historic center of Gjirokastra

Welcome to the Historic Center of Gjirokastra, an extraordinary stone city overlooking the fertile Drino Valley in southern Albania. Gjirokastra stands as an exceptional testament to Ottoman period urban architecture, where…

The Old Bazaar street stands as a remarkably planned commercial and artisan center that was completely rebuilt with solid stone structures following a devastating historic fire according to rigorous Ottoman urban grid design…

The magnificent Zekate House stands as a dual purpose masterpiece designed simultaneously as an impenetrable military fortress capable of repelling violent clan feuds and as an opulent domestic palace constructed to entertain…

This monumental citadel of Gjirokastra stands as a three thousand year old military fortress constructed directly upon the natural limestone bedrock of the mountain ridge without any artificial foundations. As you step through…

Deep within these grand vaulted stone galleries rests a mysterious silver United States Air Force jet trainer, forced down over Albanian airspace during the height of the Cold War in the year 1957. Look up now at the soaring…

This prominent Clock Tower was erected shortly after the year 1811 when Ali Pasha of Tepelena undertook a massive expansion of Gjirokastra Castle to regulate civic time across the entire surrounding city. Look out now across the…

From this southwestern vantage point on the castle walls, you can look out across the gorge toward the traces of Ali Pasha extraordinary stone aqueduct, which transported fresh spring water over a distance of more than ten…

Together we have journeyed through the remarkable Historic Center of Gjirokastra, climbing from the vibrant Old Bazaar up to the grand Zekate House and exploring the ancient vaults of this three thousand year old castle. Stand…