FORTRESS OF GJIROKASTRA Gjirokastra Albania

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Preliminary Technical Assessment of the Architectural and Archaeological Heritage in South East Europe ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5.5 Projects already planned In 1995 Dr. Eng. Lili Dhame completed a technical report on the geological condition of the citadel and the necessary prerequisite steps that should be taken into consideration. In 2002 a technical report, prepared by Gezim Struga and Nuro Dhima, analysed in detail the concerns of the massif which the citadel is based on, from a geological and static point of view. The estimated cost of this project has been evaluated at around 3 million US$. The project has not been financed. In 2004-2005 the architect, Reshat Gega, drew up a project for the restoration and rehabilitation of the Clock Tower and the surrounding area. The total estimated amount is 150 000 US$. The project has not been financed. 5.6 Financial estimates already made Approximate estimates of 3 million US$ and 150 000 US$. 6. Scope of the PTA 6.1 Extent/Nature of the assessment Individuals involved in the PTA work: Dr. Reshat Gega, architect-restorer, ICM, Albania. Dr. Sulejman Dashi, architect-restorer, ICM, Albania. Prof. Alkiviades Prepis, Architect, Greece, CoE expert. Time spent: 1 day on-site and 3 days for archive and group work in the office. 6.2 Limitations of the study No access from outside to external parts of perimeter walls, due to vegetation and the inclination of the rock massif. Difficult access to the parts of the defensive walls most at risk. Difficult to get inside the walls’ vaulting constructions (casemates) and no access to the underground areas of the Fortress. 7. The Preliminary Technical Assistance 7.1 Background: Form, Function and Evolution 7.1.1 Summary description of the building/site, with comments on its urban or rural context if appropriate The area of the citadel is nearly 500m long and 50-100m wide, set along the elongated hilltop. There are three entrances: the oldest of these is to the north; the other two were built during the 19 th century enlargement phase. The citadel has underground water reservoirs, supplied by an aqueduct, which was some 10km long, one of the longest dating from that period. ________________________________________________________ Fortress of Gjirokastra –Gjirokastra –Albania 12 December 2006 4
Preliminary Technical Assessment of the Architectural and Archaeological Heritage in South East Europe ________________________________________________________________________________________________ The citadel walls and the historic structures were built using local limestone (schist) placed in horizontal rows of equal height and cemented with lime mortar. The gates and the galleries are covered by arches and vaults. The towers and curves of the surrounding wall have been reinforced with polygon siding, using hewn stone on the wall edges. The fortifications are crowned by a series of defence towers of different forms (rectangular, polygon and circular). Typical features of defence architecture of the time are the height, width and inclination of the walls, the polygon towers and the platforms, used for heavy artillery weapons. A significant feature is that the castle does not have an embankment. The monochromic, uniform limestone, as well as the inclination of the walls, increases the grandiosity of the monument. In general, the majority of the defensive walls are still standing, although the bastions are in ruins. The interior of the citadel has many ground-floor and underground areas and galleries with impressive dimensions. 7.1.2 Summary historic development and evolution of the building or site, from the earliest times until the present day The fortress of Gjirokastra is an authentic example of 18 th century fortifications in Albania and the Balkans in general. The existing fortifications were built by Petro Korcari, the Albanian architect of Ali Pasha Tepelena. The Castle of Gjirokastra is mentioned for the first time in 1336, when it was the centre for the Zenebisi and Gjin Bua Shpata Albanian families. At that time Gjirokastra was under the Byzantine administration of the Despotat of Epirus. In 1417 the castle was invaded by the Ottoman army. The development outside the citadel began in the 14 th century, with its best period dating from the 17 th century. These residential quarters developed organically following the morphology of the rough and rocky terrain. To the north of the citadel there is the market area, the Old Bazaar ( Pazari i vjetër ), dating from the beginning of the 17 th century. In the 18 th century the castle was totally rebuilt by Ali Pasha Tepelena following a modern fortification typology of that time. In the early 19 th century it was enlarged, and part of the old nucleus was rebuilt. From the archaeological excavations already carried out inside the castle, data, walls, and archaeological materials have been found, proving the existence of a citadel since the Roman and Byzantine periods. 7.2 Significance 7.2.1 Summary statement of significance/historical and heritage importance The Fortress of Gjirokastra dominates the town of Gjirokastra which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2005. The citadel of Gjirokastra is one of the fortified engineering works undertaken by Ali Pashe Tepelena. This monument is the biggest of this group. It is an authentic example of this type of fortification with a specific historical locality, which requires investigation and protection. Evaluation of the Significance: 7.2.2 Historical: International 7.2.3 Artistic/Aesthetic: National 7.2.4 Technological: National 7.2.5 Religious/Spiritual: Regional 7.2.6 Symbolic: National 7.2.7 Scientific/Research: National 7.2.8 Social/Civic: National 7.2.9 Natural: National 7.2.10 Economic: Regional 7.2.11 Character of significance: International ________________________________________________________ Fortress of Gjirokastra –Gjirokastra –Albania 12 December 2006 5
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FORTRESS OF GJIROKASTRA Gjirokastra Albania

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