Albanian Cultural Heritage.Pdf
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We wish to greet you most sincerely, The country is also the home of happy that you have choose to visit several castle ranges starting since our country. the Illyrian period until the Middle Age. Albania is an attractive tourist destination, not only because of its A complex of Byzantine and post varying landscapes, but also due to its Byzantine churches, monasteries rich cultural and historical treasures. with valuable frescoes and icons, old bridges, mosques and other Albania is located in a very important monuments will enrich your visit in section of Balkan Peninsula, facing Albania. the “ancient Rome” and on the way from this “capital of the world” in that The importance of Culture in Albania time toward the Byzantium (Istanbul). has been honored by the UNESCO, which has included three of the Many conquerors passed through country places in its World Cultural this region, leaving the traces of Heritage List. their culture. The traces of Hellenes, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, The particularity and uniqueness Venetians and modern Italians, are of Albania is its permanent live more or less visible in nowadays. connection to its rich past and its cultural heritage, while it keeps Funs of archaeology will marvel at vibrantly in peace with contemporary the mystic atmosphere of Burtinti or life, echoing its spiritualism and its will enjoy the beautiful panorama presence in the European cultural of the ancient Apolonia in the environment. western plain of Albania. They will have the opportunity to touch the In this brochure you will find a ruins of many other objects and to summary of the most important experience our Archaeological parks. object to be visited during your stay in our country. The typical architecture of Berat and Gjirokastra have been highly evaluated during the centuries by different visitors who passed through Welcome! Albania. ALBANIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE A selection of the most important cultural monuments, in twelve counties of Albania SHKODRA COUNTY Rozafa Castle The Tumuli Burials of Shtoj Sarda The “Lead” Mosque Mesi Bridge Historic Museum Marubi Atelier of Photography SHKODRA COUNTY Shkodra is one of the most significant an- cient cities in northwestern Albania. It was founded in the 4th century B.C. as the centre of the Illyrian tribe of the Labeates. Under the rule of the Illyrian king Gent, it became the capital of the Illyrian kingdom. Coins from this period of prominence have been discovered in Shkodra. In 168 B.C., it was occupied by the Romans and eventually becoming part of Claudius empire. In 395 A.C., Shkodra became the centre of the Byzantine Prevalis province, following centuries of substantial political power, Shkodra came under Serbian rule in 1040 A.C. Due to its Mediterranean location and its geographical proximity to some of the main centers of the world civilization, a number of important archaeological discoveries have been made in Albania. The sites in the North as well as in the South are great tourism destinations for those who are interested in ancient history. The Tumuli Burials of Shtoj The Tumuli Burials of Shtoj. The Plain of Shtoj is situated about 5 km to the north- east of the city of Shkodra, in the vicinity of the villages of Boks and Dragoç, on the western side of the Kir River. The excavated tumuli, or burial mounds, appear to have been used for centuries; from the Early Bronze Age until the Late Iron Age. Most of the unearthed features of these tumuli are artifacts of the Iron Age, specifically from the 7th - 5th centuries B.C. 6 SHKODRA COUNTY The most important monument to visit in Shkodra is the Rozafa Castle, which rises on a rocky hill to the west of Shkodra. It is surrounded by the waters of three rivers, Buna, Drini and Kiri. Rozafa is one of the major castles in Albania and the most important tourist attraction in Shkodra. The castle dates back to Illyrian era, when the Latin historian Titus Livius named it “the stronghold of the Labeats” (Illyrian tribe on the shores of Lake Shkodra). The Illyrian queen, Teuta, used it as a base in the war against Rome. The Clock Tower, “Kulla e Inglizit” Rozafa Fortress 7 SHKODRA COUNTY Mesi Bridge. At northeast of Shkodra, The form and the direction of the track where river Drin divides the fields from the were defined from the cliff’s massif and hillside of Drishti and the Cukali’s highland, the water flow variations. The track was there is a stone bridge with many arches done with causeway and reaches a length that is named after the village near it. The of about 120 meters. It is sustained by monument is one of the biggest of its kind 13 cantilevers and it makes a turn 5 m in Albania, constructed around the 18th away from the central cantilever in a 15 century by Mehmet Pasha Bushtalliu, who degree angle. The arch is combined with governed his province winsomely by two discharger windows, which differently assuring this important port region an from the arch don’t have a circle form. The intensive trade development with the west. replacement of the old bridge, which often The bridge made possible the transport of was submerged from the river’s flow, added carriages and agricultural products from other cantilevers at both of the two sides. the farmers living in the highland area to The bridges width is 3.4 meters and the the Adriatic coast. track has the form of a staircase 8 SHKODRA COUNTY In the city of Shkodra you may visit also the The ruins of a castle dating back on the Historic Museum and the Marubi Atelier 6th - 8th century B.C., are found on the island. of Photography. The island’s main attraction is the resi- dence of the Dukagjini family (one of the most important Albanian feudal families at the time), belonging to the 11th century. Among the remains are the defense walls, church ruins and the gate to the Dukagjini palace. Sarda is a very picturesque location. The “Lead” Mosque was built in 1773 by Mehmet Pasha Bushati and is one of the most prominent cultural and religious monuments in the city of Shkodra, located behind the Rozafa Castle. To be noticed is the architectural similarity with the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, which differs The ruins of the medieval town of Sarda the unique monument from the other are found in an island, located on the mosques constructed and conceived based artificial lake of Vau i Dejës. The lake on a typical Arabic architectural style. covers an area of 24.7 hectares. Sarda is on the Shurdhahu Island, 35 km away from Shkodra. Sarda, at the island of Shurdhahu 9 The Historic Museum LEZHA COUNTY Lezha Castle The Memorial of Scanderbeg The Church of Rubik The Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Laç LEZHA COUNTY The Lezha Castle is located on top of a 186 meter high hill, to the east of town. The castle originates from Illyrian times. In 1440 it was reconstructed by the Venetians, and in 1522, after the Ottoman conquest, it was also rebuilt by the latter. The castle bears traces of Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman architecture. The Memorial of Scanderbeg. It is constructed at the burial place of Scanderbeg. It it inaugurated in the year 1981 over the ruins of the Church of San Nikolas in the town of Lezha. After the invasion of Lezha from the ottomans they destroyed the church and the tomb of Scanderbeg too. The church was reconstructed in the beginning of XX Century. Inside the memorial are Interesting places to visit are the ruins of displayed the emblems of Feudal Families the Ottoman buildings inside the castle, of Albanian during the period of the mosque, the tower of the south-eastern Scanderbeg . There is also a copy of his wall with a Roman arch, and the Illyrian sword and helmet. tower on the southern wall. The Lezha castle is a cultural monument. The castle offers a beautiful view of the Lezha fields and the Adriatic Sea. The helmet of Scanderbeg 12 LEZHA COUNTY The Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Laç (Kisha e Shën Anoit). This church is located close to the town of Laçi, (3 km far away). The Church of Saint Anthony of Padua It’s name is for the honor of Saint Anthony of Padua. He is a catholic saint who was born in Lisbon and who died in Padua. This The Church of Rubik. The church of Rubik church is famous for the biggest catholic is located in the top of a rocky hill pilgrimage held in Albania. The peak of this overlooking the small town of Rubik in ceremony is organized at 13 of June. This northwestern part of Albania. The church church is build up in the year 1557. represents one of the most important reli- gious monument of XII - XIII centuries. It was finished to build up in 1272. The unique values of the church are the wall frescoes of Byzantine style. The Rubik church served as Benedictine Abbey and Franciscan monastery. Saint Anthony of Padua 13 Th e Memorial of Scanderbeg DIBRA COUNTY Grazhdani Castle Ethnographic Museum of Dibra Historic Museum of Mat DIBRA COUNTY Grezhdani Castle. This castle is located 11 km in southeast of the town of Peshkopia, not far from the village of Maqellarë. It is proclaimed as historical monument since the year 1963. This castle belongs to the IV century during the late roman period. This monument has an area of 34 hectares. During the middle ages it was supposed to be the Stefigradi castle, which was under the control of national hero Scanderbeg.