Gjirokastër

Fotografi nga Gjirokastar

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). [edit] Get around Gjirokastër can be divided into roughly two halves, the old town up on the hill, and the new town in the valley below. You can walk just about anywhere if you're able to handle the steep cobbled streets. Taxis are cheap and there is a public bus circuit that connects the old town and the new town for about 0.40 leke. From the roundabout at the center of town to the bus station on the National Road is a fairly flat, easy, 10 minute walk along the main boulevard. Taxis will make this trip for around 200 leke. [edit][add listing] See * The castle at the top of the hill, 200 leke entrance. It is claimed to be the second largest castle in the Balkans, and is worth a look. The main gallery is eerily lit (or not) and contains two columns of large field guns, remanents of WWII. * 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. * The Illyrian city of Antigonea is located near the village of Asim Zanelli, which is roughly 5km East of Gjirokaster. This village is the starting point of a 3 hour round trip hike to the ruins of Antigonea; it makes a nice day hike for the physically fit (you will want to hire a local shepherd as a guide).

Gjirokastër or Gjirokastra (Albanian IPA: [ɟɪɾokaˈstəɾ]; Aromanian: Ljurocastru; from Greek: Αργυρόκαστρο, Argyrókastro), 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[1] Gjirokastër is considered the center of the Greek community in Albania

Photos from Gjirokaster. Foto nga qyteti i gurte, Gjirokastra.

Gurë, gurë bëhet Gjirokastra Linja ndarëse mes dy botëve është pjesa ku mbaron asfalti dhe fillon rruga me kalldrëm: ndahet pjesa e vjetër e Gjirokastrës dhe ajo e reja. Duken si një qenie e vetme prej guri ato shtëpi të vendosura sipër njëra-tjetrës, me dritare të ngushta me kanata druri; dyer shtëpish të prodhuara si dikur, të rënda dhe të forta. Në Gjirokastër nuk ecën, por “ngjitesh” sepse rrugët marrin gjithmonë të tatëpjetën: kështu, duhet të ngjitesh disa metra derisa të arrish te qendra në sheshin “Çerçiz Topulli”. Në pjesën e vjetër janë disa lagje karakteristike, secila ka një histori të vetën: Dunavat, Cfakë, Pllakë, Pazari i Vjetër, Palorto, Manalat dhe Varosh. Mënyra më e mirë e lëvizjes është shëtitja në këmbë, për të njohur qytetin do t'ju duhen të paktën dy ditë, por nata është e gjallë në Gjirokastër, ndaj do të gjeni argëtim edhe në orët e vona. Shumica e ndërtesave të rëndësishme për t'u parë shtrihen poshtë kështjellës, si: Muzeu Etnografik (në lagjen Palorto), Xhamia (në Mexhite) dhe pjesa e Pazarit (në lagjen e Pazarit). Rrugët e kalldrëmta janë të ngushta dhe të papërshtatshme për makinat, edhe pse lëvizja e tyre brenda qytetit të vjetër është diçka normale. Nëse jeni të uritur, do ta keni pak problem në fillim, sepse nga rruga lokalet dhe baret kanë pamjen e pijetoreve të papërshtatshme; në fakt pamja e tyre të bën të mendosh se vitet '90 dhe urbanizimi nuk janë dukur andej këto vitet e fundit. Eshtë pothuaj magjike ndjesia e të rikthyerit mbrapa në kohë, sidomos për ata që nuk e kanë jetuar asnjëherë: do t'u duket sikur kanë hyrë brenda një filmi të vjetër. Gjithsesi, duhet t'i besoni instinktit dhe banorëve të kulturuar gjirokastritë; në lokalet e tyre mund të gjeni mish dhe gatime të shijshme tradicionale. Një nga këto është edhe pijetorja e Kujtim Dumit; në fakt, ai është punonjës në Qendrën e Monumenteve të Kulturës, por e ka blerë këtë qoshe (pjesë e kalasë) që 10 vjet përpara. Ai vend ka ekzistuar si lokal që në vitet 20 - në mes të rrugës së Pazarit të Vjetër, përballë Klubit të Gjuetisë. Aty gatuhen shumë mirë bretkosat, gjithashtu edhe mezet me mëlçi dhe sallatra të freskëta. Djathi është meraku i pronarit dhe ai nuk përton të kërkojë gjithë Gjirokastrën për djathë të mirë deleje

This web-site is dedicated to the UNESCO World Heritage Town of Gjirokastra (or else known as Gjirokaster), Albania as well as the work of Gjirokastra Conservation and Development Organization, an Albanian non-for-profit organization supported by Packard Humanities Institute. Kjo faqe interneti i përkushtohet Gjirokastrës, Qytet i Trashëgimisë Botërore UNESCO dhe veprimtarisë së Organizatës për Ruajtjen dhe Zhvillimin e Gjirokastrës, një organizatë shqiptare jo-fitim-kërkuese e mbështetur nga Packard Humanities Institute.

Gjirokastra Online eshte hapesira pa kufi e qytetit te gurte e cila ju fton te gjitheve te mahniteni me bukurine e saj... Gjirokastra Online eshte hapesira e pa fund kushtuar biznesit gjirokastrit. Ajo ju con nje hap me tej drejt suksesit ne te ardhmen. Ne prezantojme biznesin tuaj ne menyren me dinjitoze dhe krijojme hapesirat e nevojshme per bashkepunime te metejshme. Gjirokastra Online eshte faqja e internetit qe ndan momente argetimi dhe nje mori informacionesh ne te cilat nuk mungojne per asnje cast publikimet e reja nga bota e artit, kultures, sportit etj... Muzike, Chat, Forum, Lojra, Programe, Video, Foto e shume te tjera i bashkangjiten kesaj faqe per te kenaqur te gjitha kerkesat e vizitoreve te shumte qe jane gjithmone te mirepritur...

Situated in southern Albania, Gjirokastra perches on the steep side of the Drino valley overlooking an historic landscape framed by snow-capped mountains. This ‘city of a thousand steps’ comprises hundreds of Ottoman-style tower houses with distinctive stone roofs, wooden balconies and whitewashed stone walls. Dominated by the sheer flanks of its vast castle, Gjirokastra is a magical city with a tumultuous past. From feudal stronghold to Ottoman jewel to Italian colony, the city has known many rulers and has inspired poets, authors and artists. Known by many as the City of Stone, Gjirokastra is a developing centre for cultural heritage tourism. A walk around the network of cobbled streets that climb steeply out of the bazaar will transport you back in time. A visit to the vast 13th-century castle brings the adventurous tales of medieval rulers and communist atrocities alive. There is much to see in Gjirokastra and the surrounding areas, and a stay in bed and breakfast accommodation in one of the converted Ottoman houses can make an excellent base for exploring the region. We hope this website will provide all you need to be inspired to visit Gjirokastra. This site was developed and is maintained by the Gjirokastra Conservation and Development Organization with the support of Packard Humanities Institute

The city of Gjirokastër in the southern part of Albania has several claims to fame. Besides being the birthplace of two of the most important Albanians – communist dictator Enver Hoxha and world-renowned writer Ismail Kadare, the city also brings together different elements of the country’s mixed history, representing its Byzantine, Ottoman and Communist pasts. During his visit to the “Town of the Stones,” BalkanTravellers.co m contributor Bruce Macphail marvelled at the city’s scenery and explored the traces left by its various inhabitants through the centuries, including a Byzantine castle, a well-preserved Ottoman town, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, a museum of armaments and an ethnographic museum. This article is part of a series of travelogues by Bruce Macphail as he makes his way from Istanbul to Durrës, Albania, along Via Egnatia, the Roman road that cut through the Balkans. Set hanging off a cliff on the sides of the Drino Valley in southern Albania, Gjirokastër’s unique architecture blends in its surroundings, as the traditional houses are built with grey stone. Given its grey tint, Gjirokastër is a particularly impressive city to reach by night. Going up the hill, along steep cobbled street, to the main square where the hotels are located, the limited street lighting adds to the gloomy outlook of the place. Albanian writer Ismail Kadare describes the city’s atmosphere well in one of this most famous works, the 1971 novel, Chronicle in Stone, which is set in Gjirokastër: “Everything in the city was old and made of stone, from the streets and fountains to the roofs of the sprawling ago-old houses, covered with grey slates like gigantic scales.” The old city has an unsettling tone and it is no wonder that it is the home of the two most notorious Albanians of the twentieth century. Enver Hoxha and Kadare both originate from this town. Despite sharing worldwide fame, it is for two very different reasons. Enver Hoxha was the Communist leader of Albania from 1944 until his death in 1985, spending over 40 years in power. Born into a Bektashi family, a Sufi order of Islam, Hoxha’s birth home is now converted into the Ethnographic museum. Gjirokastër is also the native city of Ismail Kadare, the internationally famous Albanian writer, a candidate for the Nobel Literature Prize and recipient of the first Man Booker International Prize in 2005. The novel Chronicle in Stone, with its extraordinary turn of events, closely reflects the city’s dark and mysterious flavour. “It was a strange city, and seemed to have been cast up in the valley one winter’s night like some prehistoric creature that was now clawing up the mountainside,” Kadare writes in the novel. But, in addition to these two prominent figures linked to the town, Gjirokastër’s long history was marked through the centuries by many others too: Byzantines and Ottomans, followed by Greeks, Italians, Albanians and finally – Communists. Although traces indicate the area was inhabited by humans as early as the first century BC, historical sources claim the city was founded under the Byzantine Empire in the twelfth century. It flourished as a major commercial centre under Byzantine rule before passing to the Ottomans in 1417, which made it the southern Albanian province’s administrative centre and commercial hub. The Ottomans left Albania formally in 1912-13, less than 100 years ago, as a result of the First Balkan War. In the four decades between 1913 and 1944, the city changed ownership several times – Greece, Italy, and even Germany controlled it on various occasions, before Albania – as it fell under the Communist regime, finally reclaimed Gjirokastër in 1944. Under the regime, the city developed as an industrial and commercial centre and was elevated to the status of a museum town as Enver Hoxha’s birthplace. These historical twists and turns, reflected in the traces left by the city’s various inhabitants through the centuries, make for an interesting array of sites that attract visitors to the city today. Gjirokastër’s most obvious site, the caste - Kalaja e Gjirokastres, manages to unite all the significant parts of the city’s history. Supposedly dating to pre-Christian times, the current structure is from the thirteenth century, when the area was under Byzantine rule. t is still well preserved today, having undergone subsequent renovations, of which an important one was undertaken by Ali Pasha, western Rumelia’s ruler, who extended the castle in the nineteenth century. At that time, the structure was used as a garrison for the Ottoman army. Its latest use, under Communist rule, was as a prison and the jail cells can still be seen on the castle’s top floor. Inside the walls, there is a cafeteria that boasts a terrace affording a great view of the city and valley, as well as an indoor area down in an old room of the castle, with thick walls and limited light. The National Museum of Armaments is also housed in the castle. It has a limited collection, as the castle was pillaged several times in the 1990s. The remaining arms are mostly foreign built and there is a Lockheed T33, shot down in 1957, on exhibit in the castle. Ottoman rule left a strong mark on Gjirokastër’s architecture too and one of the interesting sights to visit in the town are the traditional Ottoman houses. Architecturally, the most interesting addition by the Ottomans are the tower houses which housed the wealthy Ottoman merchants. One of them is particularly well conserved. Built in 1812, the two-towered Zekate House can be visited with permission of the family. The Zekate house is a short hike from the main bazaar, there is a gate at the entrance with a guard dog which looks too old to incur any serious damage but barks loud enough to let the owners know of a visitors presence. An old lady living in a house adjacent to the Zekate House has the key to the main house and she’ll exchange it against a small fee. The large key opens the massive front door, where the visitor can explore freely. The edifice is built on four stories and has intricate engravings in the sitting rooms of the top floor. The view on the castle and valley are stunning. Located closer to the Zekate house, the Ethnographic Museum is also worth a visit. Albania is home to such a diverse set of cultures that ethnographic museum can be seen in most historical towns, and they always offer a wide range of variety in the costumes and other artefacts. Also worth noting the museum is located in the house where Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha was born. The old bazaar, Pazari i vjetër, at the foot of the fortress, was originally built in the seventeenth century, but had to be rebuilt in the nineteenth century after it burned down. It is home to numerous typical stone houses. In the summer time, it is very lively in the evening with terraces and live music being played. The old town of Gjirokastër became a UNESCO World Heritage Sight in 2005 as “a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town, built by farmers of large estate.” This will hopefully help it develop and take better care of the sights. While there are some visible recent improvements, more needs to be done especially regarding securing the maintenance of the old houses and sights. There is Tourist Information Centre which looks in the Bazaar area, with multilingual staff and newly produced brochures of the city which have a lot of information. Practical Information: How to get there: Gjirokastër is located about 280 kilometres south of Tirana. The drive from the capital takes about 5 hours. Where to stay: We recommend in a traditional Gjirokastër house. Prices start at 17 euro per person per night.