Gjirokastra's old town center is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gjirokastra is located on Mount Mali in the slopes of Gjerë, overlooking the valley of the river Drina. Sten Staden invites you to historical sights and small shops with beautiful handicrafts.
Gjirokastra or "City of Stone" is only one and a half hour's drive from Saranda. The road there is narrow and winds up and then down the mountain again. The road is bordered by beautiful forest and the journey there becomes an experience in itself. If you are very motion sick, this trip may not be preferable.
Tourist attractions
In the city you will find the castle, which is the largest castle in Albania. Inside the castle, you can visit the Weapons Museum, which was opened in 1971. Inside you can see weapons from prehistoric times until the Second World War. Various folk festivals have taken place in the castle over the years. During your stay in Gjirokastra, you can also visit the ethnographic museum, located in the house where the former communist dictator Enver Hoxha was born. You can also visit the house of the Zekati family, which has undergone a restoration in order to preserve it. It is one of the most magnificent and characteristic buildings in Gjirokastra. The house was built in 1811-1812, it is a 3-story building with two twin towers. A special feature of the house are carved wooden ceilings and the characteristic guest room. From the wooden balcony on the third floor you can enjoy an impressive view of Gjirokastra. You can also visit the bazaar mosque here, built in 1557. Other traditional buildings you can visit are Angonati House, Babaranewly house, Skendulaj house, Eqrem Cabej House, Kikino House but there are many more. In the main square stands a statue dedicated to the patriot Cerciz Topulli but also other monuments with a religious background. The Mad People Street or as it is called in Albanian, Sokaku i te marreve, is also a famous place in Gjirokastra that is recommended to visit.
History
The city has its origins from the 5th century when the first building was erected, which was then the castle. During Byzantine times, Gjirokastra was an important Greek trading town. It was captured in 1417 by the Ottoman Empire and that is the time we get to experience when we visit the old city up on the mountain. During the 19th century, Gjirokastra was a center of Albanian nationalism. During the Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, Greece took over the city, but after World War I it was incorporated with Albania. During the Second World War, the city was occupied in turn by Italy, Greece and Germany. At world peace, the city was returned to Albania.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
The city of Gjirokastra has been one of Albania's UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2005 and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country. The city began to develop in the fourth century when the castle was built on the eastern side of the mountain, and the castle is still Albania's largest castle today. The main characteristic of Gjirokastra is the intensive use of stone to build the houses that look like small fortresses and the cobbled streets that all lead to the Bazaar.
"Beautiful cobbled streets, narrow lanes and rickety houses selling local produce or offering a cup of coffee on a rickety chair along the steep street."
Tips
You can go there by bus, taxi or rental car. Guided tours also go here and you can, for example, book with LEKA TOURS.
Book a full day or at least half a day for this excursion as there is a lot to see. Here there are historical places and houses, small shops and restaurants such as serves special dishes such as pasha qofte, shapkat and oshaf with dried figs (a dessert made with sheep's milk, sugar and dried figs).
An attraction that suits everyone
Gjirokaster is only 1.5 hours drive from Saranda. The old town is located on the mountain overlooking the river Drinas. Small houses with beautiful decorations surround the small streets. You can visit the Old Bazaar and also the fortress, which today is only ruins but offers a beautiful view of the city. The view is like something out of a fairy tale. Here you can also sit down and eat in one of the many restaurants.
TIPS!
On the way to Gjirokaster you pass the Blue Eye. Read more about Blue Eye in our post here
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