The Gjirokastra City Museum was built on the eastern side of Mali-i-Dzhere. Since 2005, it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The origins of the city begin with the Gjirokastra Castle, built in the 4th century AD. In 1336 the city was called Argyrokastro. In 1417 it was captured by the Ottoman army. The city flourished in the years 1800-1830, when monumental meeting houses were built. The first districts are Bazar and Hazmurat.
The main feature of Girokastra is the intensive use of stone in the construction of houses that look like small fortresses, cobbled streets leading to the bazaar. You can also visit the Bazar Mosque built in 1557. Due to all these peculiarities, Gjirokastra is also known as the “Stone City”.
The most important building in the city is the castle, the largest castle in Albania. Inside the castle, you can visit the Weapons Museum, which was opened in 1971. Weapons from prehistoric times to World War II are on display here. For many years, the National Folklore Festival was held in the castle.
During your stay in Gjirokaster, you can visit the Ethnographic Museum, located at the birthplace of the former communist dictator Enver Hoxha. This house (now a museum) is in the Palorto neighborhood. You can also visit the Zakata family home in Palorto, a dominant site that has been restored. This is one of the most beautiful and characteristic buildings in Gjirokastra. It was built between 1811-1812 and is a magnificent three-story building with two twin towers. The house has wood carved ceilings and a typical guest room. The wooden balcony on the third floor offers a spectacular view of Gjirokastra. Other important traditional buildings worth visiting are the House of Angonati, the recently restored House of Babaramo, House of Skandulai,
One of the famous places to visit Sokaku-i-te-Marreve, the street of the madmen, is also the reconstructed home of the famous Albanian writer Ismail Kadare.
The city of Gjirokastra is also famous for its cuisine; You can mention such special dishes as pasha kofte , hut, oshap with dried figs (dessert made of sheep’s milk, sugar and dried figs), etc.
In Gjirokaster you can visit interesting places, part of the cultural heritage, as well as natural wonders.
Antigone
The Antigone Archaeological Park is located near the village of Sarakinishte in the Lunxeria region, east of Gjirokastra. Gjirokastër is 14 km away. The archaeological park covers an area of 92 hectares.
Antigone was born in 295 BC. Founded by the king of Epirus, Pyrrus, who named the city after his first wife, Antigone. At the end of III . – beginning of II . century BC It developed into an important economic, cultural and political center and took the form of a state (polis).
It was surrounded by walls 4,000 meters long. Antigone Archaeological Park has many attractions such as mosaics, columns, wharf, ancient scales, surrounding walls and much more. In the village of Labove e Kryqit, near the town of Libochov, you can visit one of the oldest and most beautiful Byzantine churches in Albania, dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
It is built in a style similar to the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. It was believed that there was a relic in the church that no longer exists. It was part of the cross on which Christ was crucified.
Adrianopel
The Ancient Theater of Adrianople is located near the village of Sofratika, 14 km from Gjirokastra, on the Gjirokastra-Kakavie highway (Greece). The Adrianopolis amphitheater was discovered by the Austrian archaeologist Prashniker. It dates from the 2nd century BC; it is designed for 4,000 seats and has 27 steps. The Kajupi field is located in the Lunxeria area at an altitude of 1,310 m above sea level. It is a flat area used as a climatic spa and surrounded by many sources of cold water.