Prehistory The beginnings of architecture in Albania dates back to the middle
Neolithic Age with the discovery of prehistoric dwellings in Dunavec and
Maliq. They were built on a wooden platform that rested on stakes stuck vertically into the
soil. Following the
Illyrian Wars, the architecture in Albania developed significantly in the 2nd century BC with the arrival of the
Romans. The conquered settlements and villages such as
Apollonia,
Butrint,
Byllis,
Dyrrachium and
Hadrianopolis were notably modernised following Roman models, with the building of a forum, roads, theatres, promenades, temples, aqueducts and other social buildings. The period also marks the construction of stadiums and thermal baths that were of social importance as places of gathering.
Amantia Amantia was an ancient city and the main settlement of the
Amantes, traditionally located in southern
Illyria in classical antiquity. In
Hellenistic times the city was either part of
Illyria or
Epirus. In
Roman times it was included within
Epirus Nova, in the
province of Macedonia. The site has been identified with the village of
Ploçë,
Vlorë County, Albania. Amantia was designated as an
archaeological park on 7 April 2003 by the government of Albania. The massive walls of Amantia were built before the end of the 4th century BC, and literary sources report them as an
Illyrian rather than
Epirote or
Macedonian foundation. Later Amantia acquired the trappings of a
Hellenistic town. The time duration that passed before Illyrian cities were documented on a list of
theorodokoi clarifies that acculturation did take place in southern Illyria; however, it indicates that the process was gradual. Amantia occupied an important defensive position above the
Aoos/Vjosë river valley to the east, and on the road to the coast and the Bay of
Aulon. At the archaeological site of Ploçë, a
temple dedicated to
Aphrodite, a theatre, and a
stadium have also been found. City gate of Amantia, Albania.jpg|City Gates Stadium of Amantia, Albania 02.jpg|Stadium Paloeochristian Basilica and the Temple of Aphrodite. Amantia, Albania 01.jpg|Acropolis
Byllis Byllis was an ancient city and the chief settlement of the
Illyrian tribe of the
Bylliones, traditionally located in southern
Illyria. In
Hellenistic times the city was either part of
Illyria or
Epirus. In
Roman times it was included within
Epirus Nova, in the
province of Macedonia. The remains of Byllis are situated north-east of
Vlorë, 25 kilometers from the sea in
Hekal,
Fier County, Albania. Byllis was designated as an
archaeological park on 7 April 2003 by the government of Albania. The massive walls of Byllis were built around 350 BC when the Illyrians went through a dynamic development founding their own cities. The urban settlement was built on the territory of the community of the
Bylliones on an already existent Illyrian hilltop proto-urban area dating back to the previous century. Later Byllis acquired the trappings of a Hellenistic town, and because the southernmost Illyrian tribes, including the Bylliones, were inclined to become bilingual, it was also a Greek-speaking city. Byllis received sacred ancient Greek envoys, known as
theoroi, during the early 2nd century BC, which only cities that were considered Greek were eligible to receive. The time duration that passed before Illyrian cities were documented on a list of
theorodokoi clarifies that acculturation did take place in southern Illyria, however it indicates that the process was gradual.
Ancient Greeks and Romans Butrint has been included in the
UNESCO list of
World Heritage Sites.The acropolis was erected on a hill on the bank of a
lake Butrint (or lake Bouthrotum). The first extension of the 7th century BC acropolis occurred during the 5th century BC. During the first years of the second
Peloponnesian War (413–404 BC) the Corkyreans built fortifications stretching from
Ksamil to Buthrotum. Buthrotum being previously an independent city, became subject to nearby Corfu. By the 4th century BC it had grown in importance and included a
theatre, a sanctuary dedicated to
Asclepius and an
agora. The acropolis of Bouthrotum was protected by three circuit walls. The last and outer wall was erected around 380 BC enclosing and area of 4ha. This 870m-long wall included bastions and five gates. Two of the most important gates were known as Scean and Lion gate. Moreover, the agora, the
stoas, the residential zone and the theatre were located in a separate walled area. Several inscriptions in Buthrotum describe the organization of the Chaonians in the beginning of the 3rd cent. BC. which show that they too had an annual leader called
Prostates (
Greek: Προστάτης Protector). The Greek calendar of Bouthroton appears in the oldest known
analog computer, the so-called
Antikythera Mechanism (c. 150 to 100 BC). The theatre is known for the impressive number of inscriptions carved on its stones. Most of them deal with manumissions and give a great amount of details on the city during the Hellenistic era. The names of those slaves were almost exclusively Greek with a few exception of Latin ones which bore Greek family names. In 228 BC
Buthrotum became a Roman
protectorate alongside Corfu. In the middle of the second century BC Buthrotum was the centre of an independent state, possibly the "Koinon of the Prasaiboi", as listed in the list of the
theorodokoi at the
Oracle of Delphi. Previously populated by the
Ancient Greeks,
Butrint became a
protectorate and subsequently a
colony. Nowadays, it demonstrates a high level of Roman urbanisation, while it is among the best preserved remains of Roman heritage in Albania. They left its legacy in form of city walls, an aqueduct, the forum,
basilicas,
baptisteries, baths, an
amphitheatre and
houses for the middle classes, as well as
mansions with central courtyards which were decorated with various mosaics and murals. In 31 BC,
Roman Emperor Augustus fresh from his victory over
Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the
battle of Actium renewed the plan to make
Buthrotum a veterans' colony. New residents expanded the city and the construction included an
aqueduct, a
Roman bath, houses, a forum complex and a
nymphaeum. During that era the size of the town was doubled. A number of new structures were built next to the existing ones especially around the theatre and the temple of Asklepeios. In the early 6th century, Buthrotum became the seat of a bishopric and new construction included the
Buthrotum baptistery, one of the largest such paleochristian buildings of its type, and a
basilica. The diocese of Buthrotum was initially a
suffragan of the
Metropolis of Nicopolis, the metropolitan capital of
Epirus Vetus and in the papal sway, but in the 9th and 10th centuries it is listed with the suffragans of
Naupaktos, which succeeded ruined Nicopolis as provincial capital and metropolis of the new Byzantine
theme of
Nicopolis, bringing it in the sway of the Byzantine
Patriarchate of Constantinople. After the 14th century, it was under the jurisdiction of the
Metropolis of Ioannina. Butrint Panorama.jpg | File:Butrint-111183.jpg| File:Butrint-111185.jpg| File:Butrint-111187.jpg| File:Butrint-111189.jpg| File:Butrint-111190.jpg| File:Butrint-111192.jpg| File:Butrint-111194.jpg| File:Butrint-111196.jpg| File:Butrint-111198.jpg| File:Butrint-111200.jpg| File:Butrint-111202.jpg| File:Butrint-111204.jpg|
Dyrrhachium is on the
tentative list for becoming a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dyrrachium thrived during the Roman period and became a protectorate after the Illyrian Wars. The
Amphitheatre of Durrës, which the Romans built, was at that time the largest amphitheatre in the
Balkan Peninsula. It is the only Roman monument that survived up to the present. The
Via Egnatia, built by
Roman Senator Gnaeus Egnatius, functioned for two millennia as a multi-purpose highway, which once connected the cities of
Durrës on the
Adriatic Sea in the west to
Constantinople on the
Marmara Sea in the east. Further, the route gave the Roman colonies of the
Balkans a direct connection to Rome. An amphitheatre was built in the beginning of the 2nd century AD, and was used for performances until the 4th century AD. The earthquake of 345/346 likely damaged the monument and closed the 'ludii gladiatorii'. An early Christian chapel was constructed on the amphitheatre in the second half of the 4th century. The chapel was initially decorated with frescoes; in the 6th century, mosaics were added. A medieval chapel was built in the 13th century, also decorated with frescoes. The amphitheatre was covered over in the 16th century, after the Ottoman occupation, when a wall was built nearby.
Marin Barleti described the monument as 'well constructed'. Albania Durres Panorama 004.jpg|
Panorama of the Durrës Amphitheatre Middle Ages Cities of Medieval Albania Medieval cities in Albania are classified according to two criteria: • Cities associated with fortifications, such as Berat and Gjirokastra • Cities that lie in flat or steep terrains such as Tirana, Kavaja, and Elbasan. During the
Middle Ages, a variety of
architecture styles developed in the form of dwelling, defence, worship and engineering structures. When the
Roman Empire divided into east and west, Albania remained under the
Eastern Roman Empire. In behalf to that, the architecture was strongly influenced by the
Byzantines. Many extensive churches and monasteries were built during that period mainly in the centre and south of the country. However, some inherited historic structures were damaged by invading
Ottoman forces. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the consolidation of the Albanian feudal principalities gave rise to
Varosha, or neighbourhoods outside city walls. Examples of such developments are the
Arberesh principalities centred in
Petrele,
Kruje and
Gjirokastra originating from the feudal castle. In the 15th century, close attention was given to protective structures such as the castle fortifications of Lezha, Petrela,
Devoll, Butrint, and
Shkodra. More reconstructions took place in strategic points such as the Castle of
Elbasan,
Preza,
Tepelena, and
Vlora, the latter being the most important on the coast. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the great Pashaliks of the period such as the Bushati Family,
Ahmet Kurt Pasha, and
Ali Pashe Tepelena reconstructed several fortifications such as the Castle of Shkodra, Berat, and Tepelena respectively. Ali Pashe Tepelena embarked on a major castle building campaign throughout Epirus. near Fier. During the medieval period, mosques in Albania fell into two categories: those covered with a dome, and those with a roof covered hall. The latter were immediately adopted following the Ottoman invasion, by transforming the existing churches of Shkodra, Kruje, Berat, Elbasan and Kanina. For instance, the
Lead Mosque built by
Mustafa Pasha Bushati in Shkodra resembles a typical Istanbul mosque. On the other hand, Christian religious structures inherited many features from their palaeo-Christian predecessors. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, a series of small structures for Christian with simple layouts were built like the
Voskopoja basilica,
Ardenica Monastery, and Church of St. Nicholas in Voskopoja. The latter is one of the most valuable architectonic monuments in Albania. Its interior walls are covered with paintings by the renowned painter
David Selenica, and by brothers Constantine and Athanasios Zografi.
Castles within the
Castle of
Berat. The scenic
landscapes of Albania are dotted with
castles,
forts and
citadels in all shapes and sizes. Previously they was mostly defined by their practical use to repel invasions and often serve as a royal residence for noble families. Those structures constitute treasures and legacy of the
historic past of Albania. The first castles in the Albanian lands were built by
Illyrians and
Romans and later by
Venetians and
Ottomans. The majority have been renovated throughout history and different epoches with changing rule and adaptations to war technology development. . The
Castle of Berat has a long history, which can be traced back to the 4th century. After being burned down by the
Romans, the walls were strengthened again in the 5th century under the
Byzantines and later in the 15th century by the
Ottomans. There can still be found the remains of houses and mansions. is on the
tentative list for becoming an
UNESCO World Heritage Site. The
Fortress of Bashtovë was built over an existing former structure by the
Venetians in the Middle Ages. It stands in a very strategic point near the mouth of
Shkumbin River close to the
Adriatic Sea. The castle is a typical Venetian structure that combined the
Gothic lancet arch with Byzantine and Ottoman influences.
Petrelë Castle is a medieval castle located on a hilltop overlooking
Petrelë and
Erzen Valley. The castle has a triangular structure with two observation towers. The early fortifications probably dates from the 3rd century, while in the 9th century it was expanded and served as a base for
Skanderbeg during his revolt against the
Ottoman Empire. in
Shkodër.
Rozafa Castle is an ancient castle in
Shkodër. The castle is associated with a famous legend about a woman who was buried in the foundation of the castle. It stretches on a rocky hill and is trapped on three sides by the rivers of
Buna, Kir and
Drin. Its current name, Rozafa, appeared for the first time in the early
Middle Ages. Later when the
Ottomans conquered the
Balkans the castle than was turned into a mosque. The
Citadel of Gjirokastër, a hilltop fortress, dominates the cityscape of
Gjirokastër and overlooks the strategically important route along the
Drino river valley. There are five towers and houses, a clock tower, a church, a cistern and many other structures within the fortification. in
Sarandë was built in the late Middle Ages.
Ali Pasha Castle was built on a small island along the mouth of the
Vivari Channel in
Butrint. The castle is named after the Albanian
Ali Pasha of Ioannina, who ruled over the
Pashalik of Yanina and even attempted to rival the
Dey of Algiers in the seas. It is a small rectangular structure with battered walls, while along the corners, there are two battered round towers with cannons on its seaward side and two irregularly sized battered square towers equipped with firing loops or windows. The
Rodoni Castle stand within the
Cape of Rodon with a proximity to the
Adriatic Sea. Its name is derived from the
Illyrian god of Rodon. After the
First Siege of Krujë and
League of Lezhë, the
Kastriotis decided to increase the fortifications for the use against the Ottomans. Skanderbeg chose the Cape of Rodon as the location of the castle and construction began in 1450. Although other prominent and impressive castles with different architectural styles in Albania include the
Durrës Castle,
Kaninë Castle,
Lezhë Castle,
Lëkurësi Castle,
Prezë Castle and
Fortress of Justinian.
Modern During the 18th century, the city silhouette in Albania began to include places of worship and the Clock Tower. These, together with other social structures such as thermal baths, fountains, and
medrese further enriched the city centre and its neighbourhoods. In the 17th century, the
bazaar emerges as a production and exchange centre, while the city expands beyond the castle, which completely loses its function and inhabitants. During this period, Shkodra and Korca become important commerce and skilled crafts centres. in
Neo-Renaissance style. The first half of the 20th century begins with the
Austro-Hungarian occupation, continues with
Fan Noli's government,
King Zog's kingdom, and ends with the Italian invasion. During this time, Albanian medieval towns underwent urban transformations by Austro-Hungarian architects, giving them the appearance of European cities. The centre of
Tirana was the project of
Florestano Di Fausto and
Armando Brasini, well known architects of the
Benito Mussolini period in Italy. Brasini laid the basis for the modern-day arrangement of the ministerial buildings in the city centre. The plan underwent revisions by the Albanian architect Eshref Frashëri, the Italian architect Castellani, and the Austrian architects Weiss and Kohler. The rectangular parallel road system of Tirana e Re district took shape, while the northern portion of the main Boulevard was opened. These urban plans formed the basis of future developments in Albania after the
second World War. From 1944 to 1991, cities experienced an ordered development with a decline in architectural quality. Massive socialist-styled
apartment complexes, wide roads, and
factories were constructed, while town squares were redesigned and a number of historic buildings demolished. The period after the fall of communism is often described negatively in terms of
urban development. Kiosks and apartment buildings started to occupy former public areas without planning, while informal districts formed around cities from internal
migrants leaving remote rural areas for the western lowland. Decreasing urban space and increased traffic congestion have become major problems as a result of lack of planning. As part of the 2014 Administrative Division Reform, all town centres in Albania are being physically redesigned and façades painted to reflect a more Mediterranean look. Although much has been achieved, critics argue that there is no clear vision on Tirana's future. Some of the pressing issues facing Tirana are loss of public space due to illegal and chaotic construction, unpaved roads in suburban areas, degradation of Tirana's Artificial Lake, rehabilitation of Skanderbeg Square, an ever-present smog, the construction of a central bus station and lack of public parking space. Future plans include the construction of the Multimodal Station of Tirana and the tram line, rehabilitation of the Tiranë River area, construction of a new boulevard along the former Tirana Railway Station and the finishing of the Big Ring Road. == Cities ==