Urban identities in a late Ottoman frontier (A study on the deserted (Palia) Sagiada, Epirus-Greece

This dissertation focuses on Palia Sagiada, a little-known deserted settlement in Thesprotia, coastal Epirus –Greece, aiming to reconstruct tangible and intangible aspects of a bygone culture on the contested border between Greece and Albania. Employing an interdisciplinary methodology that takes into consideration the rich material evidence, historical records, and ethnographic perspectives, this work delves into the domains of architecture, residential areas, and public spaces through the lens of late Ottoman urbanism. Following the settlement's reconstruction post the 1872 earthquake and subsequent abandonment after World War II, this research offers a historical view that juxtaposes macro-scale cultural phenomena onto the micro-scale of this rural frontier. Examining the Ottoman State's bureaucratic apparatus, the Ecclesiastic authorities, the non-Muslim, Christian residents of Palia Sagiada – various individuals circulating within the Empire and abroad, and traveling groups of craftsmen, the study reveals them as space-makers in re-generating the heterogeneous, eclectic built environment post-disaster. The resulting material culture, including houses and other settlement spaces, blends established patterns with novelties, reflecting individual tastes. Moreover, public spaces linger between the profane and sacred, shaping communal identities through their daily function and through the various events and celebrations that host. By contextualizing architecture and spatial planning within the broader late Ottoman cultural milieu, the study on Palia Sagiada offers a more comprehensive understanding of these creations as integral aspects of their contemporary culture and catalysts/generators for evolving social practices. In Palia Sagiada, the boundaries between urban and rural blur as it happens with its private and public spheres, architectural styles and individual identities. Finally, this dissertation challenges contemporary romanticisms and nationalistic misconceptions, highlights a diverse and eclectic architectural landscape that reflects local interpretations of post-Tanzimat Ottoman urban reforms and nuances, revealing a rich material for further research.