ATA 02/02/2025

ATA - Lushnja: Restoration of St. Mary Church in village of Bishqethëm gets underway

TIRANA, Feb 1 /ATA/ Conservation and restoration work has begun at the Church of St. Mary in the village of Bishqethëm, Lushnjë, a typical religious structure dating from the 18th century. 

The National Institute of Cultural Heritage announced in a social media post that “the interventions consist of restoring the roof with new tiles and replacing the worn beams, restoring the masonry using the Shqep-Qep technique (straw and lime mortar), with injection, grouting, and plastering, as well as strengthening the wooden materials, masonry, and wooden beams.” 

According to the National Institute of Cultural Heritage, the intervention also includes cleaning the facade, the interior of the building, and the surrounding area. 

The church’s paintings were created by Johani, a member of the Çetir family from Grabova, in 1798. Several of these paintings are well-preserved and serve as a significant cultural site to visit. 

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