The Lead Mosque takes its name from the lead-covered dome that sits above the central prayer hall — a design more common in Ottoman architecture to the east. It was built in the 16th century and is the most architecturally interesting of the several mosques in the Mangalem quarter. The single-room structure with its slim minaret stands in a small courtyard below the slope leading up toward the castle.
During the Communist period, like all religious buildings in Albania, the mosque was closed and converted to other uses — it served at various points as a warehouse and a gymnasium. It was returned to religious use after 1990 and has been partially restored. The interior is simply furnished; the lead dome is best appreciated from outside. Non-Muslim visitors are generally welcome outside prayer times.