How the old families of Durrës are keeping alive the history of past centuries

In an alley between the town hall and the "Saint Lucia" church, the house of the Tedeschini family carries a piece of the history of the last centuries in the city of Durrës. Built in 1843, Villa Tedeschini served sometimes as the Austrian consulate, and sometimes as a venue for religious ceremonies at the beginning of the last century.

Some of that tradition is still preserved.

"We took care of the house ourselves and restored it without the help of the state. We know the value it has for the family and for the city," said Zef Tedeschini, son of a famous family in Durrës, to BIRN.

Their apartment, one of the few preserved in the neighborhood very close to the central square of Durrës, is now also used by artists for poetic or instrumental evenings.

"The house has been turned into a museum for friends, as a way to get to know the furnishings preserved since the 19th century," added Tedeschini.

Throughout the last centuries, the history of Durrës is closely intertwined with that of the early families and their houses. At the beginning of the 20th century, the houses built near the medieval walls formed the heart of the city.

"Some of the villas of these families have survived, but they are uninhabitable" says Mikel Nushi, whose family came to Durrës from Berat at the end of the 19th century.

This space, which is currently known as neighborhood no. 11, preserves the city's greatest archaeological heritage underground, while multi-story constructions have made archaeological expeditions impossible, as well as the image of villas built 150 years ago.

History enthusiasts have already started looking for documents from this period, and have even published the first books.

Dorian Hatibi, author of a volume on the history of Durrës, has recently published a compilation of the stories of early families, with the title "The city that tells".

"The stories of the six old families from Durrës, Tedeschini, Myshketa, Myderrizi, Nushi, Kaçulini and Vlashi, were published here," said Hatibi.

"The continuation of this summary as well as the history of the modern city, requires the involvement of other researchers, both for the collection of documentary material and for interviews with the descendants of these families," he added.

In the Kala and Varosh neighborhoods of old Durrës, an association has installed near the former gates with a vault, their artisanal reproductions and records of the old dwellings.

"I'm glad that no one has touched or damaged the reproductions behind the glass," says Agopi, one of the Bodikian family members, who owns the apartment.

"It is a way to bring to mind the Durrës of the last centuries," he adds.

Durres experienced a major development after the earthquake of December 1926, when the urban plan of the city was finally changed, and when the buildings of the City Hall, Villa on the hill, the main boulevards, which today are known as "Epidamn" and "Dyrrah", were built, or started construction of the seaport.

In the same period, the population doubled and tens of villas were built, dwellings of merchants, craftsmen and professionals who arrived in the city.

Kel Shata told BIRN that even their 2-story house was built almost 100 years ago. During the communist period, his grandparents were forced to live in the basement of their apartment. Next to it, the restoration of another villa, part of the history of Durrës, was completed in the last few days.

"I wish that we also return it to its original condition without delay," said Shata. Reporter.al