Gjirokastra Tourist Information

Gjirokastra is one of the most important cities of Albania with a glorious history. Situated in southern Albania, 300 meters upon the sea level, Gjirokastra has a beautiful landscape between the high Gjere mountain and the Drino river. Probably Gjirokastra was founded by the Venetians. The legend of this city is the Princess Argjiro. The legend says that when Ottomans invaded Gjirokaster the Princess jumped from the highest tower of the castle with her very young son, evitating the Ottomans to take hold of her.

The old part of the city, with the characteristic houses, is situated in a hill and looks up at the new city and the plain. The new part of the city is modern and fascinating but it is inside the corners of the tradition. In the traditional architecture balconies do not exist, but instead there are many windows very near with one another. Elegant veranda's complete the scenery. The narrow streets with very well-arranged stone plates testify the attention given to the details.

Like every Albanian city, Gjirokastra was build in order to affront the invadors. Walking in the streets you feel an air of safety and insurance from outside. Gjirokastra has been invaded by many tribes : Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Hunns and Normans. In the XV century Ottomans transformed the city in a military one. In the beginning of the XIX century Ali pasha of Tepelena, with some irregular guerilla groups conquisted the city. After the National Independence of 1912, Gjirokastra was invaded by Italian troops in 1939, then by Greeks in the offensive of 1940, replaced by the Italians in the next year. The Independence from Italian troops was in 1944.

Gjirokastra is the birth city of the former leader of the Albanian Communist Party, Enver Hoxha, who was born in October 9, 1908. He was the leader of Albania for 50 years, from the end of the 2nd World War until the 90's. Also, the greatest Albanian writer of all times, Ismail Kadare, was born here.

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