| The Royal Palace | |
|---|---|
| Pallati Mbreteror | |
| albanianpalace.jpg The main entrance of the palace. |
|
| Alternative names | Pallati i Brigadave |
| General information | |
| Type | Palace |
| Architectural style | Rationalism; Monumental Rationalism |
| Location | Tirana, Albania |
| Construction started | c.1930 |
| Completed | c.1940 |
| Design and construction | |
| Client | King Zog I of Albania; Geraldine Apponyi de Nagyappony |
| Architect | Gherardo Boso |
The Royal Palace or differently known as "The Palace of Brigades" is a royal palace situated in Tirana, Albania. It previously served as the official residence of King Zog I. It has been used by different Albanian governments for various purposes. Since 1945 it ceased to serve as a residence because the monarchist regime was substituted with the communist one. Since then it has been used by the government for ceremonies and state receptions.
Albania was much behind other countries in the matter of economic development, and there was need for the construction of all sorts of public works. Therefore the 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). This loan, also called "The SVEA Loan" made possible for the King to build the Royal Palace. The project of the palace was made by three Italian architects, and as the construction site were chosen the Sauk hills. Because of the outbreak of World War I, 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 it and used it as the Army Headquarters. The Palace took it`s nickname "The Palace of Brigades" because it was taken from the Italians by a peoples army brigade. During the communist regime it served as a government reception facility.
Because of it`s situation near the Tirana Lake Park, the palace gardens have a very large extend. The Royal Palace is surrounded by trees for nearly 200 meters. The gardens are decorated in patterns and shapes of various designs. The palace has also a tennis court.