St. Anthony Church In Durrës

The remains of St. Anthony Church is a Cultural Monument of Albania, situated near Rodon Cape (also known as Skanderbeg Cape) in Durrës County. In 1963, it was designated as a Cultural Monument. Andrea II Muzaka and his wife are buried there as well.

The church is said to be largely related with a Byzantine Monastery dedicated to St. Mary that formerly stood near the current church (according to historical documents dated from 1418). The church’s architectural style was Romanesque-Gothic at the time. The monastery was devoted to St. Anthony of Padua and was under the area of influence of the Holy Roman Catholic Church at the time, especially with the Franciscan Order, according to a later source (1599). The church and monastery were in operation until 1852, when a major earthquake demolished the architectural complex, which remained in ruins until 1978. By the year 2000, the church and elements of the monastery had been renovated into the object that we see today.

The inside is rather modest, with a few wall paintings, a picture of a two-headed eagle, and a separate horse with a female rider, which has been interpreted as Mamica, Albania’s national hero.

On the peak of the Cape to the west of the church, a number of surviving massive subterranean bunkers and store depots may also be seen (and visited). During the Communist period, the whole Cape was a restricted military zone.

It was designated as a Religious Building with the status of “Cultural Monument of First Category” in 1963 as a magnificent surviving example of regional religious and Byzantine architecture in a unique site.