Vuno is a village in the municipality of Himarë, Vlorë County, Albania.[1] It is situated along the road that connects the center of Himarë with the village of Dhërmi on the Albanian Riviera. The population of Vuno is exclusively composed of OrthodoxAlbanian.[2]
Name
The village's name derives from the Greek word Vouno (Greek: Βουνό), meaning "mountain," reflecting its location on hills that rise to approximately 300 metres (980 ft).[3]
History
In 1628, Neophytos Rodinos, a Catholic missionary, founded a school in Vuno with the aim of converting the local Greek Orthodox population to Catholicism.[4] In 1632, an Albanian school was established in the village.[5][6]
In 1720, the villages of Himarë, Palasë, Ilias, Vuno, Pilur, and Qeparo refused to submit to the Pasha of Delvinë.[7]
According to Giuseppe Schirò, an Italian missionary who wrote in 1722, Vuno was inhabited by Albanians.[8][9]
In 1873, a Greek school in Vuno had 80 pupils. Greek education expanded in the following years, and by the 1898–1899 school year, the village had three schools: a primary school, a secondary school, and a girls' school. Education was funded by various notable individuals and members of the diaspora from Vuno and neighboring settlements. These schools ceased operations in 1913.[citation needed][10]
Greek classes in Vuno were conducted in an imposing building. However, after the village was incorporated into the newly established Principality of Albania, state policy prohibited Greek-language education.[11]
After the Albanian Declaration of Independence in Vlorë on 28 November, Himarë came under constant attack from Albanian forces, but they were unable to regain control of the area. The region remained under Greek control until the end of the Balkan Wars.[14] After the Greek army evacuated Himara,[when?] the local population took over the defense of the region.[15]
The rebels from Himarë were joined by volunteers from neighboring villages and army deserters, who set up checkpoints on the roads leading to Himarë and continued their resistance.[15] Athanasios Liampou Kotsou commanded a group of volunteers and the people of Vuno.[15] The Vuno rebels were supported by a Greek revolutionary group of 55 fighters led by the guerrilla leader Georgios Tsolakes.[15]
On 30 June, the Vuno troops encountered strong Albanian resistance and were unable to enter Vranisht. However, they successfully captured it the following day.[15] During the conflict, Tsolakes and other Himariote leaders were later killed in action.[15]
The Himara region came under the control of the Albanian state. In 1921, the "Himara question" arose concerning the rights of the Himariots and their villages, including Dhërmi, Vuno, Himarë, Pilur, Kudhës, and Qeparo. The matter was overseen by Spiro Jorgo Koleka, a representative of the Albanian government.[16]
The government decided that Albanian would be the compulsory language in schools as the official language, while Greek could be taught as a second language if the local population desired.[16]
Spiro Koleka, a native of Vuno and a prominent figure in the Albanian national movement, opposed the annexation of the Himara region and the wider Vlora area by foreign powers.[17] He played a key role in organizing the Vlora War, in which other local Himariots also participated.[17]
After the region was incorporated into Albania in the 1920s, the people of Vuno continued to maintain their Greek school. Between 1934 and 1936, they petitioned for the continuation of Greek-language education in their village. However, their request was ultimately denied by the Albanian state authorities.[18]
During the Greco-Italian War, in December 1940, Italian forces successfully repelled a Greek attack on Bënçë, Vuno, and Bolenë.[19] On 15 January 1941, they again defended Vuno against a Greek assault, while Greek forces launched an attack on the Dishnicë region.[19] A military cemetery commemorating the fallen Greek soldiers is maintained at Scutara.[20]
The village monument bears the names of several participants, including Arqile Vjero, Amali Andoni, Eftihi Baka, Foto Goxho, Herkole Koleka, Irakli Thani, Llambro Sheti, Kleomen A. Ndrenika, Niqita Andoni, Naço Koço, Pano Dhimegjoka, Pilo Varfi, Stefo Cura, and Thoma Simo. Vuno was also a central location where Greek Himariotes were organized into the Albanian National Liberation Army.[22]
During his fieldwork, anthropologist V. Nitsiakos (2010) observed that the community takes pride in its strong Orthodox Christian identity. They also harbor friendly feelings towards Greece, with their pro-Greek attitude possibly linked to employment opportunities in the country. Additionally, members of the community receive Greek pensions as Hellenes, even though they never refer to themselves as Greeks. Instead, they identify as North Epirotes or Orthodox, without denying their true Albanian national identity, a common stance among many Orthodox Albanians.[24]
Architecture and churches
The village has several churches, but they are currently not in use due to the absence of priests.[21]
One of the churches, located on Jali Beach, dates back to the 14th century and is built in the Venetian style.[21] Two other churches, the Church of St Spyridon (Albanian: Kisha e Shën Spiridhonit) (1778) and the Church of St. Mary (1783), are relatively well-preserved.[21]
According to local legend, the inhabitants of the village originally came from the city of Shkodër and moved to Vuno, where they built the Church of St. Mary. The church, which was originally Catholic, is still well-preserved and located in a prominent spot in the village known as Scutara.[21] The name "Scutara" may reflect the Byzantine military traditions of the Pronoia, which were well known in the area.[25] The church was later converted into an Orthodox church.[21]
Attractions
During the summer months, the beaches of Vuno and Himarë are the main tourist attractions in the municipality.[26] The beach of Jaliskari (or Jali), located between Vuno and Dhërmi, has become a popular summer resort, attracting tourists from around the world.[3]
Identity and language
Vuno is a village inhabited by Albanian Orthodox Christians[2][27][28] who take pride in their strong religious identity.[24] The local dialect spoken in Vuno is the southern Tosk dialect, specifically a sub-dialect of Labërisht, which consists of non-unified language groups.[29][30] The older population of the village is monolingual in Albanian, while some of the younger generation also speak Greek due to migration to Greece.[24]
Gallery
Pupils and teachers of the Greek School of Vuno in 1909
Venetian Saint Mark Lion from the Middle Ages, photo taken in Vuno 1918
The Memorial of Vuno
Goatherd shepherd in Vuno
Jal or Jali beach next to Vuno
Notable people
Dhimitër Anagnosti, Albanian cineast, and former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
^Tsirpanlis, Zaharias (1972). "Neophytos Rodinos in Epirus". Olympia: 317, 321. doi:10.26268/heal.uoi.9822. Retrieved 9 March 2023. άνέλαβε, τόν 'Ιανουάριο τοϋ 1628, πρώτος αύτός επίσημος μισσιονάριος τής καθολικής Προπαγάνδας, νά προσελκύση στόν καθολικισμό τόν ορθόδοξο έλληνικό πληθυσμό τής περιοχής τής Χιμάρα... Τό πρώτο σχολείο πού ιδρύει τό έντοπίζουμε στό χωριό Βοΰνο... Ή 'ίδρυση χρονολογείται κατά τό 1628
^Temo, Sotir (1985). Education in the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. "8 Nentori" Publishing House. p. 7. ... the primary schools in Korça (1637), in Pedhanë and Blinisht in the Shkodra district (1639) where a secondary school was opened that same year, the Albanian schools in the region of Himara : Dhërmi, Vuno, Palasë (1632) .
^Gaçe, Bardhosh (1999). Lëvizja kombëtare në Vlorë, 1878-1912 (in Albanian). Botimet Toena. p. 224. ISBN978-99927-1-185-9. Shkollat e para u çelën në Dhërmi, Palasë, Vuno dhe Himarë . Këtu vinin nxënës nga Dukati, Tërbaçi, Kuçi, Lukova, Piqerasi e tjerë . Shkollat e para i çeli Noefit Rodinoja, që besohet se në fshatrat e Himarës arriti në vitin 1632
^Etnografia shqiptare. Vol. 15. Akademia e Shkencave e RPSH, Instituti i Historisë, Sektori i Etnografisë. 1987. p. 199.
^Bartl 1991, p. 331: "Nach der Relation von Giuseppe Schirò aus dem Jahre 1722 waren von den 14 himariotischen Ortschaften drei (Himara, Dhërmi und Palasa) "di natione greci", die restlichen 11 (Ilias, Vuno, Kalarat, Piluri, Qeparo, Piçerras, Lukovë, Shën-Vasil, Hundëcovë, Nivicë e Bubarit und Lëkurës) wurden als "di natione albanesi" bezeichnet."
^Borgia 2014, pp. 317–318: "IV. Relacioni i pare i At Schirò-it... Fillimisht kjo provincë, e cila motit ishte shumë e populluar me të krishterë, tani nuk ka më shumë se katërmbëdhjetë fshatra, që ushtrojnë ligjin e Krishtit në ritin grek (lindor): domethënë: Cimara (Himara) kryeqendra e provincës, Drimades (Dhërmiu) dhe Balasa (Palasa) të kombësisë greke (di natione greci); Egliates (Iliates, Ilias), Vuno (Vuno), Caloghirates (Kallarati), Piluri (Pilur), Clapero (Qeparo), Pichierasi (Piqeras), Lúculo (Lukovë), S. Basili (Shën Vasil), Gudezzona (Hundëcova), Nivizza (Nivica) e Licunisi (Lëkurësi) të kombësisë shqiptare (di natione albanesi)."
^ abcdefKaphetzopoulos; Flokas; Dima-Dimitriou (2000). The struggle for Northern Epirus. Hellenic Army General Staff. pp. 162–163, 264. ISBN9789607897404. Athanasios Liampou Kotsou ... volunteer band and of the residents of Vouno village ... The band of Guerrilla Leader Georgios Tsolakes (55 men), to the bands in Vouno ... the Vouno troops ... Vranishte. They were forced instead to retreat towards the height of Mesemeri. The next day they repeated the attack, and in the afternoon entered Vranishte which had been evacuated by its Muslim inhabitants in the meantime.
^ abBasil Kondis (1994). The Greek minority in Albania: a documentary record (1921-1993). Institute for Balkan Studies. ISBN978-960-7387-02-8. THE PROTOCOL OF HIMARRA, 1921 We, Spiros Kolekas, Deputy of Valone, General Representative of the Albanian Government for the settlement of the question of the Himarra district, i.e. the villages of Drymades, Vouno, Himarra, Piliouri, Koundessi and Kyparou, which have sent their representatives, Mr G. Bolanos, M. Karas, D. Lekkas and Mr A. Simonides as their Secretary, have agreed upon the following: a) Privileges: The Albanian ...
^ abMeta, Beqir (2008). "Ballafaqimi shqiptaro-grek për Himarën (1920-1924) [Greek-Albanian confrontation in Himara (1920-1924)]." Studime Historike. 1-2: 43: "Pas mbarimit të Luftës I Botërore lëvizja atdhetare shqiptare në Himarë u rigjallërua. Një vend të veçantë luajti Spiro Gogo Koleka, i cili ndihmoi për mbledhjen e Kongresit të Lushnjës dhe zbatimin e vendimeve të tij. Ai bashkë me patriotë të tjerë ishte nënshkruesi i mjaft dokumenteve dërguar përfaqësuesve të Fuqive të Mëdha në Konferencën e Paqes, në të cilat kundërshtohej çdo përpjekje për aneksimin e Vlorës dhe Himarës1. Në maj të vitit 1920 Spiro G. Koleka u caktua anëtar i qeverisë kombëtare. Ai më vonë u bë njëri nga organizatorët e Luftës së Vlorës kundër italianëve, në të cilën morën pjesë edhe himarjotë të tjerë." "[After the end of World War One, the Albanian patriotic movement in Himarë was revived. A special place Spiro Gogo Koleka played, who assisted at the gathering of the Congress of Lushnja and implementation of its decisions. He and other patriots were signatory to many documents sent to the representatives of the Great Powers during the Peace Conference, that opposed any attempt to annex Vlora and Himarë. In May 1920 Spiro G. Koleka was appointed member of the national government. He later became one of the organizers of the Vlora War against the Italians, where other Himariots participated.]"
^ abcNitsiakos, Vassilis (2010). On the border: Transborder mobility, ethnic groups and boundaries along the Albanian-Greek frontier. LIT Verlag. p. 466. "I can mention the village Vuno, where I conversed several times with the villagers. Quite a few of the young people in the village speak Greek, because they have worked in Greece. The older ones speak only Albanian. They talk proudly about their Orthodox Christian identity and their friendly feelings towards Greece; they are thankful to Greece, for both letting the young people of the village work there and for giving out to them agricultural pensions as "Hellenes". When they mention their national identity they are very careful. They never define themselves directly as Greek and use the terms "Northern Epirote" or "Orthodox" instead. The term "Northern Epirote" is particularly convenient in its ambiguity, but they prefer it because they know it means "Greek" to the Greeks. This way they both appear honest and achieve their goal without falling into the trap of denying the true national identity. This is actually the case with the majority of the Orthodox Christians of the Albanian south."
^Nitsiakos, Vassilis (2010). On the border: Transborder mobility, ethnic groups and boundaries along the Albanian-Greek frontier. LIT Verlag. p. 99. "According to the latest census in the area, the Greek-speaking population is larger but not necessarily continuous and concentrated. The exclusively Greek-speaking villages, apart from Himarë, are Queparo Siperme, Dhërmi and Palasë. The rest are inhabited by Albanian-speaking Orthodox Christians (Kallivretakis 1995:25-58)."
^Gjinari, Jorgji (1989). Dialektet e gjuhës shqipe (in Albanian). Academy of Sciences of Albania, Institute of Linguistics. p. 57.
^Totoni, M (1971). Dialektologjia shqiptare I, Vëzhgime rreth të folmeve të Kurveleshit (English: Albanian dialectology I, Observations on the Language of Kurvelesh) (in Albanian). p. 85.
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