Meet the Albanians’ favorite lady “ Teto Ollga ”

She is the most favorite lady from the city of all Albanians and there is a reason why.

Her name is ” Teto Ollga ” (aunt Ollga) and she is the main character of one of the most beloved Albanian films produced during the communist era. In the 1976 production, entitled “The Lady from the City”, Teto Olga is Meli’s mother, a doctor from Korça, who, for work reasons, has to move to a village with her mother. Ollga’s lifestyle change and her whims create many comic situations throughout the film and tell a lot about the mentality of the Albanians of that time but also the present and the differences between urban and rural reality.

Rare are those Albanians who have not seen this comedy, so I can really say that Ollga is the favorite aunt of Albanians.

Where can you find her statue?

In the village of Tushemisht, Pogradec.

Tushemishti is exactly the village where the film scenes were shot and the presence of Ollga`smonument in one of the shooting locations is the main attraction of the village, which makes many tourists curious.

However, Tushemishti offers other facilities, bars and small restaurants as well as inns to be accommodated. The village is on the shores of Lake Ohrid, so it remains a popular destination for those who prefer the tranquility of the lake.

The village itself has approximately 480 inhabitants. It is located 133 km away from Tirana and 6 km away from Pogradec. You can also easily visit it by bicycle or walking along the lakeshore. There are three natural monuments in Tushemisht: Driloni Spring, “Rrepet e Tushemishtit”and Najazma Cave.

The Tushemisht mosaic was accidentally discovered by the villagers in 1967. It is located on the threshold of the present church of St. Pandelimon in Tushemisht. Although it has been declared a Cultural Monument, the data on it are very scarce.

The main economic activities are tourism and agriculture. There are several hotels and restaurants in the village, which create employment opportunities for locals. At the same time, restaurants have set up small food value chains to promote the area’s organic products. An outstanding specialty is the cooking of roasted poultry, which also includes ducks and wild rabbits