Tepe Basilica

Historical

Tepe Basilica is an early Christian archaeological site in Elbasan, Albania, representing one of the city's oldest surviving religious monuments.

City: Elbasan

Its remains provide valuable evidence of the development of Christianity in the ancient city of Scampis and have been recognized as a protected Cultural Monument of Albania.

Historical significance

The basilica was discovered during archaeological excavations in the late 1960s. Scholars date its origins to Late Antiquity, with construction generally placed between the 4th and 5th centuries. The site is important for understanding the spread of Christianity along the ancient Via Egnatia and the religious history of the region.

Architecture

The excavated remains show a three-aisled (three-nave) basilica with an eastern apse, a long narthex at the entrance, and evidence of several construction phases. Archaeologists have identified later additions, including a funerary chapel, indicating that the building continued to evolve as its religious functions changed over time.

Archaeology and preservation

The site covers roughly 600 square meters and includes remains of walls, architectural elements, and decorative mosaics. In recent years, conservation work has focused on cleaning, protecting, and covering the mosaics to reduce weather damage while preserving the monument for future study and visitors.