Archaeological parks & protected areas

The following definitions for an archaeological park, archaeological area, historical area, museum city, museum area, architectonical ensemble, urban ensemble, etc, are defined in article 3, low nr. 9048, of the date 7.4.2003, for Cultural Heritage, changed.

National Archaeological Park of Amantia - Amantia was declared a national archaeological park according to act no.396 date 31.02.2005 of the Albanian Councils of the Ministers. The Park area is 34 km away from the city of Vlorë, in the commune of Sevastar. The territory of the archaeological park encompasses an area of 15 ha, on a hill top in the village of Plloçë. Within this territory are discovered the ruins of the ancient city of Amantia. In October 2006 was also created the Office for the Administration and Coordination of this archaeological park.

National Archaeological park of Antigonea - Antigonea was declared a national archaeological park according to act no.396 of the date 31.02.2005 of the Albanian Councils of the Ministers and it is under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports. Within the territory of the National park are found the ruins of the ancient city of Antigonea, which was founded in the third century B.C. by the king Pyrrhus of Epirus. The park is administrated by the office for Administration and Coordination, situated in the village of Asim Zeneli in the locality of modern Antigonea.

National Archaeological Park of Apollonia - Apollonia was declared a national archaeological park according to act no. 396 of the date 31.03.2005 of the Albanian Councils of the Ministers and it is under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports. Apollonia is situated 12 km away from the city of Fier in the locality of Pojan. In the park territory are included the ruins of the ancient city of Apollonia that was created at the beginning of the 7-th century B.C. as a Corinthian Greek colony. The park is administrated by the office for Administration and Coordination of the archaeological park where are engaged and work specialist of archaeology, restoration and management fields.

National Archaeological Park of Butrint - The national archaeological park of Butrint was created based on the act no.82, of the date 02.03.2000 of the Albanian Council of the Ministers. Initially the park area encompassed about 26 km2, which was extended in 2005 to 86 km2. The national park of Butrint is declared as a special protected area, both in terms of its cultural heritage and ecosystem values. In the protected zone of the park are included land and water areas, flora and fauna species of bio-geographical, ecological, economic, hydrologic importance as well as heritage centres, monuments, museums, artefacts, etc., of national and international significance. The ancient city of Butrint, which is part of this national park, in 1992, was declared as a UNESCO heritage site. Also in 2003, the Lake of Butrint composed by a tectonic lagoon of 1600 ha was declared as a protected Ramsar area (the Ramsar convention, Iran 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance).

National Archaeological Park of Bylis - Bylis was declared a national archaeological park according to act no. 396 of the date 31.03.2005 of the Albanian Councils of the Ministers. This archaeological park is situated 40 km away from the city of Fier, 15 km from that of Ballsh, and 9 km from the national road Tiranё – Gjirokastёr. Within the territory of the national park are found the ruins of the ancient site of Bylis, established in the 4th century B.C., as the centre of the Illyrian confederate of Bylin. The area is administrated by the Office for Administration and Coordination of the archaeological park.

National Archaeological Park of Finiq - Finiqi was declared a national archaeological park according to act no. 396 date 31.02.2005 of the Albanian Councils of the Ministers. It is situated around 8 km away from the city of Saranda and approximately 20 km from the Greek territorial borders. Within the park area are founded the ruins of the ancient city of Foinike.

National Archaeological Park of Lezha - Lezha was declared a national archaeological park according to act no. 396 date 31.02.2005 of the Albanian Councils of the Ministers. Within the park territory, on a hill slope and in the city of Lezha, nearby the River Drin are located the ruins of the ancient Lissus and the medieval Elision.

National Archaeological Park of Orikum - Orikum was declared a national archaeological park according to act no. 396 of the date 31.02.2005 of the Albanian Councils of the Ministers. The national park of Orikum is situated on the south-western shore of the Karaburun peninsula and within the territory of the military base of Pasha Liman. The park is administrated by the office for Administration and Coordination of the park created after the area was declared as part of the national archaeological park.

National Archaeological Park of Shkodra - Shkodra was declared a national archaeological park according to act no. 396 of the date 31.02.2005 of the Albanian Councils of the Ministers and it is under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports. Within the park territory is included the Rozafa castle and other important monuments of considerable importance for the cultural and archaeological heritage within the area. The park is administrated by the office for Administration and Coordination of the park, created after the area was declared a national archaeological park.

Protected historical areas and museum ensembles

Berat - the city of Berat was declared as a “museum city”, based on the decision no. 172 of the date 02.06.1961, of the Albanian Council of the Ministers, as shown in the map attached to this document. In the historical area of the museum city are included the quarters Kala, Mangalem, Goricë and the medieval centre of the city, which bear architectonical and historical features of significant national values. Based on this decision, is detained every new type of construction within the historical area of the city. The new construction within the protected area, are allowed only if followed the specific criteria’s and by respecting the surrounding constructions in their volume, architectural features and height.

Gjirokastër - the city of Gjirokastra is declared as a “museum-city”, based on the decision no.172 of the date 02.06.1961 of the Albanian Councils of the Ministers. The urban area of the “museum city” is composed by the historical areas and the protected or buffer zone. The historical area includes: the cities castle, Old Pazar, quarters Teqe, Pllakë, Hazmurat, Mesite, and partly the quarters: Dunavati i Parë, Dunavati i Dytë and Varosh. Whereas in the protected zone, are partly included the quarters Palorto, Zazmurat, Dunavat and Cfakë. This decision detains the construction of any new building within the historical area. The buildings within the territory of the protected area are reconstructed following their original typology of construction. In the free spaces of this area, new buildings are allowed to be constructed only if followed the specific criteria’s and by respecting the surrounding constructions in their volume, architectural features and height.

Korçë - several areas in the city of Korça, based on the act no. 455, of the date 23.06.2005, of the Albanian Council of Ministers are declared as “historical centre” and “urban architectonical ensemble”. In the historical centre are included: a) the museum ensemble of the old Pazar, including also the territory around the mosque of Ilias Mirahori; b) partly the quarter no.3; c) the Boulevard Republika, and the architectonic ensembles on its both sides, where are also included the quarters 1, 2, 11, and 12. While the quarters 1, 2, 11 and partly the quarters 7, 8, 9 are declared as “urban architectonic ensemble”, as shown in the relevant map. These ensembles bear significant architectonic and historic values, representing a period of urban development of the city, from 1850 until the beginning of the 20th century.

Tiranë - the act no.180 of the date 12.04.2000, of the Albanian Councils of the Ministers, declares the main axis and the historical centre of Tirana as a “Culture monument ensemble”. To this act is also attached its detailed plan. This decision imposes specialized institutions, to implement projects for the preservation and restoration of the elements of this ensemble.

Shkodër - the city of Shkodra is declared as a “museum area” and protected zone based on the act no. 249, date 01.07.1980, of the Albanian Council of the Ministers. In the museum area are also included “the urban architectonic ensembles”, in the ex Branko Kadia and 13 Dhjetori streets, today Kolë Idromeno and Gjuhadol. The boundaries of the museum and protected area are redefined in 2008 with a new decision of the Council of the Ministers, which has expanded the boundaries of the area as shown in the relevant map attached to the document.

Voskopojë - the medieval city of Voskopoja is declared as a protected “historical centre” based on act no. 558 of the date 01.08.2003 of the Albanian Council of the Ministers. The historical and architectonical values that this medieval centre bears, makes it an important area in the development of countries tourism.

Protected archaeological areas

Berat - based on the decision no. 6 of the date 07.01.2005 of the Albanian Council of the Ministers, within the inhabited centres of Berat, are defined and declared the protected archaeological areas “A” and “B” ”, as shown in the relevant map attached to the document.

Durrës – based on the decision no. 6 of the date 07.01.2005 of the Albanian Council of the Ministers, within the inhabited centres of Durrës, are defined and declared the protected archaeological areas “A” and “B” ”, as shown in the relevant map attached to the document.

Elbasan - based on the decision no. 445 of the date 09.06.2010, of the Albanian Council of the Ministers, within the city of Elbasan, is defined and declared the protected “archaeological area “A” ”, as shown in the relevant map attached to the document. This decision repeals the decision no. 6 of the data 07.01.2005 of the Council of the Ministers for zoning the archaeological area of the city of Elbasan.

Krujë - based on the decision no. 6 of the date 07.01.2005 of the Albanian Council of the Ministers, within the inhabited centres of Krujë, are defined and declared the protected archaeological areas “A” and “B” ”, as shown in the relevant map attached to the document.

Lezhë - based on the decision no. 728 of the date 01.09.2010, of the Albanian Council of the Ministers, within the city of Lezha, are defined and declared the protected “archaeological areas “A” and “B” ”, as shown in the relevant map attached to the document. This decision repeals the decision no. 6 of the data 07.01.2005 of the Council of the Ministers for zoning the archaeological areas of the city of Lezha.

Tiranë - the castle of Tirana is declared a “A type of archaeological area” based on act no. 1197 of the date 03.12.2009, of the Albanian Council of the Ministers, as shown in the relevant map attached to the document.

Sarandë - based on the decision no. 6 of the date 07.01.2005 of the Albanian Council of the Ministers, within the inhabited centres of Sarandë, are defined and declared the protected archaeological areas “A” and “B” ”, as shown in the relevant map attached to the document.

Selcë - Gradishta of Selca, in the district of Pogradec, is declared an “archaeological area “A” ”, based on the decision no. 788, of the date 29.09.2010, of the Albanian Councils of the Ministers, as shown in the relevant map attached to the document.

Shkodër - the protected “archaeological areas “A” and “B” ” in the city of Shkodra are declared as such, based on the decision no. 429 of the date 09.06.2010, of the Albanian Council of the Ministers, as shown in the relevant map attached to the document. This decision repeals the decision no. 6 of the data 07.01.2005 of the Council of the Ministers for zoning the archaeological areas of the city of Shkodra.

Vlorë - based on the decision no. 729 of the date 01.09.2010, of the Albanian Council of the Ministers, within the city of Vlora, are defined and declared the protected “archaeological areas “A” and “B” ”, as shown in the relevant map attached to the document. This decision repeals the decision no. 6 of the data 07.01.2005 of the Council of the Ministers for zoning the archaeological and historical areas of the city of Vlora.