GJIROKASTRA
A city in southern Albania with an ancient history, that lies on the hills of Mali
i Gjr (The Wide Mountain), on the eastern side of the valley of Drinos.
Gjirokastra's (pronounced: Gee-roh'-kah'-strah') population is 30,000.
|
|
Traces of old settlements date back to the first century
B.C. Because of its favorable position, protected by the high hills and crossed
by major routes that lead to the inner parts of the country in the north and
the Ionian Sea in the west, it was turned into a castle (The Castle of
Gjirokastra), which became the nucleus for its growth. Its appearance as a city
began in the 13th century, and it is mentioned in Byzantine writings as
Argyropolihne (the city of Argyro). Around this year is when buildings began to
emerge on the hills surrounding the castle walls. It became part of the
Despotate of Epirus, and in the 14th century it was the center of the Albanian
feudal family Zenebish. The Ottoman Turks took the city in 1417. Due to its
awkward position under Ottoman rule, the city had only 163 buildings in 1432.
It began to prosper in the 16th century, when it became the center of the
Sanjak of Delvina.
|
|
Gjirokastra gained its role as an important center during the 17th century,
and it prospered during the years 1800-1830, when new houses were built, with
high architectural and artistic value. The Pazari i Vjetr (Old
Bazaar) and Hazmurat quarters, located on two crests parallel to
each other, are the places where the characteristic Gjirokastra houses were
built the most. The present bazaar, at the center of the town, was first built
in the 17th century. It was set ablaze in the 19th century and was rebuilt with
carved stone to match the houses surrounding it. The Palorto and Manalat
quarters have monumental collections of houses with their characteristic
dimensions and walls of uniform blocks. Houses of the Dunavat
quarters are decorously conjugated with their sites, and in the Cfaka
quarters the shapes of the buildings are in harmony with the greenery. The
Gjirokastra house is one of the most distinguished style of the Albanian house,
which is represented in three variations. The exterior appearance combines the
sternness it projects with the gracefulness of its windows, its lobby (ardak),
the small columns that hold the wide shelters, sometimes with paintings on
them. In many cases the interiors have sculptured wood. The high architectural
value of the houses are a reflection of the nature of Albanian towns from the
Middle Ages through the 20th century.
|
|
During the 19th century, Gjirokastra played an important role in the Albanian
liberation movement of that period, it was the site of the Assembly of
Gjirokastra, which was held in July, 1880.
The city developed after World War II, and today is an economic, cultural,
and educational center of southern Albania. Its main fields of production are
food, clothing, tobacco, and metals. Gjirokastra has the "A. Z.
ajupi" Cultural Center with a professional theater, gallery of arts, and
23 museums, of which the most distinguished are The National Museum of Arms and
the Gjirokastra Museum of the Rilindja (the Albanian National
Liberation Movement of the 19th century). Gjirokastra publishes several
newspapers, including ones in Greek, since it is home to part of the Greek
minority of Albania.
Every five years since the year 1968, Gjirokastra is the site of the
National Folk Festival, which brings together folk musicians and dancers from
the entire country, and lately from Kosova and the Albanian populated regions
of FYR of Macedonia.
|
|
