Identification and Prioritization of Conservation Measures at theCastle of Gjirokastra, Albania

• Rand Eppich ^[1] ; Elena Mamani ^[1] ; Lejla Hadzic ^[1] ; José Alonso ^[2] ; Marieta Núñez García ^[2] ; Irene Martínez Cuart ^[2]
  1. [1] Cultural Heritage without Borders, Gjirokastra, Albania
  2. [2] Proskene Conservation and Cultural Heritage, Madrid, Spain
• Localización: FORTMED2023. Defensive architecture of the mediterranean : vol. XIII, XIV, XV / Marco Giorgio Bevilacqua (dir. congr.), Denise Ulivieri (aut.), 2023, ISBN 978-84-1396-129-3, págs. 1219-1226
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
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• Resumen

  • Gjirokastra, in southern Albania, is a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town built arounda fortified hilltop. The history of the fortifications is long and unsurprising given its natural defensivegeology, prominent views controlling the valley, and nearby fertile fields with access to water. The rockyoutcroppings were inhabited as early as 500 BCE, and later, it is speculated that this was the location ofthe famous Castle of Pyrrhus, built to resist the Roman hegemony. The fortifications and the surroundingsettlement underwent numerous changes, especially in the 15th CE century under the Ottoman Empire duringthe reign of Sultan Bayezid II (1481-1512). The defenses reached their zenith in the early 19th century withnumerous additions, including an aqueduct by Ali Pasha Tepelena, a local Ottoman administrator. By the20th century, the castle was converted into a prison under King Zog and continued as a political prison underAlbania’s communist regime. In 1969, the castle was converted into a museum; in 2005, Gjirokastra and itscastle were placed on the World Heritage List. The uninterrupted use and continuous changes culminatedin a sizeable multi-layered structure with a wide variety of materials and construction techniques. Thesechanges, combined with unstable geology, active faults, poor drainage, and periods without maintenance,resulted in a structure with areas in poor condition. This paper describes the methodology for identifyingand prioritizing emergency conservation measures with limited resources and time. The project began withextensive documentation, a rigorous inspection of all spaces, materials, construction methods, detailedhistorical research, and stakeholder input. Critically, the project also incorporated geological, hydrological,and structural assessment and analysis. A multidisciplinary decision-making method was developed toidentify the most at-risk significant elements while seeking to achieve the objectives of the larger project,i.e., to open currently closed areas of the castle to improve the visitors’ experience while enhancing theirunderstanding of the fortifications. The investigations led to the creation of a complete set of drawings,technical specifications, and bills of quantity. The methodology and documentation proved invaluableas soon after starting, the site was closed for six months, travel bans enacted, and in-person meetingsprohibited due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Even given this significant event, the team completedproject planning on schedule. The castle is currently undergoing conservation managed by the AlbanianDevelopment Fund with the support of the World Bank and collaboration with the Ministry of Culture.The project investigations and designs were executed by Cultural Heritage without Borders, Albania, andProskene Conservation and Cultural Heritage of Spain.