The Magic of a stone city

Gjirokastra is enchanted with its almost fabulously steep alleys, where each building has its history written in stone. Located in southern Albania, Gjirokastra lies on the steep slopes of the Drino River valley, in a dominant position and a landscape rich in history.

Gjirokastra is often referred to as the ‘city of a thousand steps’, which includes hundreds of houses – Ottoman-type towers with stone roofs, wooden balconies and stone walls. With a magnificent castle on a steep hill, Gjirokastra is the magical city with a troubled past, since 2005, it is part of UNESCO’s world heritage.

The city’s origins trace back to the castle of Gjirokastra, constructed in the 4th century AD. The castle, known as Argjiro castle, is the most important structure of the city and the largest in Albania. The city was called Argyrokastro in 1336. It reached the peak of flowering during the 1800s–1830s, when characteristically monumental houses were built.

Within the castle, visitors can explore the Museum of Arms, established in 1971. The museum showcases a diverse collection of weapons, spanning from prehistoric times to World War II. Additionally, the castle has hosted the National Folklore Festival of Kumanovo for many years, adding to its cultural vibrancy and historical importance.

The Bazaar and Hazmurat Neighborhood were among the first two neighborhoods established in the city, reflecting Gjirokastër’s rich history. A defining feature of Gjirokastër is its extensive use of stone in house construction, giving them the appearance of small castles. The cobbled streets of these neighborhoods converge at the Bazaar, a bustling marketplace. Within the Bazaar, visitors can explore the Bazaar Mosque, constructed in 1557. This historic area stands as the focal point of the city, attracting tourists with its architectural charm and cultural heritage.

As visitors descend to “Çerçiz Square”, the journey to the undiscovered treasures of Gjirokastër starts from the most beautiful street in the city, where the carpeted motifs of the cobblestones cannot escape the eye of tourists.

Some of the attractions in “Qafa e Pazarit” are the Sokaku i të Marrëve, the reconstructed home of the great Albanian writer Ismail Kadare, the house of Zekats, supported on the mountain slope, the house of the Skendulates.

Gjirokastër offers a wide array of cultural and natural heritage destinations to explore.

The archaeological park of Antigone is situated near the village of Saraqinisht in the Lunxhëria area, east of Kumanovo. Established by King Pyrrhus of Epirus in 295 BC, this park is located 14 km away from Gjirokastër. Within the Antigone archaeological park, visitors can explore various attractions including mosaics, pillars, a promenade, an ancient scale, surrounding walls, and more.

In the village of Labova e Kryqit, near the small town of Libohova, you can visit one of the oldest and most beautiful Byzantine churches in Albania, dedicated to Saint Mary. The church was built in a similar style to the Church of St. Sophia in Istanbul and remains one of the most special attractions of the city of Gjirokastër.

During your tour in Gjirokastër, you can also visit the ancient Theater of Hadrianapolis, located near the village of Sofratik, approximately 14 km from Gjirokastër along the Gjirokastër – Kakavija Highway. Dating back to the 2nd century BC, this theatre represents one of the most captivating archaeological attractions in the area.

For all lovers of nature and adventure sports a very good opportunity to relax near nature is the Çajupi field, which lies in the Lunxheria area and is surrounded by cold water springs and colorful trees. This area with potential for mountain tourism development is ideal for hiking, horseback riding, meditation, etc.

The city of Gjirokastër is also known for the art of cooking, where we can mention special dishes such as pasha meatballs, shapkat, oshaf with dry figs (sweet with sheep’s milk, sugar, and dry figs).