Rruga Shyqyri Berxolli, Tirana, Albania  ·  +355 68 202 3950 @mig_albania  ·  el.ballauri@gmail.com

Celebrating Albanian Women  ·  Tirana, Albania

Women's History —
Preserved & Told

A journey through the centuries, honouring the role of women across Albania's history — from ancient Illyria to the present day.

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🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ Friendly· ♀ Women Owned· 📍 Tirana, Albania· ✉ el.ballauri@gmail.com

The Museum

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Who We Are

The Women's Museum Albania — MiG (Muzeu i Gruas) — is dedicated to exploring the contributions of women throughout Albania's history. From ancient Illyria to post-communist times, the museum highlights the role of women across different historical periods: Byzantine, Ottoman, Monarchy, and Communist.


We believe history is incomplete without the stories of women. MiG exists to fill that gap — one story, one artifact, one voice at a time.

Our Collections

Five permanent collections trace the full arc of women's experience in Albania and the wider region — from the ancient Illyrian world to life under communism.


Antiquity  ·  Byzantine  ·  Ottoman  ·  Monarchy  ·  Communism


Each era tells a different story. All of them matter.

By the Numbers

1st

Women's museum in Albania

5

Permanent historical collections

Our Story

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Founded by

A testament to the strength
and resilience of Albanian women

The Women's Museum Albania was founded by Elsa Ballauri — an avid collector, journalist, and human rights advocate. She created the museum to preserve the memory of the often-overlooked struggles and achievements of women throughout Albania's diverse and tumultuous history.

Located in the heart of Tirana, this private institution offers a unique look into Albania's social and political transformation — with a special focus on the hardships faced by women during Communist rule, as well as their contributions across every period of the country's history.

Elsa Ballauri
Founder & Director, Women's Museum Albania
Elsa Ballauri, Founder

Our Mission

History is incomplete
without the stories of women

For centuries, the contributions, struggles, and triumphs of Albanian women have gone unrecorded. MiG was founded to change that — to create a permanent, dedicated space where these stories are not only preserved, but celebrated. From the ancient Illyrian world to life under communism, we document the full, unedited arc of women's experience in this region.

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Exhibitions

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● On view now
Women Through the Ages

An exploration of Albanian women's roles from antiquity to modernity — told through objects, photographs, and personal stories.

Coming Soon
New Exhibition

In development. Follow us on Instagram @mig_albania for announcements and previews.

Archives
Past Exhibitions

Browse our archive of past exhibitions. Available for research and educational purposes.

Collections

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Antiquity
Ancient Illyria
Women of the Illyrian world — their leadership, influence, and daily lives in ancient Albanian societies.
Byzantine
4th – 15th century
The powerful women who shaped the Byzantine Empire and left their mark on Albanian history.
Ottoman
15th – 20th century
The challenges and triumphs of Albanian women during five centuries of Ottoman rule.
Monarchy
1912 – 1939
Women's lives during the Kingdom of Albania — the first schools, new freedoms, and ongoing struggles.
Communism
1944 – 1992
A critical examination of persecution, resilience, and the role of women under Albania's Communist regime.

Events & News

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Ongoing
Guided Tours — Albanian & English. For individuals, groups, and school classes.
Tour
Coming Soon
New Exhibition Opening — Follow @mig_albania on Instagram for updates
Exhibition
By Appointment
Private Group Bookings — Reserve your visit for groups of 6 or more
Group
Year-Round
Educational Programs — Workshops and talks for students and researchers
Education

Plan Your Visit

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How to Find Us

1.
Head to Rruga Shyqyri Berxolli — a small side street off Myslym Shyri in central Tirana. Look for our signs on Myslym Shyri and at the corner of Shyqyri Berxolli, across the street from the museum.
2.
At the apartment building entrance, find the buzzer marked MiG and ring it — even if the building door is already open.
3.
Climb four flights of stairs to Apt. 8. Signage along the stairway will guide you all the way to the door.
4.
Welcome to MiG! You've arrived at Albania's first Women's Museum.
Good to Know

🪧  Signs on Myslym Shyri and Rruga Shyqyri Berxolli will guide you.
🔔  Always ring the MiG buzzer, even if the building door is open.
🚶  No elevator — access is via four flights of stairs only.
♿  Unfortunately the museum is not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.
🚗  No parking available on site.
📞  Lost? Call +355 68 202 3950

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Address

Rruga Shyqyri Berxolli, Tiranë, Albania

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Opening Hours
Monday – Friday10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday10:00 am – 3:00 pm
SundayClosed
Contact
+355 68 202 3950 el.ballauri@gmail.com womensmuseumalbania.org @mig_albania on Instagram
Visitor Tips

👨‍👩‍👧 Family-friendly environment

🧭 5-minute walk from Skanderbeg Square

Useful Links
Visitor Guidelines & Policies FAQs Book a Group Tour

Blog

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March 2026
The Illyrian Queens: Women Who Ruled Before History Remembered Them

Long before the word "queen" entered the Albanian lexicon, Illyrian women commanded armies, negotiated treaties, and shaped the ancient world. We explore their forgotten legacy.

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February 2026
Life Under the Bunker: Women's Daily Existence in Communist Albania

From forced labor to secret acts of resistance — what did daily life actually look like for women during Albania's decades of isolation? A MiG curator reflects.

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January 2026
Collecting Memory: How MiG Gathers Stories from Across Albania

Every object in our collection was once someone's everyday life. Our founder Elsa Ballauri shares the deeply human process of building a museum from personal memory.

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