Durrës Archaeological Museum reopens its doors with restrictions

After a few days of vacation in Saranda, Italian tourists Michele and Valentina Merlini came to Durrës to visit the country's largest archaeological museum, but found it locked.

"We had information that the Durrës museum closed at 7:00 PM, but we learned that the daily schedule ended at 3:00 PM. It remained closed on Saturdays and Sundays as well," said Valentina, disappointed.

The restoration and expansion of the archaeological museum with other exhibits requires an increase in the number of personnel for the entire Museum Center, which also includes the Ancient Amphitheater, the Venetian Tower, the Circular Forum and the Medieval Hamam. The Director of the Museum Center, Alban Ramohitaj, told BIRN that they are awaiting the approval of a new organizational structure from the Ministry of Culture.

According to Ramohitaj, the new staff includes 33 employees, or double the current staff. “This will enable not only the respect of schedules throughout the museum system, but also specialized guides in all monuments,” he emphasized.

Paid tickets will also be applied to all visitors, while since the last inauguration of the museum, visits have been free.

Early visitors to the museum were amazed by the ribbon placed on the staircase leading to the second floor, where artifacts from the medieval period, starting from the 5th century AD, were first placed.

They are very interested in learning about the elements of the city's development over a 10-century historical period. Their exhibition had been attempted several times over the past 25 years, but had never been realized.

"Yes, it's true. The second floor with elements from the medieval period is opening for the first time since 2001, when the exhibits were placed in the new building of the archaeological museum," explained Ramohitaj.

According to him, these days the process of receiving all the materials exhibited on the second floor is being completed, which paves the way for visits by local and foreign tourists to the areas where the development of the city in the medieval period is presented.

The same practice will be carried out on the first floor for antique materials, but it will be shorter in time, as some of them were exhibited previously.

The return of the 4th-3rd century BC mosaic, known as the "Beauty of Durrës", was very well received by the citizens of Durrës and beyond, but its installation has not yet begun.

Specialists Agron Islami and Viktor Dhimgjini transferred the well-known mosaic in 1982 from the site of its discovery to the exhibits of the National History Museum in Tirana.

“We have already reburied it in the city where it was discovered 110 years ago,” said architect Viktor Dhimgjini. “We are preparing for it to be placed in the most important space of the archaeological museum, and for it to be seen from above, from the balconies of the second floor,” he added.

Dhimgjini also explained that they are now awaiting approval from the National Heritage Council to install the 14 pieces of the mosaic together at the entrance to the National Museum of Archaeology. Meanwhile, after the restoration, the museum's doors have reopened for concerts by Albanian and foreign instrumentalists.

Nevila Kalaja told BIRN that the festival she organized is returning to the museum premises after a three-year hiatus, the duration of the restoration. The instrumentalists and soprano of the “Arola” quartet inaugurated the 21st edition of the International Chamber Music Festival.

Until July 12, six instrumental ensembles will perform in the Durrës Archaeological Museum and those on the coast, also serving to introduce new visitors to the newly restored museum.

"Artists and viewers feel very comfortable in the halls of the archaeological museum, and the combination of chamber music with archaeological artifacts is wonderful," concluded Kalaja. Reporter.al