JUSTIN-GODART STREET

Since 1921, this street (Rruga Justin Godar) is named after the French politician Justin Godart (1870-1956). Today better known in Albania than in France, this deputy, senator and radical-socialist mayor of Lyon was Minister of Labor and Hygiene (1924-1925) and of Health (1932-1933) as well as founder of the League against Cancer. Defender of the working classes, immigrants and the bangs of Europe, he pleaded for a democratic evolution of Albania, Romania, Armenia and Bulgaria. During his visit to Vlora in the spring of 1921, he wrote about Albania: "It will attract travelers, tourists, artists from all over the world; friends of freedom will come to it as pilgrims; sad country of injustice and suffering for centuries, it will become the promised land of optimism." His prophecy has not yet been fulfilled. But the street that bears his name is already a good start. It lines up beautiful, colorful little houses with cafés, restaurants, stores and art galleries. It crosses the heart of the old city for 250 m, from the Flag Square (Sheshi i Flamurit), where the prestigious monument stands, to the small street Irfan-Shehu. On the way, it crosses Ceno-Sharra Street, named after an officer (1887-1914) who belonged to one of the great families of the city. This street used to house the Jewish community of Vlora. It gives access to the Ethnographic Museum.