Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja announced that the Goddess of Butrint, known as Dea, has returned to her place of discovery. The return allows visitors to see the valuable archaeological work up close.
The sculpture has completed a long journey from the ancient city of Butrint to Rome and later to the National Historical Museum in Tirana. It has now returned to Butrint, where archaeologists originally discovered it.
Gonxhja said the return of Dea marks an important moment for Albania’s cultural heritage. He stressed that the sculpture adds a new dimension to the story of Butrint and gives visitors the opportunity to experience an exceptional piece of Albania’s history and art.
“The return of Dea enriches the story of Butrint and allows visitors to see up close an extraordinary testimony of our history, art and shared European heritage,” Gonxhja said.
Meanwhile, Butrint continues to strengthen its role as one of Albania’s leading cultural tourism destinations. More than 200,000 visitors explored the archaeological site during the first eight months of the year.
According to Gonxhja, Butrint offers more than a connection with the past. Its cultural heritage also creates knowledge, opportunities and new prospects for future development.
He thanked the entire team involved in bringing Dea back to Butrint. Gonxhja also expressed his appreciation to the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) for its support.
He said the ministry would continue supporting successful models such as the work of the Butrint Management Foundation. According to Gonxhja, these initiatives help preserve Albania’s heritage while also making it more accessible to visitors and strengthening cultural tourism.
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