La. rivista Monumentet. La tutela e il restauro in Albania negli anni del Partito del Lavoro

The paper introduces a study dedicated to the Albanian journal Monumentet, published by the Institute of Cultural Monuments (IMK) between 1971 and 1990. The magazine documents the research carried out by the Institute in the field of the history of architecture, archeology and restoration; it also presents various theoretical contributions, in particular about the restoration of architecture, fully in line with international standards of the time, despite the closure policy of the Albanian state. The protection of Albanian monuments is an emblematic point of the policy of the Worker’s Party and of its President Enver Hoxha since the early years of the power. The goal of Hoxha was to defend the national identity and, above all, the popular culture in the face of studies conducted by foreign researchers who, he said, had underestimated the originality of the Albanian culture, thus justifying the aims of European colonialist powers on the small Balkan state.