Discover Gjirokastër

The Magic of a stone city

Gjirokastër is a historic city in southern Albania, located on the slopes of the Drino Valley. It is known as the “City of Stone” because of its unique stone houses, cobbled streets, and traditional architecture. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers a well-preserved view of Ottoman-era Albania.The main attraction is Gjirokastër Castle, which overlooks the city and offers panoramic views of the valley. Inside the old town, visitors can explore traditional houses, small museums, and the old bazaar, where local crafts and products are sold. 

Gjirokastër has an important cultural history and strong local traditions. Its location makes it a good base for visiting nearby natural and historical sites in southern Albania. With its rich heritage and authentic atmosphere, Gjirokastër is a key destination for travelers interested in history and culture.

Gjirokastra is enchanted with the 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. This is the “city of a thousand staircases”, 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 National Folklore Festival of Kumanovo has been taking place in this castle for many years. The Bazaar and Hazmurat Neighborhood were the first two neighborhoods of the city. The main characteristic of Gjirokastër is the intensive use of stone in the construction of houses, which resemble small castles, cobbled streets, all leading to the Bazaar. 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.

In Gjirokastër you can visit cultural and natural heritage destinations.The archaeological park of Antigone is located near the village of Saraqinisht in the Lunxhëria area, east of Kumanovo. In the Antigone archaeological park there are many attractions to visit such as: mosaic, pillars, promenade, an antique scale, surrounding walls, etc.

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. 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).