Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja shared in the social media a view of the restored icon, which was presented to the public on occasion of the International Museum Day.

Often referred to as the “Mona Lisa of Berat”, this renowned icon underwent a meticulous restoration. The project stabilized the paint layers and carefully cleaned the surface, revealing the original brilliance of the silver coating that had tarnished over centuries of oxidation and grime.

Measuring 130 × 75 cm, this 16th-century icon of Saint Mary presenting Christ on her right arm was masterfully restored to its former glory by conservator Erion Lezi. Originally, it belonged to the iconostasis of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which now houses the Onufri Museum.

Although treated 50 years ago, the artwork suffered from damaged base layers, surface wear, and heavily tarnished silver over the centuries. Today, viewers can once again admire this restored masterpiece in all its original harmony, elegance, and expressive power. /j.p/p.s./

As the director of the Berat Museum Center Miklor Pasku stated for ATA, this premier heritage museum welcomed 600 local and foreign visitors today.

To mark the International Day of Monuments and Sites, the museum offered free admission, inviting visitors to experience the icons and history of this unique Berat treasure.

The Onufri Iconographic Museum remains a top-tier, must-visit destination in Albania during all the year.

” The museum has welcomed approximately 10,000 visitors since January, with March experiencing a 42% year-on-year increase in attendance”, said Pasku.

Pasku emphasized that most of the tourists are from Germany, Italy, Spain, England, but this year there is also a double of local visitors.

The “Onufri” Iconography Museum has been located in the premises of the “Dormition of St. Mary” church, in the Berat Castle, since February 27, 1986.

The museum is named after Onufri, the master of Albanian iconographic painting in the 16th century.

The cathedral, according to the inscriptions it bears, turns out to have been rebuilt in 1797 on the foundations of an older church from the Byzantine period. It represents one of the most typical post-Byzantine architectures in the city of Berat. The museum’s collection consists of 196 icons and liturgical objects. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja regarded this church as a rare, invaluable treasure of our cultural heritage.

The church carries in itslef the mural paintings made by the prominent iconographer, Onufer Qiprioti, highlighting the lasting tradition of Albanian iconography and its extraordinary artistic and spiritual values.

In addition to Qiprioti’s mural paintings, the church also holds frescoes by Aliviziu, which is confirmed by an inscription found on the southern wall of the church.

According to Prof. Pirro Thomo, the Church of St. Mary in the village of Vllahogoranxi is of the domed basilica type, measuring 7.50×6.80 meters. It consists of a nave and an altar. Years later, a narthex was added. The old part of the church has six columns of stone scrolls inside, which are connected to each other with mortar and stone capitals. Two arches pass over the columns, which divide the church into three naves. The nave is connected to the narthex on the western side. The church is built of stones, connected with lime mortar. There are large stone blocks in the corners of the walls. There are antique ornaments above the western gate of the church. Above the four columns from the east, through a system of supporting arches, the drum rises, which is covered by the dome. /j.p/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in the social media a view of the Museum, which bears the name of the immortal Albanian iconographer Onufri.

“The museum, that bears the name of the immortal Albanian iconographer Onufri and which within its walls full of history holds 2,000 objects selected from the churches and monasteries of the Berat region, has a record number of over 30,000 visitors during the first five months of the current year,” Rama wrote in the social media.

The museum, located in the premises of the Church of St. Mary in the historic fortress of Berat, preserves over 2,000 objects carefully selected from the churches and monasteries of the area. These objects include icons, liturgical books, relics and other objects of artistic and religious value.

During the first five months of the current year, the museum has received a record number of visitors, exceeding 30,000 visits – an indicator of the growing interest in cultural heritage and cultural tourism in Albania. /j.p/p.s./

Director of Berat Museum Center Miklor Pasku said to ATA that, “The National Iconographic Museum “Onufri” has opened its doors since January 1st for local visitors and the foreign visitors who chose to spend the New Year in Albania”.

“There have been 350 visitors in the first three days of January, while only yesterday there were 200. The visitors are mainly local, while the foreigners were mainly Italians and Austrians”, said Pasku.

After visiting the museum that bears the name of one of the masters of Albanian painting of the 16th century, the visitors wrote their impressions in the visitors’ book.

Director Pasku also said that, “During 2024, this museum was visited by over 105 thousand domestic and foreign visitors, marking a 40% increase compared to 2023. Foreign visitors who have shown interest in this museum have been mainly from Poland, Spain, Italy, France, etc.”.

The “Onufri” Iconography Museum has been staged in the premises of the “Assumption of Virgin Mary” church, in the Berat Castle, since February 27, 1986. The cathedral, according to the inscriptions it bears, turns out to have been rebuilt in 1797 on the foundations of an older church from the Byzantine period. It represents one of the most typical post-Byzantine architectures in the city of Berat.

The museum’s collection consists of 196 icons and liturgical objects.

/k.s/r.e/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in the social media the images of an ordinary September day in Berat, where tourists from all nationalities gather at the Onufri Iconographic Museum.

The museum’s collection consists of 200 objects selected from the funds of churches and monasteries in the district of Berat. It consists mainly of icons and a group of liturgical objects. The works of this museum date back from the 14th century to the beginning of the 20th century. The icons were made by iconographic painters such as: Onufri, Nikola Onufri (son), Onufër Qiprioti, David Selenica, Kostandin Shpataraku, Adam Kristo as well as painters with the Çetiri surname (Gjergji, Joani, Nikolla, Naumi, Gjergji junior and Ndini), and by many other anonymous painters.

Under the floor of the apse on August 12, 1968, there were found two Berat codices, the “Codex Purpureus Beratinus” of the c. VI AD and AD “Codex Aureus Anthimi” of the 9th century.

The codices in question are monuments of culture and civilization as well as true encyclopedias of Christian thought. The two Codices of Berat are registered in the list of the most important works of humanity, known as “Memoire du Monde” under the UNESCO protection./p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared photos in the social media of this school that was reconstructed with funds from the government, in cooperation with the municipality of Elbasan.

“Reconstructed according to European standards, this school has already new classrooms, scientific laboratories, a gym and a concert hall for 340 student-would-be artists”, said Rama.

In the high art school “Onufri” in Elbasan, there have been created very good conditions for all the profiles that the art school offers with laboratories and special venues.

This school will have an additional 4 floors, classrooms and laboratories dedicated to each artistic profile and a concert hall that will serve 340 students of the branches of music, sculpture and painting. /m.m/p.s./

This educational institution has now been expanded with new classrooms, science laboratories, a new gym and a dedicated concert hall for 340 student artists.

The reconstruction of the school was made thanks to the government investments in cooperation with the municipality of Elbasan.

Mayor of the municipality Gledian Llatja expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Education and Sports for the investment, stressing that the “Onufri” school is a symbol of Elbasan, an institution that has produced outstanding artists and empowered artistic life not only in Elbasan, but throughout Central Albania.

“For many years, this school has been the Academy of Arts’ main supplier of talented students,” said Llatja.

Following the reconstruction, the school is ready to accomplish its program, representing the city not only in national, but also international activities. /k.s/r.e/a.f/p.s./

In 1986, by initiative of many personalities and cultural specialists, the great treasure of icons and liturgical objects that were archived for years, after the prohibition of the exercise of faith, were exposed to the public in an artistic and historical perspective.

Director of the Museum Center Miklor Pasku told ATA that today this museum, which enjoys the status of the National Museum, is one of the most visited museums in Albania and for 2023 it has reached a record number of 76 thousand visitors.

Pasku explained that “Onufri” also continues to offer education programs for pupils and students from all over Albania. He also emphasized the fact that the Restoration Laboratory has been operating in the museum for several years now, restoring and conserving artistic masterpieces dating back to the 14th – 20th centuries.

Located in the premises of the 18th century “Fjetja e Hyjëlindases” Cathedral, this museum is one of the emblems of the national cultural heritage and the pride of the historical and religious assets of Berat.

The museum’s collection consists of 200 objects selected from the funds of churches and monasteries in the region of Berat. It consists mainly of icons and a group of liturgical objects. The works of this museum date back from the oldest in the 14th century to the beginning of the 20th century. The icons were made by iconographic painters such as: Onufri, Onufër Cyprioti, David Selenica, Kostandin Shpataraku, Adam Kristo as well as painters with the surname Çetiri (Gjergji, Joani, Nikolla, Naumi, Gjergji i riu and Ndini), and by many other anonymous painters. And the liturgical objects, mainly, bear the signature of Albanian goldsmiths over the centuries./p.s./

“We are happy to see a greater interest of visitors to the Iconographic Museum “Onufri” while the audio guide professionally completes the detailed information about the museum treasures that we have put on display to the public”, it is written on the website of the Berat National Center of Museums.

If compared to last year, the Iconographic Museum “Onufri” registered 1240 more visitors, who used the audio guide device. Foreign tourists have preferred to visit the museum using this service that comes in Albanian, English, Italian and German languages.

The museum’s collection consists of 200 objects selected from the funds of churches and monasteries in the region of Berat. It consists mainly of icons and a group of liturgical objects. The works of this museum date back from the 14th century to the beginning of the 20th century./p.s./