The Italian Cultural Institute in Tirana presented the Albanian edition of The Architect (L’architettrice) by renowned Italian author Melania Mazzucco at the National Library – “Sotir Kolea” Center. The event featured the esteemed presence of the author herself.

Translated into Albanian by Ornela Islami, the novel has received widespread acclaim in Italy, earning prestigious awards such as the Stresa Prize (2020) and the Giuseppe Dessì Prize (2020), while also being a finalist for the Rapallo Literary Prize (2020) for women writers and the Corrado Alvaro Literary Prize.

The Architect follows the story of Giovanni Briccio, a brilliant yet overlooked artist who, in 1646, introduces his daughter Plautilla to painting, opening the door to the artistic world. In Rome’s fiercely competitive artistic scene, dominated by Bernini and Pietro da Cortona, Plautilla faces immense challenges. However, her life takes a pivotal turn upon meeting Elpidio Benedetti, an aspiring writer and confidant of Cardinal Barberini, who serves as Mazarin’s secretary. With his support, she transcends societal constraints and surpasses even her father’s most ambitious dreams.

Through a masterful narrative interwoven with themes of ambition, intrigue, violence, and the grandeur of 17th-century Rome—a city torn between religious fervor and libertine excess—Mazzucco brings to life the extraordinary journey of a woman who defied convention. Plautilla became the first female architect of the modern era, leaving behind an enduring legacy: the design, planning, and construction of a magnificent villa overlooking Rome, a masterpiece that defined her life’s work.

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