TIRANA, August 28 – The state will take concrete measures to save, restore and protect homes that hold cultural heritage monument status and face deterioration or loss. Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said the measures will address neglect, fragmented ownership, abandonment and deliberate inaction.
Gonxhja said the state will cover the restoration work and provide substantial assistance to owners. Owners will also contribute a reasonable share of the required costs. The intervention will start in Gjirokastër, a UNESCO World Heritage city.
Of around 390 homes with cultural heritage monument status in Gjirokastër, about 90 currently face risks, according to Gonxhja. He said technical and administrative preparations have already started. The first worksites will open at the beginning of next year.
Regional Cultural Heritage Directorates and the National Institute of Cultural Heritage will oversee the process. The ministry will provide annual budget support. Projects will follow official restoration guidelines and require approval from the National Council of Cultural Heritage.
Gonxhja said the initiative aims to protect the identity, heritage and collective value of the historic homes. He also described them as architectural and ethnographic assets with significant tourism and economic potential.
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