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Address Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit, Tiranë, Albania Similar National Archaeological Museum, Natural Sciences Museum, Rinia Park, Tirana Mosaic, Tanners' Bridge | ||
Mother Teresa Square (Albanian: Sheshi Nënë Tereza) is the second largest square in Tirana, Albania and also one of the most popular landmarks of Tirana. It is named after the Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun, missionary and nobelist, who won the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. On 4 September 2016, she was canonised. In Albania the Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës), is a public holiday, celebrated on October 19 .
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History
It was planned by the Italian architect Gherardo Bosio and built together with the main Boulevard in 1939-41, during the Italian occupation of Albania, in Rationalist style. When first constructed, it was named the Victor Emmanuel III Square in honor of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy.
It is located on the north end of the Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard and important buildings are found on this square. The rectorate building of the Tirana University and the Polytechnic University of Tirana are found on the square, together with the University of Arts of Albania, the Archeological Museum of Albania and the Centre of Albanological Studies.
On 1980 a fountain was placed on the middle of the square and after the Fall of communism in Albania it was named after Mother Teresa and a statue of her was placed on the east side of the square. Both the statue and the fountain were later removed, after the restoration of the square in 2014 caused by the preparations for the Pope Francis visit in Tirana. Today it is a pedestrian zone, mostly used for different activities and concerts by the Municipality of Tirana.