Ministry of Culture abandons historical monuments/ "The Telegraph" raises alarm

2025-02-07 19:18:00, Aktualitet CNA

Ministry of Culture

Cultural monuments in Albania have been totally abandoned.

This alarm has also been raised by the British daily newspaper, "The Telegraph", which wrote an article about the historical buildings in our country, neglected by the Ministry of Culture.

" The Telegraph " writes that neglect has begun to threaten the survival of churches and monasteries.

Prestigious British media emphasizes that there is a lack of investment in monuments that are part of cultural heritage.

In fact, even where there are investments, they are very few and rare.

The stories begin with Mirela Kumbaro when she was Minister of Culture and continue today.

Mirela Kumbaro

The alarm about the abandonment of historic buildings, for which the Ministry of Culture is responsible, is now being raised by a British media outlet.

“They languish in various states of disrepair, some are on the verge of collapse, and the frescoes that contribute so much to their unique aesthetic are under threat from damp and crumbling roof structures. Rural depopulation is only adding to the risk of further neglect and damage, the British media points out. Since 2005, Unesco has listed the monasteries as part of an Albanian World Heritage Site, which encompasses a wider group of historic buildings and includes the historic city of Gjirokastra, with its medieval layout, cobbled streets and intact Ottoman architecture. It also includes mosques and castles in the neighbouring region of Berat,” the article says, among other things.

Full article:

While many of the world's most important cultural sites are struggling with the pressures caused by too many tourists, one of them - a beautiful and unique group of ancient buildings in Albania - is struggling because there are too few of them.

At least that is the argument of heritage activists hoping to preserve the remote but historic monasteries and churches of the Drino Valley. They aim, with the support of the World Monuments Fund (WMF), to significantly increase visitor numbers, raising the profile and securing the future of these magnificent sites.

The abandoned monasteries, about a dozen of them, are clustered in the hills south and east of the city of Gjirokastra on both sides of the Drino River, which runs through southern Albania. They usually consist of a small complex of monastic buildings clustered around a central church and date from the 16th and 17th centuries - the period after the Byzantine Empire had given way to the Ottomans. However, some were founded hundreds of years earlier.

Ministry of Culture abandons historical monuments/ "The Telegraph"

Among the most atmospheric are St. Cyril and St. Julita in Dhuvjan, which may have been founded in the 6th century but certainly dates to 1089, St. Mary of the Spile among the limestone cliffs above Saraqinisht with its stunning frescoed dome, and the atmospheric painted interiors of the Church of St. Nicholas in Dhuvjan and the Church of the Prophet Elijah in Stegopoul. They have survived largely untouched by modern encroachment partly because of their remote locations on the hills and mountains above the fertile plains of the valley. But while isolation has helped protect them from development, neglect is now beginning to threaten their survival.

Ministry of Culture abandons historical monuments/ "The Telegraph"

They languish in various states of disrepair, some on the verge of collapse, and the frescoes that contribute so much to their unique aesthetic are under threat from damp and crumbling roof structures. Rural depopulation is only adding to the risk of further neglect and damage, the British media points out. Since 2005, Unesco has listed the monasteries as part of an Albanian World Heritage Site, which encompasses a wider group of historic buildings and includes the historic city of Gjirokastra, with its medieval layout, cobbled streets and intact Ottoman architecture. It also includes mosques and castles in the neighbouring region of Berat.

But last month, the WMF focused new attention on them. The monasteries were included in the WMF’s latest biennial “watch list” of 25 historic sites around the world that are currently facing major challenges, including neglect, climate change, tourism and natural disasters.

Ministry of Culture abandons historical monuments/ "The Telegraph"

Although visitor numbers to Albania are on the rise, the Drino Valley remains largely undiscovered by tourists, and the WMF sees this as an opportunity. It argues that increased tourism can provide a sustainable way to support the long-term conservation of these sites, while celebrating the valley’s history and boosting the local economy.

He proposes the development of a cultural route for tourists. This would connect the monasteries of the valley and would include the restoration of existing paths and access roads, signage and information for visitors, training of local guides, and the cooperation of local businesses and other stakeholders.

At first glance, the idea seems like a favorable proposition, but striking the right balance between tourism and heritage is not easy. Richard Hodges, President Emeritus of the American University of Rome, was involved in the original project to obtain UNESCO World Heritage status for Gjirokastra in 2005. He agrees that these magnificent churches deserve to be better known; “their frescoes are absolutely stunning,” he says.

Ministry of Culture abandons historical monuments/ "The Telegraph"

But he stresses the need to tread carefully when aiming to increase visitor numbers. “A priority is to preserve these treasures with an assessment of conservation priorities before encouraging the ever-increasing number of tourists to Gjirokastra (which is the second most popular visitor destination in Albania) to visit these jewels.”

There is also no doubt that some of the magic of these stunning churches will be lost when they are restored and become part of a tourist trail. But then if they don't, we risk slowly losing them altogether./ CNA