St. Paraskevi's Church, Çetë, 13th-century church in Çetë, Albania.
St. Paraskevi's Church is a 13th-century stone structure featuring Gothic-Roman architecture arranged in three parts: an altar area, narthex, and nave. The design combines these sections to create the overall form of the building.
St. Paraskevi's Church is thought to have been built in the 13th century as a Catholic Benedictine church during the Kingdom of Albania; it is the only such church still standing in the country. In 1691 it became an Orthodox church and was painted with frescoes and icons. In 1963 it was declared a Cultural Monument of Albania, and local residents prevented its destruction during the 1967 campaign against religious buildings.
The Zografi Brothers painted all four walls of the church, and 16 icons, including the iconostasis, are attributed to the 18th-century painter Kostandin Shpataraku. The iconostasis is no longer preserved, and many frescoes were destroyed by a fire during the atheist period that began in 1967.
The church is located in the village of Çetë and can be visited as part of a tour of regional historic sites. Its rural location means it is best reached with local guidance or prior planning.
A circular sun figure is embedded in the floor, reflecting ancient sun worship traditions that existed before the Christian building was constructed. This detail shows how older religious beliefs were incorporated into the newer structure.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,220 contributors worldwide.