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Photos: Ruined Albanian churches await salvation from tourists

Many old Albanian Orthodox churches and the art they contain lie in ruin due to decades of neglect but experts believe they could attract tourists if they are repaired.

Updated on: Feb 02, 2018 9:34 AM IST

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A man sits in the rubble at The Orthodox Church of Saint Athanasius in Leshnica, Albania. Many Orthodox churches in Albania dating from the Byzantine period or later in the south of the country, and the art they contain lie in ruins after decades of neglect but they could possibly become tourist magnets if only they are restored. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

Updated on Feb 02, 2018 9:34 AM

A man sits in the rubble at The Orthodox Church of Saint Athanasius in Leshnica, Albania. Many Orthodox churches in Albania dating from the Byzantine period or later in the south of the country, and the art they contain lie in ruins after decades of neglect but they could possibly become tourist magnets if only they are restored. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

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The churches, like The Orthodox Church of Saint Athanasius in Muzina are often in picturesque locations and their fortunes reflect the twists of Albanian politics over the last century. The government and the Orthodox church itself have started restoring some of the structures. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

Updated on Feb 02, 2018 9:34 AM

The churches, like The Orthodox Church of Saint Athanasius in Muzina are often in picturesque locations and their fortunes reflect the twists of Albanian politics over the last century. The government and the Orthodox church itself have started restoring some of the structures. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

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A man looks at a damaged fresco in the Church of Saint Athanasius. Albania became a functioning state after World War One after domination under the Ottoman Empire. It became communist after World War Two but embraced democracy in 1990 and today aspires to join the European Union. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

Updated on Feb 02, 2018 9:34 AM

A man looks at a damaged fresco in the Church of Saint Athanasius. Albania became a functioning state after World War One after domination under the Ottoman Empire. It became communist after World War Two but embraced democracy in 1990 and today aspires to join the European Union. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

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A man is walk by the ruins of The Orthodox Church of Saint Athanasius. The frescoes of this post-Byzantine church have stared at the stars since last May when the roof caved in and its southern wall fell. The church has plastic sheets over its walls for protection while debris with breakaways from frescoes is piled to one side. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

Updated on Feb 02, 2018 9:34 AM

A man is walk by the ruins of The Orthodox Church of Saint Athanasius. The frescoes of this post-Byzantine church have stared at the stars since last May when the roof caved in and its southern wall fell. The church has plastic sheets over its walls for protection while debris with breakaways from frescoes is piled to one side. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

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A damaged fresco is pictured in The Orthodox Church of Saint Athanasius. It was taken care as a cultural shrine under late dictator Enver Hoxha, who was a hardline Stalinist, but has been neglected since then. Hoxha banned religion in the 1960s and destroyed many churches and mosques but he kept some for their art. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

Updated on Feb 02, 2018 9:34 AM

A damaged fresco is pictured in The Orthodox Church of Saint Athanasius. It was taken care as a cultural shrine under late dictator Enver Hoxha, who was a hardline Stalinist, but has been neglected since then. Hoxha banned religion in the 1960s and destroyed many churches and mosques but he kept some for their art. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

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The Leshnice church is decorated with figures of saints in golden halos and biblical scenes in dark blue and red. Saint Athanasius dates to 1797 but frescoes underneath suggest an older date for the church. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

Updated on Feb 02, 2018 9:34 AM

The Leshnice church is decorated with figures of saints in golden halos and biblical scenes in dark blue and red. Saint Athanasius dates to 1797 but frescoes underneath suggest an older date for the church. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

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A man is seen walking by the ruins of The Orthodox Church of Saint Athanasius. Its fame and location spilled over and even helped the Church at Labova of the Cross get a facelift. A cross of solid gold and carved wood from the cross Christ died on was a gift of Emperor Justinian I to the Labova church, two scholars said. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

Updated on Feb 02, 2018 9:34 AM

A man is seen walking by the ruins of The Orthodox Church of Saint Athanasius. Its fame and location spilled over and even helped the Church at Labova of the Cross get a facelift. A cross of solid gold and carved wood from the cross Christ died on was a gift of Emperor Justinian I to the Labova church, two scholars said. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

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A man lights candles at The Orthodox church of Saint Mary in Labova Kryqit. Today, in a country where nearly 60% of the people are nominally Muslim, these structures to devotion have conceded ground to neglect, like the solid gold cross which went missing in 1989 and has not been found since. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

Updated on Feb 02, 2018 9:34 AM

A man lights candles at The Orthodox church of Saint Mary in Labova Kryqit. Today, in a country where nearly 60% of the people are nominally Muslim, these structures to devotion have conceded ground to neglect, like the solid gold cross which went missing in 1989 and has not been found since. (Florion Goga / REUTERS)

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