Tirana Times
TIRANA, April 11 – A 17th century orthodox church in Southeastern Albania has been announced as one of the 27 winners of the 2011 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage, also known as the Europa Nostra Awards.
“The jury was most impressed by the success of this restoration project, which enjoyed strong support from the local population and by the local government’s Egnatia Epirus Foundation. This outstanding achievement became a catalyst for the revitalisation of the settlement of Shipcka, resulting in the reopening of the church for religious ceremonies and the development of new tourist related activities.”
The aim of the project was to restore the Church of St. George in the village of Shipcka in the Korce region, southeastern Albania. The church is a mid-17th century, three-aisled basilica with a roofing system of arches, vaults and cupolas, whose overall stability was in great danger. The restoration began in 2004 with a team of experts coordinated by the project architect and the Egnatia Epirus Foundation. The work included the complete reconstruction of the main body of the church or naos, the entrance hall or narthex, the roof and the bell tower, as well as the consolidation of the columns, the refurbishing and cleaning of mural paintings and the restoration of ecclesiastic furniture. An old barn in the courtyard was restored and turned into a cafeteria and crafts shop.
The project is part of a larger initiative financed by the Foundation to support the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage in the region. It has resulted in a notable increase in cultural tourism.
Albania was announced a winner in the Category 1- conservation, grabbing a Europa Nostra Award which is presented to a project from a European country not taking part in the EU Culture Programme.
“Each of the winners represent the best of Europe’s achievements in conservation, research and education, as well as honouring dedicated service by individuals and groups. Cultural heritage is an essential part of our cultural diversity and shared history; it brings together our past, present and future. It has helped to make Europe the world’s top tourist destination and contributes significantly to the Union’s economy,” said Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.
Out of the 27 winning projects, six will be named as ‘grand prix’ laureates at the ceremony as 2011’s most outstanding heritage achievements. The awards will be presented on 10 June during a ceremony at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The six ‘grand prix’ winners each receive 10,000 euros and a plaque for the winning building or a trophy for projects.
The 27 winners were selected from nearly 140 submitted projects in 31 countries. The final choice was made by juries composed of independent experts from across Europe.
