29 September 2026 | Bylis–Klos Archaeological Park, Mallakastër

On 29 September 2026, an official ceremony marking the commencement of infrastructure and conservation works was held at the Bylis–Klos Archaeological Park, as part of the project “EU for Economic Development – Tourism-led Local Economic Development, with a Focus on Cultural Heritage” (AID 12293). With a total budget of EUR 6.25 million, the project is co-financed by the European Union and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and implemented by AICS Tirana, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and the institutions responsible for cultural heritage.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Blendi Gonxhja; the Ambassador of the European Union to Albania, Sofia Moreira de Sousa; the representative of the Embassy of Italy in Tirana, Mario De Rosa; the Head of the AICS Tirana Office, Annamaria Iotti; and the Mayor of Mallakastër, Qerim Ismailaj. Representatives of the Park administration, cultural heritage institutions and companies involved in the implementation of the works also attended the event.

The event began with a visit to the construction site of the new Multifunctional Centre, where the planned infrastructure improvements and progress of the ongoing works were presented. The Centre will accommodate museum and exhibition spaces, visitor facilities and services, areas dedicated to archaeological research and conservation, and functional spaces for the Park administration. The investment aims to improve visitor reception and cultural heritage interpretation while providing the infrastructure required for the effective management and operation of the Park.

During the visit, the delegation was also presented with the results of archaeological investigations conducted within the construction area of the Multifunctional Centre, where preliminary excavations have documented archaeological finds dating to different historical periods.

The ceremony continued with the symbolic planting of two olive trees, representing the cooperation between Albanian institutions, the European Union and Italian Development Cooperation in protecting and developing the Bylis–Klos Archaeological Park.

The delegation then visited Basilica D, one of the five archaeological monuments and complexes included in the conservation programme, where restoration and conservation activities are underway, including the conservation of mosaics. The programme also covers the Theatre of Bylis, the Theatre of Klos, the Cistern and Baths of Justinian, and the Prytaneion and Arsenal. These interventions are based on the Park’s Conservation Plan and Management Plan, both developed under the project.

The official commencement of these works marks the transition from planning and design to the implementation of tangible investments in the Bylis–Klos Archaeological Park. The construction of the Multifunctional Centre and the conservation of archaeological monuments will provide improved conditions for the protection and presentation of archaeological heritage, Park management and the visitor experience. Combined with staff training activities and support for local tourism initiatives, these investments aim to strengthen the contribution of cultural heritage to sustainable local economic development in Mallakastër and the surrounding communities.