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Albania, tightly closed to the outside world until the 1990s, has opened its doors and is racing to catch up. The energy level is high and AiP is working with one community to direct some of that energy toward saving their amazing architectural heritage and building their economy through heritage tourism. As one Albanian reporter recently revealed, development is ravaging cultural heritage as historic sites are flattened or transformed beyond recognition. AiP is returning to Gjirokastra to help assure that the race to move forward isn’t done at the expense of the past.
Gjirokastra grew up around a 13th century citadel, which still overlooks the town that is now comprised of a new lower town and an upper historic town. Ottoman rulers, who arrived in 1385 and resided in the town for over 500 years, directed the building of large stone tower houses (kullë houses) up the steep hillsides overlooking the Drinos river valley. Following the Ottomans’ departure, these massive houses were no longer maintained, with the inevitable result of hundreds of them descending into ruin over the past 100 years. Dozens more of these fascinating structures face a similar fate if action is not taken soon.
This workshop offers two tracks: a full day of conservation work each day; or mornings spent in drawing class, followed by an afternoon working in a kullë house. Read on for more details.
We will be working on a project developed by Cultural Heritage without Borders (CHwB), a Swedish international relief organization founded in 1995 and working to preserve endangered cultural monuments. Their aim is to integrate the preservation of cultural properties into their program of aid and development, because they believe - as does AiP - that preserving cultural heritage can help residents recover their sense of dignity and empowerment, increasing the likelihood of success in the fight against poverty.
Workshop participants will be working on the Babameto House, a Category I monument. Built at the end of the 19th century, this is one of the newer tower houses, and its restoration will serve as a model for the process of restoration and sustainable use.
Young Albanian professionals and youth from surrounding Balkan countries will work with international volunteers to learn hands-on skills needed to save the structures. That knowledge will then be used during an ongoing series of conservation projects planned for this historic stone city.
Hands-on work will include tasks such as re-setting stones; applying interior and exterior plaster; wood working such as hewing beams and relaying wooden floors; and refurbishing iron elements while learning about traditional techniques for producing iron nails and hinges.
Several fieldtrips are planned for the group during the week, including Butrint National Park, which boasts some of the greatest classical ruins in the Mediterranean. Butrint is located on a low promontory on the coast, and the site has been occupied since the 8th century BC.
AiP participants may choose between two tracks of activity. Participants may spend both morning and afternoon working on restoration of a tower house under the guidance of experts from Cultural Heritage without Borders. Or you may choose to devote the afternoon to restoration after spending the morning in a drawing class taught by one of Albania’s most talented artists, Albert Kasi.
Mr. Kasi, a native of Gjirokastra, is skilled in both drawing and sculpting and his work can be seen displayed in the lower town. His drawing class will be held at the Skendulati House, one of the town’s most beautiful and beautifully maintained tower houses.
The workshop will be one week in length and the costs is US$2150, which covers lodging and meals; workshop planning, materials, instruction; most fieldtrips; and insurance. Transportation to the workshop is not included and is the responsibility of the participant. The fee for local residents not requiring lodging or meals is US$50; with lunch the fee is US$75. Several scholarships are available for participants from Albania and surrounding countries based on need.
Workshop participants will be housed at the Kotoni Bed & Breakfast, which sits above the old city bazaar, and may check in on Sunday September 12.
Work hours at the site are generally Monday through Friday from 8:30-12:00 and 1:30-5:00. Instruction will be in English and Albanian. Meals will be provided at Kujtim's, where fresh local produce, fish and meat are turned into delicious cuisine by Kujtim and his wife Sylvana. Evenings are free for exploring the area’s many beautiful sites.
The City of Gjirokastra is located in southern Albania near the border with Greece. If flying to Albania, take a flight to Tirana International Airport in Rinas, 25 km from the capital city of Tirana. From here take a taxi into Tirana, and if arriving on Saturday, meet AiP participants at the Hotel California near the city center for a pleasant overnight stay. Sunday morning, participants will travel together by bus to Gjirokastra, approximately a five-hour drive.
The bus currently costs about US$12, but is subject to change. The cost of one night in Tirana is included in your workshop fee, but meals in Tirana and the bus to Gjirokastra are the responsibility of each individual. You may also choose to fly to Athens and take a connecting flight to Ioannina, a small town near the Albanian-Greek border. Private taxis are available to drive you across the border and on to Gjirokastra, approximately two hours away. This route may require a more adventurous spirit, as schedules sometime put you at the border after dark with non-English speaking drivers.
If you would like assistance with travel arrangements, contact Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters, AiP’s partnering travel agency.
Residents of most countries will not need a visa to enter Albania and need only a valid passport. Be sure to check visa requirements for your country of origin. If a visa is needed, be sure to leave sufficient time for processing, approximately 2-4 months. Note that some people who may enter the country without a visa must pay an entry tax of approximately 10 Euros when leaving from the airport.
Albania has a Mediterranean climate. The average daytime high in mid-September is 25 degrees C (77 degrees F), with cooler temperatures in the evenings. Rain showers are also possible. Please bring clothing that is suitable for the weather that will also be protective while working. Bring sturdy close-toed shoes for the work site, and be aware that you will often be walking on cobblestone streets, some which are fairly steep. Please be conscious that safety is an important issue at any work site.
Saturday
If arriving in Tirana on Saturday, meet at Hotel California near the center of Tirana for one-night stay.
Sunday
As a group, take the bus from Tirana to Gjirokastra.
Check into Kotoni Bed & Breakfast, meet other workshop participants.
Monday through Friday
Work 8:30-5, with lunch provided at Kujtim's.
Full-day fieldtrip to Butrint scheduled during week.
Saturday
Departure.
If you have additional questions or would like to discuss this project with AiP staff, please contact us at workshops@adventuresinpreservation.org or call +1 303-444-0128.
Attending AiP's workshop in Gjirokastra is a great way to help preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you find this project intriguing, but are unable to attend, you can still make an impact by supporting restoration work at the Babameto House with a tax-deductible donation to AiP. Your donation will go directly participant scholarships, materials, teaching materials and future workshop planning.
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If you would prefer to mail in a gift, please use our donation form.
