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The Skenduli
House is one of Gjirokasta’s tower house
treasures. Its imposing exterior and
beautifully detailed interior form a
striking blend of Albanian and Ottoman art
and architecture that delights the senses.
While this tower house once stood as
strong as the Ottoman Empire, it has
fallen into disrepair and needs our help.
Sadly, many of this
World Heritage city's tower houses have
deteriorated to a point that repair is an
expensive endeavor well beyond the means
of their owners. As part of an innovative
approach to the problem, local youth have
been chosen to receive job skills training
as they work with AiP volunteers. This
project is not only saving the house but
also supporting heritage tourism and
sustainable economic development in
Gjirokastra.
Beginning with the
Skenduli house, AiP has embarked on a
long-term partnership with Cultural Heritage
without Borders and the Gjirokastra Conservation
and Development Organization to keep
the tower houses standing. Our goal is to
re-introduce the traditional techniques
needed to maintain these architectural
giants. Over the next three years, AiP
will provide hands-on training to
homeowners, students, professionals,
aspiring tradespeople and volunteers with
the ultimate aim of creating jobs and
spurring economic growth.
AiP volunteers will
work and learn alongside homeowners and a
small group of local trainees. Our
combined efforts will go far in saving an
irreplaceable 
resource whose preservation
is the key to sustainable economic
development for the people of Gjirokastra.
The Skenduli house is
a UNESCO Category 1 building, a
significant contributor to Gjirokastra’s
World Heritage status. Work will begin
with repair of the stone roof system,
followed by restoration of deteriorating
plaster, decorative painting and intricate
wood detailing, and revitalization of
historic water storage and plumbing
features.
Albania is one of Europe’s poorest
countries, but also one of its hot tourist destinations.
Gjirokastra and the rest of the country
stand to benefit hugely as a result, but
real, long-term benefits depend on
responsible development.
Join this
volunteer vacation and:
- Help
increase the appeal of Gjirokastra as a
heritage tourism destination, a key to the
development of a sustainable economy and
creation of jobs within the community.
- Give visitors touring
the Skenduli house the opportunity to see
and understand the type of work required
to save these historic structures
- Share your enthusiasm
for preservation, encouraging the owners
of other tower houses to participate in –
benefit from – this architectural
preservation program.
During
your time with AiP, you will:
- Be
able to explore, work with and restore the
amazing architectural detailing of the
museum-quality Skenduli house
- Glimpse hundreds of
years of the city’s history as you explore
the steep cobblestone streets and twisted
paths of old town Gjirokastra
- Visualize the life of
the favored under Ottoman rule as you peek
through beautifully carved doorways and
creep up hidden staircases
- Play a starring role in
preserving a World Heritage site.
As with all our adventures, you’ll take the
skills you learn on this volunteer vacation
home with you. They’re yours to use in
restoring your own house, in your
preservation career, or in volunteer
restoration projects in your own community.
We will stay
at the Kotoni Bed & Breakfast,
which sits above the old city bazaar and
provides a striking view of the city.
Most meals will be at
Kujtim's, a family-owned restaurant where
Kujtim and Sylvana's magic hands turn
fresh local produce, fish and meat into
fabulous feasts.
Field trips,
along with the hands-on work, will foster
a deep appreciation for this beautiful
country and its history and heritage. We
will explore historic sites in and near
Gjirokastra, such as the citadel above
that gives the city its name. We will also
take a day-long trip to sites further
afield, including Butrint National Park,
which boasts some of the greatest
classical ruins in the Mediterranean.
We encourage you to spend more time in this
amazing country and explore the 2000-year
old city of Berat, the beaches of
the Ionian coast, or the hills and thrills
of Northern Albania once your volunteer work
ends.
The fee for this
rewarding volunteer vacation is $1,200 for
one week, US$2,200 for two weeks and
covers:
- Double occupancy lodging
- Meals
- Field trips
- Insurance
- Workshop training and
materials.
A Single Supplement (US$125
per week) is available.
This adventure begins
and ends in Tirana; from there we will
travel to Gjirokastra,
located in southern Albania near the
border with Greece. If flying to Albania,
plan to arrive at Tirana
International Airport. 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,
we will travel together by bus to
Gjirokastra, approximately a six-hour
drive.
Residents of most
countries will need only a valid passport
to enter Albania, though citizens of some
countries are required to have entry
visas. Be sure to check the visa
requirements for your country of origin.
If you would like
assistance with travel arrangements,
contact Peace
Frogs Travel/Outfitters, AiP’s
partnering travel agency.
Albania has a
Mediterranean climate. The average daytime
high in mid-May is 19 degrees C (66
degrees F); in early to mid-September is
26 degrees C (79 degrees F), with cooler
temperatures in the evenings. Rain showers
are possible. 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 of which are
fairly steep. Please be conscious that
safety is an important issue at the work
site.
Saturday
If arriving in Tirana on Saturday, meet
group members in the lobby of the Hotel
California at 6pm to go for dinner.
Sunday
As a group, travel by bus from Tirana to
Gjirokastra.
Check into Kotoni Bed & Breakfast, meet
other AiP volunteers.
Monday
through Friday
Work 8:30-5, with
lunch provided at Kujtim's.
Fieldtrip to Butrint scheduled during week.
Dinner at Kujtim’s or other restaurant as
group decides.
Saturday
and Sunday
Weekend for relaxing and touring the area's
many historic and natural sites.
Monday
through Friday
Work 8:30-5, with lunch provided at
Kujtim's.
Fieldtrip to Butrint scheduled
during week.
Dinner at Kujtim’s or other restaurant as
group decides.
Saturday
Departure by bus to Tirana.
Read more
about the Skenduli House project
If you have additional
questions or would like to discuss this
adventure with AiP staff, please contact us
at trips@adventuresinpreservation.org
or call +1 303-444-0128.
