Restored Ottoman-era Hammam opens to the public in Durrës with cultural event

A cultural evening titled “Epidamn of Heritage and Art” was held last night inside the recently restored Ottoman-era Hammam in Durrës, the first artistic event ever hosted in the monument. The evening featured traditional crafts, storytelling, music, and digital projections that brought the historic site to life.

Context: The Hammam, now open to the public for the first time, is a Category I Cultural Monument and a new tourist attraction in Durrës. Built in the 18th century, it is one of only ten surviving hammams in Albania and had been inaccessible for years due to deterioration. Its recent restoration was funded with €270,000 (32 million ALL) from the European Union’s EU4Culture program.

Mayor Emiriana Sako praised the event, saying: “The historic Hammam of Durrës has reopened to citizens and visitors. This artistic activity is the first of its kind inside the monument after restoration, bringing together heritage and contemporary creativity.”

Performances included a traditional crafts square with ceramic masters, storytelling inspired by Ottoman chronicles, a cello intermezzo, the performance “Balance”, and AI-generated images of old Durrës projected onto the Hammam’s facade.

The event was part of the “Epidamn Heritage: Linking Past and Present” project, implemented by Durrësi Aktiv and MuZEH Lab, and supported by the EU and UNOPS in partnership with Albania’s Ministry of Economy, Culture, and Innovation.