Typological Classification of Post-Byzantine Churches in Albania

Abstract

Monumental historical structures are symbols of the cultural identity and continuity and they are the main part of the heritage and the human history. They should be preserved in their own settings with their original characteristics or with as minimum changes as possible. On the other hand, natural or man-made hazards cause a serious risk for the survival of them. In order to develop suitable restoration projects for these buildings without neglecting any of the cultural values, it is vital to determine the current conditions of these structures. From this point of view, this paper aims to classify the churches in Albania built in post-Byzantine period based on the plan and spatial composition of these structures. The typological classification helps to follow the development of post-byzantine architecture in time and space, the particularities that characterized this architecture in different periods and regions, the preference for certain types and forms in these periods and regions, their inter-relation, etc. The classification generally follows the criteria used in the study of byzantine architecture, which are mainly based on plan and spatial composition.