Scutarine history through consular building

Saturday, on the 13th of June 2009, the northern city of Shkoder welcomed the promotion of a book written about the architecture and history of the building that was the Italian Consulate, which operated in this city from the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, when Shkoder, or Scutari, as the Italians called the city, was one of the capitals of the multi-polar Albanian world. The book, written by Francesca Leo and Laura Davico, two Italian architects that also participated in the pilot project for the reconstruction of the historic center of Shkoder, is 126 pages and was published in 2008 by Italian editor Rubbettino. Titled “The Italian Consulate at Shkoder between history, testimony and architecture” (Il Consolato d’Italia a Scutari tra la storia, testimonianze, architettura), the book follows a university study on the historic and architectural importance of the seat of the Italian Consulate at Shkoder. Both born in 1982, the two Italian authoresses attended the University of Turin, Italy (Politecnico di Torino, Architettura) where they graduated in Architecture Studies with a specialization in Restoration and Valuation of Architectural and Environmental Objects.
The book is interesting not only from the point of view of architecture and architectural history, but also as one which tells the history of Shkoder and Albania through the multiple transformations that have occurred in more than a century’s time-span. Nearly a year ago the book was promoted at the Italian Bookshop in London (27.06.2008). “From a private villa to seat of the Italian Consulate, then the Gestapo Office during the German Occupation, becoming a Cultural Hearth under the Communist regime, then a center of the Salesians (religious center), then an Italian Consulate again – the building has received appreciation from architects of the mold of Florestano Di Fausto “not only because of being one of the most beautiful of the northern Albanian city, but also even if it were found in an Italian city.”” – write reviews concerning the book.
The promotion in the city of Shkoder was held at the Seminar of the Madonna of the Good Counsel (Seminario della Madonna di Buon Consiglio) in the presence and with the participation of Italian diplomat, Roberto Orlando, who has been in the diplomatic service since 1998 and has resided in Tirana and Shkoder where he was Italian Counsel, after having been Prime Secretary in Tirana. Also in attendance was the actual Counsel of Italy at Shkoder, Dr. Stefano Marguccio, Lorenc Luka, Mayor of the Shkoder and Professor Adriana Giusti, from the Politecnico di Torino, where the two young Italian authoresses first presented and explored the theme.
It is reported that, starting from the beginning of the 19th century, as many as 7 foreign consulates have been present in the northern city of Shkoder.(Tirana Times Staff)