Gjirokaster is a city in southern Albania with a population of around 34,000. Lying in the historical region of Epirus, it is also the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County. Its old town is inscribed on the World Heritage List as "a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town, built by farmers of large estate." Located in the south of the country, at 300 meters above sea level, Gjirokastër is situated in a valley between the Gjerë mountains and the Drino River. The city is overlooked by a large castle (Kalaja e Gjirokastres) which dates back to Pre-Christian times.
The majority of Gjirokastrans are ethnic Albanians, with minorities of Greeks, Vlachs and Roma. Gjirokastër is considered the center of the Greek community in Albania
he city is remarkable for its great natural beauty, as well as his harmonious intercultural mix of Albanian, Byzantine and Ottoman heritage and tradition, which is obvious on the many historical buildings and sites. Many houses in Gjirokastër have a distinctive local style that has earned the city the nickname "City of Stone", because most of the old houses have roofs covered with stones. Due to Gjirokastër's importance to the Communist regime, its city centre was spared at least some of the thoughtless redevelopment that afflicted other cities in Albania, but its designation as a "museum town" unfortunately did not translate into maintaining the old town. Consequently, many of its historic buildings have become dilapidated, a problem that is only slowly being resolved.
PLACE TO VISIT
Gjirokastër Castle (Albanian:Kalaja e Gjirokastrës) is a castle in Gjirokastër, Albania. The castle dominates the town and overlooks the strategically important route along the river valley. It is open to visitors and contains a military museum featuring captured artillery and memorabilia of the Communist resistance against German occupation, as well as a captured United States Air Force plane to commemorate the Communist regime's struggle against the "imperialist" western powers. The citadel has existed in various forms since before the 12 century. Extensive renovations and a westward addition was added by Ali Pasha of Tepelene after 1812. The government of King Zog expanded the castle prison in 1932. Today it possesses five towers and houses a clock tower, a church, a cistern, the stage of the National Folk Festival, and many other points of interest. The castle's prison was used extensively by Zog's government and housed political prisoners during the communist regime.
Ethnographic museum which was once Enver Hoxha's house, 200 leke entrance.
Old bazaar and historic tower homes Several of which are at various levels of restoration and are open to the public. The Zekate house is the most visited of these.
HOW TO REACH
The primary Regional Bus & Furgon Station in Gjirokaster is located at the entrance to the town, on the NW corner where the town's main boulevard intersects the National Road. It's less of a bus "station" and more of a collective gathering place for buses and furgons along the shoulder of the road. From here you can catch northbound buses to Tirane, Vlore, Fier, Berat, Tepelene, Korce, Permet, and southbound buses to Saranda, as well as International buses direct to Ioannina (5 Euro/ 7AM departure) and Athens (20 Euro/ 8:30PM departure) in Greece.
Buses depart every day on the route Sarandë - Gjirokastër (250 leke) stopping hourly at the bottom of the hill until the early afternoon. Buses and minibuses are going to Tirana (1000leke) every hour from around 7AM until 12noon, then there is a bus at 2PM and a night bus leaving at 11PM (it arrives in Tirane at 5:45AM near Scanderbeg Square).
