Hammam of Durres: Witnessing a long tradition of faith and culture in Albania

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Hammam of Durres: Witnessing a long tradition of faith and culture in Albania

© EU Delegation to Albania

The sound of water droplets in the Hammam of Durrës evokes the atmosphere of a bygone era when bathhouses served as both places of cleansing and social hubs. The echo of flowing water, channeled through a system of pipes to fill the cistern heated by a fireplace, reverberates through the space that once purified both body and soul. Hammams were usually placed near a mosque, so Muslims could perform ablution prior to prayers, as a way to prepare themselves to enter in the state of worship.

"There used to be a beautiful old mosque in this area with wonderful wall paintings and works of art, but it was destroyed and now even its traces are now gone," recalls Hanmir Doka, the representative of Muslim Community in Durres.

Constructed in the XVIII century, the hammam is situated in the southeast corner of the medieval city, nearby Venetian Tower and just a few hundred meters from its ancient predecessor, the Roman baths. With three phases of interventions, which consist in expanding the main room and adding new columns and shallow arches in the mid of XIX century, a restoration during the 70s of XX century and modifications to house a café in the early 2000s, many of the elements of the original interior had been altered or removed earlier. Abandoned and closed, the site faced severe damages during the 2019 earthquake. The structure itself, being from three different periods, with portions of masonry added in each respective historical phase, acted as three separate structures, causing serious cracks in points of joints and lateral cracks in the dome. Considering its values and its importance for the city and Albania, the hammam was selected as one of the 23 sites, supported restored under the EU4Culture programme.

"Very happy to inaugurate the Hammam, as this site stands as a testament to the religious, social and cultural diversity of this country. Albania is an excellent example of this coexistence between people with different traditions. This is also what the EU stands for, people with diverse cultures and traditions living together in harmony", said the EU Ambassador, Silvio Gonzato, during the inauguration day.

Today, the facility is not the complete structure it once was, as parts of the original hammam-including rooms and spaces-are missing, obscuring the full understanding of its original layout and function. However, the remaining sections include portions of the water cistern at the back of the building, which runs the length of the site. The EU4Culture Programme focused on conserving surfaces, restoring functional elements, structurally stabilizing the building, improving drainage, and installing modern systems for lighting, surveillance, and safety. It also integrated a multimedia-based interpretation that showcases the sounds of the hammam, telling the story of its rituals and their significance in Albania. The area around the hammam has been landscaped to provide visitors with a space to rest and reflect, linked to the nearby Venetian Tower.

Bathing traditions date back to the Neolithic Age, evolving across eras, cultures, and religions. Throughout history, mankind has embraced bathhouses and heat in various forms-Roman and Byzantine baths, Turkish hammams, Russian banyas, Japanese onsen, Korean jjimjilbang, Native American sweat lodges, and Finnish saunas. Though adapted to local customs, the essence remains the same: purification, spirituality, healing, rejuvenation, and stress relief.

Surrendering the body to the water, from a spring or a well, humans of different social classes have also found a way to be together and connect to the benefits of nature.

Background information

The EU4Culture programme is funded by the European Union (EU) and is implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in close partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation. It focuses on renovation and revitalization of 23 major cultural heritage sites damaged by the earthquake in 2019 and represents one of the largest cultural heritage programmes funded by the European Union with a total budget of € 40 million. It aims to enhance Albania's tourism potential, thus directly contributing to local and regional socio-economic recovery. To that aim, special focus is given to innovative technologies, including digital story-telling and creation of multimedia products designed to be accessible for all. At the same time, the programme is supporting local entrepreneurship, artisanship and cultural initiatives evolving around selected sites through the allocation of grants, providing a direct boost to the local economy.