Intangible Cultural Heritage

Preserving Albania’s Rich Cultural Tapestry: A Pathway to Identity and Tourism Growth

Albania’s cultural heritage encompasses more than just its vast number of physical landmarks of castles, archaeological ruins, museums, and remote monuments. It extends to its people and their customs, artistic expressions, knowledge, and skills, including instruments, objects, artifacts, and cultural spaces.

Passed down through generations and continually reinvented, Albanian Intangible Cultural Heritage not only fosters a sense of identity among Albanians but also holds the potential to emerge as a key driver for travel and tourism in the country.

The project aims to take a new step towards advancing the second pillar of cultural heritage, to support the country’s application to UNESCO for the recognition of four national Intangible Cultural Heritage elements.

Transhumance, known as “Verimi,” refers to the seasonal movement of livestock and shepherds from one grazing ground to another in a cyclical pattern.

Jublet, known as “Xhubleta,” is a distinctive bell-shaped folk skirt worn by Albanian women in the north. It is renowned for its unique construction, traditional decorative style, and intricate crafting techniques.

The “Songs of Frontier Warriors” (Eposi i Kreshnikëve) are epic narratives from northern Albania that continue to be sung by elderly Albanian men to this day. Accompanied by the lahuta, a one-stringed instrument, these songs have preserved the tales of frontier warriors through generations.

Tropoja’s folk dance, known as “Kcimi i Tropojës,” is an ancient dance form distinctive to the Tropoja region in northern Albania. Renowned for its expressive movements and unique choreography, it is a cherished part of the region’s cultural heritage.