Structural analysis of post-byzantine churches: a case study for southern Albania

Abstract

Hundreds of masonry churches have been constructed in Albania during hundreds of years. The majority of them exist at their original location; a significant part of them are not in use any more. In this context, Roman and post - Byzantine masonry churches attract the world’s special attention to this region. It is necessary to carry out systematic studies to assess an inventory and determine the state of masonry churches in Albania, to preserve them, to strengthen their basic structural elements, the arch, vault and other constructive components and soundly deliver them into the future. From this point of view, this study is aims to outline the classification of the churches built in post-Byzantine period based on the plan and spatial composition of these structures. Following this typological classification, the church of the “Monastery of Saint Nicholas” is selected as a case to investigate its structural performance. The church of the Monastery of Saint Nicholas is a domed single-nave church dating back to the 16th-17th century. This church is situated inside a monastery complex and it is proclaimed a monument of culture by Institute of Monuments of Culture Albania.