The Skanderbeg Square is the main square of the city and was named in 1968, after the medieval Albanian nobleman and national hero of the country, Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg (). At the time of the Albanian monarchy, the square was composed of a number of buildings that would eventually be detonated during the communist period. The statue of Albania's leader Enver Hoxha was erected at the space between the National Historical Museum and the National Bank. Following the fall of communism in 1991, the statue would be removed amid student-led demonstrations.