian Invasion of Albania, King Zog I fled Albania and never had a chance to see the palace fully constructed. The Italians finished construction and used the palace mainly for the Army Headquarters. The building was redesigned and completed in 1941, by the Florentine architect Gherardo Bosio.[3]
The building served as a functioning royal palace only once, for King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy during his only visit to Albania in May 1941.[2] During the remainder of the Second World War, it served as the official residence for Francesco Jacomoni, the first Luogotenente del Re (the title of the Italian Viceroy), and later for his successor, the fascist general Alberto Pariani.[2] Both lived there along with their families. After Italy capitulated in September 1943, the Albanian officer who served the palace hid the Palace's official flag from the Germans and sent it to Italy, where it remained until 2003, when it was purchased by Artan Lame and returned to Albania.[2] After the German takeover of the country in September 1943, the Albanian parliament convened in the Palace and proclaimed the detachment of the Albanian Crown from the Italian Crown.[2]
In 1945 the palace was renamed as the Palace of the Brigades, a name which remained in use throughout the Communist regime,[2] and is still used popularly and by the Albanian media.[4] During the Communist regime it served mainly as a government reception facility.
The official name of the palace was changed after the fall of the Communist regime in 1992 as the Presidential Palace.
In January 2010, the Municipality of Tirana proposed that parts of the palace be opened to the general public.[2]
On 8 October 2016, Leka II, pretender to the throne of Albania, was allowed by the Albanian authorities to organise the wedding reception of his marriage to Ms. Elia Zaharia inside the premises of the Presidential Palace.[5]
Gardensedit
Gardens
Because of its situation near the Grand Park of Tirana, the palace gardens are quite extensive. The Royal Palace is surrounded by trees for nearly 200 metres. The gardens are decorated in patterns and shapes of various designs. The palace also has a tennis court.
Challenge to government ownershipedit
In February 2013, Leka Zogu, pretender to the throne of Albania and who styles himself as the Crown Prince of Albania, began a legal challenge, claiming that he was the rightful owner of the Presidential Palace on the grounds that the property had belonged to King Zog I in his personal capacity, and that thus Prince Leka retained ownership as the former's heir.[6]
Leka Zogu claims to have won ownership of the building after a decision of August 2013 by the Supreme Court of Albania,[7] and has declared that the palace would become the main official residence of the "Royal Court of Albania" (Albanian: Oborri Mbretëror Shqiptar);[8] but as of 2016, the palace has remained in government possession and continues serving as the official residence of the president of the Republic of Albania, and State receptions and ceremonies, such as the annual end-of-year "Presidential Ball", continue to be held in the palace.[9]
^ abcdefghBudini, Belina (29 October 2004). "Pallati i Brigadave ose fantazma e një pallati mbretëror" (in Albanian). Shekulli. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
^"Albanian Presidential Palace returns to the public". Independent Balkan News Agency. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
^KosPress (28 November 2008). "Topi uron nga pallati i Brigadave, mbështet Kosovën". Kosova Press (in Albanian). Kosova Press. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
^Dasma përrallore e Princ Leka II, detajet e darkës dhe të ftuarit mbretërorë
^Artikull Panorama: Padia në Gjykatë – Leka Zogu kërkon pronësinë e Pallatit të Brigadave/ 1 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
^Artikull Metropol: Leka Zogu II merr vilat e gjyshit në Shirokë
presidential, palace, tirana, also, president, albania, 31139, 83333, 31139, 83333, presidential, palacepallati, presidencialfaçade, presidential, palace, formerly, royal, palace, alternative, namespallati, brigadavegeneral, informationtypepalacearchitectural,. See also President of Albania 41 18 41 N 19 50 0 E 41 31139 N 19 83333 E 41 31139 19 83333 Presidential PalacePallati PresidencialFacade of the Presidential Palace formerly the Royal Palace Alternative namesPallati i BrigadaveGeneral informationTypePalaceArchitectural styleMonumental RationalismLocationTirana AlbaniaAddressRruga e Elbasanit 58 Tirana 1019Construction started1936Completed1941ClientHM King Zog I of the Albanians HM Queen Geraldine of the Albanians OwnerGovernment of AlbaniaTechnical detailsFloor count3Design and constructionArchitect s Gherardo BosioThe Presidential Palace Albanian Pallati presidencial formerly the Royal Palace Albanian Pallati mbreteror and popularly known as the Palace of Brigades Albanian Pallati i Brigadave is the official residence of the president of Albania The palace was commissioned by King Zog I of the Albanians to serve as his main official residence In 1945 it ceased to serve as a royal residence because the monarchist regime was substituted by a Communist ruled government Since 1946 it has been used by the Government of Albania for holding official ceremonies and state receptions In 2013 the palace became an official residence once again when President Bujar Nishani and his family moved into a reconstructed villa inside the grounds of the palace 1 Northern facadeArchitecturally the palace belongs to a rationalism style It is unique in its genre not only in the country but in the wider sphere of fascist architecture including in Italy itself 2 Its bas reliefs were covered with drapes in the 1970s during the cultural revolution but not destroyed Nevertheless the palace as a whole is in dire need of restoration 2 A description of the then new and unfinished Royal Palace appeared in the issue of Life dated 22 May 1939 Contents 1 History 2 Gardens 3 Challenge to government ownership 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe idea to build a royal palace on one of the hills of Sauk near what was later to become the Grand Park of Tirana was first conceived by King Zog I in the 1930s Because of the limited funds of the nascent Albanian state the then Minister of Finance Mufid Libohova entered into negotiations with a group of Italian financiers represented by Mario Alberti An agreement was made for the opening of a national bank and for a loan of 50 000 000 gold francs approximately 10 000 000 gold dollars Part of this loan also called The SVEA Loan was earmarked for the construction of his official residence making it possible for the King to secure the funds to build the Royal Palace The new palace was designed by three Italian architects including Giulio Berte Due to the outbreak of the Second World War and the 1939 Italian Invasion of Albania King Zog I fled Albania and never had a chance to see the palace fully constructed The Italians finished construction and used the palace mainly for the Army Headquarters The building was redesigned and completed in 1941 by the Florentine architect Gherardo Bosio 3 The building served as a functioning royal palace only once for King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy during his only visit to Albania in May 1941 2 During the remainder of the Second World War it served as the official residence for Francesco Jacomoni the first Luogotenente del Re the title of the Italian Viceroy and later for his successor the fascist general Alberto Pariani 2 Both lived there along with their families After Italy capitulated in September 1943 the Albanian officer who served the palace hid the Palace s official flag from the Germans and sent it to Italy where it remained until 2003 when it was purchased by Artan Lame and returned to Albania 2 After the German takeover of the country in September 1943 the Albanian parliament convened in the Palace and proclaimed the detachment of the Albanian Crown from the Italian Crown 2 In 1945 the palace was renamed as the Palace of the Brigades a name which remained in use throughout the Communist regime 2 and is still used popularly and by the Albanian media 4 During the Communist regime it served mainly as a government reception facility The official name of the palace was changed after the fall of the Communist regime in 1992 as the Presidential Palace In January 2010 the Municipality of Tirana proposed that parts of the palace be opened to the general public 2 On 8 October 2016 Leka II pretender to the throne of Albania was allowed by the Albanian authorities to organise the wedding reception of his marriage to Ms Elia Zaharia inside the premises of the Presidential Palace 5 Gardens edit nbsp GardensBecause of its situation near the Grand Park of Tirana the palace gardens are quite extensive The Royal Palace is surrounded by trees for nearly 200 metres The gardens are decorated in patterns and shapes of various designs The palace also has a tennis court Challenge to government ownership editIn February 2013 Leka Zogu pretender to the throne of Albania and who styles himself as the Crown Prince of Albania began a legal challenge claiming that he was the rightful owner of the Presidential Palace on the grounds that the property had belonged to King Zog I in his personal capacity and that thus Prince Leka retained ownership as the former s heir 6 Leka Zogu claims to have won ownership of the building after a decision of August 2013 by the Supreme Court of Albania 7 and has declared that the palace would become the main official residence of the Royal Court of Albania Albanian Oborri Mbreteror Shqiptar 8 but as of 2016 the palace has remained in government possession and continues serving as the official residence of the president of the Republic of Albania and State receptions and ceremonies such as the annual end of year Presidential Ball continue to be held in the palace 9 See also editPolitics of Albania President of Albania Presidential OfficeReferences edit Pas zgjedhjeve Nishani nderron banese a b c d e f g h Budini Belina 29 October 2004 Pallati i Brigadave ose fantazma e nje pallati mbreteror in Albanian Shekulli Retrieved 5 August 2010 Albanian Presidential Palace returns to the public Independent Balkan News Agency 17 April 2015 Retrieved 4 February 2016 KosPress 28 November 2008 Topi uron nga pallati i Brigadave mbeshtet Kosoven Kosova Press in Albanian Kosova Press Retrieved 5 August 2010 Dasma perrallore e Princ Leka II detajet e darkes dhe te ftuarit mbreterore Artikull Panorama Padia ne Gjykate Leka Zogu kerkon pronesine e Pallatit te Brigadave Archived 1 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Artikull Metropol Leka Zogu II merr vilat e gjyshit ne Shiroke YouTube Declaration Ja cfare ndodhi ne Ballon Presidenciale External links editThe Presidential Palace in 1939 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Presidential Palace Tirana amp oldid 1176630903, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
