Berat’s Onufri Museum to Attract More Tourists after Restoration

TIRANA, June 28

A major restoration has been made to the Iconographic Museum Onufri and the Holy Trinity Church in the city of Berat, south-central Albania. The city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site is now expected to a major number of visitors in the reconstructed premises of Onufri Museum. It is located in the Church of the Dormition of Saint Mary in the Castle (Kala) quarter. The restoration process focused on the reorganisation of the premises while the number of the objects on exhibit increased. The novelties for the visitors at Onufri Museum include a new exhibition hall and an audio guide available in Albanian, English and Italian languages.
Some 20 icons were added to the collection that includes 173 icons and other liturgical objects. The artworks that date back to the 14th – 20th centuries belong to Albanian master iconographers Onufri, Nikolla son of Onufri, David Selenica, Kostandin Shpataraku, Cetiret, Onufer Qiprioti and many other anonymous painters.
Recently, Prime Minister Edi Rama and Minister of Culture Mirela Kumbaro visited the Museum. They highlighted the artistic value of the objects that are exhibited for the first time.
“A considerable number of icons were found in the depot of the Regional Directorate. The depot turned into a restoration lab while the icons have been cleaned and restored and here they are now exhibited for the first time in the new pavilion of the Museum,” Minister Kumbaro said.
Another important object that is under restoration is the Holy Trinity Church and along with the museum is ready to attract more visitors and tourist. Based on official data the number of tourists that visit Onufri Iconographic Museum increased from 7,400 in 2013 to 25,000 in 2015. Berat is a city that lies on the bank of River Osum and it is one of the main tourist destinations in Albania.

News Source/Photo Credit: PM’s Office