Hoxha's Villa in Elbasan

An abandoned mansion — a rest house for the party elite and senior state officials, a former residence. It bears no relation to the so-called «royal villas», though the resemblance is striking. Built in the 1970s, abandoned in the 1990s, and encircled by an olive grove. Inside, absolutely nothing has survived.

The site sits within an informally guarded perimeter — there is a fence and a gate, watched over by someone from the neighbouring houses. The gates are sometimes left open, allowing free entry and a quiet wander around. The greatest draw of this ruin is the magnificent views through its bare windows.