Hands on archaeology & conservation holiday – Albania

We’ve been working since 2002 in the now world famous Butrint National Park, and have seen the development of the new Albanian National Trust (ANT). With ANT, we are now moving inland to one of Europe’s least visited areas to start in on a range of new restoration and archaeological research works at the stunning Gjirokastra castle and nearby Bektashi Monastery.

Who we’re working with: The Albanian National Trust (ANT) is promoting the preservation of Cultural Heritage in Albania. ANT has begun by identifying and initiating restoration projects around the Butrint National Park and Drinos Valley combining this with sustainable economical development in the communities around these areas. Newly formed, the trust is keen to promote volunteering in Albania as a means of preserving the country’s rich archaeological and natural heritage. This project is designed as an example of how this can work. Conditions permitting, we’ll also be working alongside researchers from the University of Chicago on actual archaeological excavations at the monastery.

Where we’re working: Gjirokastra is one of Albania’s most beautiful and original towns. Otherwise known as the ‘town of the thousand steps’ or the ’stone town’, Gjirokastra is of great interest for its native Albanian architecture, with houses huddled one above the other around the dramatic fortress. The castle of Gjirokastra is the second biggest in the Balkans. In the centre of the town, is the Bazaar Mosque. In the Old Bazaar quarter there are many shops situated in the narrow streets, and in the Mecite quarter there are old Turkish Baths dating to 17th century. Nearby is also the Tekke of Melan, a Bektashi Monastery at a former fortified site dating back to the 4th century, but now nearly lost beyond the remote villages of the region.

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