Ismail Tufina: The Mechanism behind Tirana’s Clock Tower

Tirana the capital city of Albania is nestled in the beautiful Balkans, between the Alps mountains and the Mediterranean sea. At the center of this city there stands a majestic monument – the Tirana Clock Tower. This iconic tower not only serves as a practical timekeeper but also holds a deep historical significance. Its resonating bell echoes through the streets symbolizing both tradition and progress. As I set out to explore the details surrounding this extraordinary timepiece one question kept lingering in my mind: Who was behind the creation of this captivating mechanism?

Ismail Tufina; The Master Craftsman of Time

Lets travel back to the 19th century when Ismail Tufina, a highly skilled watchmaker showcased his unmatched talent to the world. In 1822 Ismail Tufina undertook a task. Assembling and bringing life to the clock tower, in Tirana. A mechanism with four different phases that worked synchronously together and chimed as many times as the time of the day. This architectural gem built before the Big Ben of London boasted an aesthetic and originally featured a Venetian bell that its melody embraced the city with its rhythmic embrace.

Uncovering the layers of history reveals the Tufina family as caretakers of this timepiece. For generations they diligently cherished and looked after the clock forging a deep connection to this historical treasure. However this bond was not everlasting, as the oppressive grip of the dictatorial communist regime in Albania forcefully severed their ties with the monument, casting a shadow over a legacy intertwined with time. The Tufina family, respected for their expertise in timekeeping, found themselves persecuted by an atrocious ideology that didn’t align with their enduring legacy.

The Story of Progress: From Past to Present

As time passed the clock tower embraced change. It evolved as a testament to the city’s resilience and adaptability. A turbulent era marked by World War I brought destruction to the tower in 1916, prompting its renewal with a mechanism installed in 1928 by Arif Tufina and his two sons – Shaban and Haxhi Tufina. It took more than 1 year for the installation to be completed. The acquisition of this precision and grandeur mechanism from Germany came at a price of 13,300 francs, facilitated by both the Tirana Municipality and prominent Tirana families. The new mechanism surpassed the tower’s dimensions necessitating an extension of its height and an innovative roof structure. 

Over the course of decades the clock tower underwent transformations. The ravages of World War II inflicted damage upon it, leading to its rejuvenation in 1946 when a Roman numeral clock, from a church in Shkodër was integrated into the tower. Unfortunately, this clock was soon replaced with a Chinese model. Nevertheless, Bahri and Zija Tufina continued to tend to the Tirana Clock Tower with great devotion until 1973 when the communist government unfairly forbade them from doing so.