[Cathedral of St. Nicholas]—Skanderbeg National Memorial

The cathedral is the site of the grave of Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg. In 1444 he led successful opposition keeping the Ottoman Empire at bay. Skanderbeg founded the League of Lezhé here; it united the Albanian principalities. The Ottoman Turks later desecrated his grave, making amulets of the bones to confer bravery to wearers. The church had been converted into a mosque. In 1968, for the 500th anniversary of Skanderbeg's death, the church was uncovered and the memorial established around it. An original fresco of Saint Nicholas, the apse, and three windows from the church are preserved. The memorial marble column structure covers the church ruins that hold the grave and memorial.