Catholic Cathedral of St. Paul, Tirana

Catholic Cathedral of St. Paul, Tirana

Saint Paul's Cathedral in Tirana is a modern architectural marvel that serves as a significant landmark for the Catholic community. Established under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tiranë-Durrës, this cathedral stands out for its unique design and the meaningful symbols it houses. Unlike traditional church buildings, Saint Paul’s Cathedral showcases a contemporary look, defined by a combination of geometric shapes—a triangle and a circle—symbolizing the Holy Trinity and the eternity of God, respectively.

The cathedral was inaugurated on January 26, 2002, following a cornerstone laid by Pope John Paul II in 1993, marking a historic visit that underscored the church's importance. The exterior and interior of the cathedral are noted for their simplicity and modernist approach. A distinctive feature is the stained glass window next to the front door, which depicts Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa, both pivotal figures in the Catholic Church. Additionally, a statue of Mother Teresa, who has been canonized by Pope Francis, greets visitors at the entrance, reinforcing the cathedral’s dedication to celebrating significant Catholic figures.

Surrounding the cathedral is a spacious courtyard that not only accentuates the cathedral's modern architecture but also hosts the offices and residences of the priests and the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Diocese of Tirana and Durrës. The presence of a statue of the Apostle Paul atop the building and another of Mother Teresa in the main courtyard further cements the cathedral's role as a beacon of faith and dedication in the community.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Tirana. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Catholic Cathedral of St. Paul on Map

Sight Name: Catholic Cathedral of St. Paul
Sight Location: Tirana, Albania (See walking tours in Tirana)
Sight Type: Religious

Walking Tours in Tirana, Albania

Create Your Own Walk in Tirana

Create Your Own Walk in Tirana

Creating your own self-guided walk in Tirana is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Tirana Introduction Walking Tour

Tirana Introduction Walking Tour

Tirana is Albania's largest city. It is also the country's center of culture and government. Though the city itself was founded by the Ottomans in 1614, its history goes back to earlier times.

The Romans settled in the area that would become Tirana in the 3rd century. The Byzantine Emperor Justinian I built a castle that has some remnants left for tourists to see today. Tirana Castle,...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Communist Heritage Sites

Communist Heritage Sites

The people of Albania lived in a Communist state from 1976 through 1992. The country was ruled by one party, the Party of Labor of Albania. Dictator Enver Hoxha held power over the country and established a Stalinist-style of administration.

Citizens were oppressed by the secret police, known as the Sigurimi. They would spy on anyone who they believed to be an enemy of the state. Those who were...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles