Queen Teuta monument erected at the Shëngjin–Velipojë panoramic overlook

A monumental work dedicated to Queen Teuta has been erected at the panoramic overlook along the Shëngjin–Velipojë road, giving the area another attraction of historic, cultural and tourist value.

The work, roughly 9 meters tall, was created by sculptor Julian Muçollari, while the idea was inspired by journalist Marin Mema. Historian Paulin Zefi, actors from Albanian lands and the Lezhë municipal council also contributed to the monument.

The ceremony marking the occasion was attended by Lezhë mayor Pjerin Ndreu, Shkodër mayor Benet Beci, historian Paulin Zefi, journalist Marin Mema, historians, scholars and many citizens.

Lezhë mayor Pjerin Ndreu said that “facing the Adriatic, Teuta returns as a symbol of our history, identity and pride. Lezha has one more reason to be visited today.”

“This monument is a new tourist asset that unites the beauty of nature with the grandeur of history,” Ndreu said.

Mayor Beci said that “it is a shared axis where Shkodra, Ulcinj, Lezha, Durrës and the entire coast are now not only an axis of pride, history and wars, but today also a beautiful axis of tourism, cooperation and development.”

Historian Paulin Zefi stressed that “we hope this initiative of ours serves as an example for other cities, to erect other important figures of antiquity, that is, Illyrian kings and queens, in other cities of Albania as well.”

Journalist Marin Mema said that “I sincerely hope this is only the first step of a series of monuments that must — and I repeat, must — be built to recall our national heritage, culture and identity.”

“Through them, we preserve and pass on to future generations our history and national values,” Mema said.

The figure of Queen Teuta, one of the best-known personalities of ancient Illyrian history, is intended to serve as a symbol of Albanian history, identity and pride, while the work is expected to become a new stop for visitors traveling the Shëngjin–Velipojë axis.

The erection of the monument adds to the area’s tourist offer, aiming to bring visitors closer to the history and important figures of Albanian heritage.

The Shëngjin–Velipojë axis, alongside its coastal landscape and panoramic viewpoints, continues to be enriched with new elements that intertwine tourism, culture and history.