 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| G J I R O K A S T R A |
 |
| Gjirokastra is one of the most attractive towns in south of Albania. Gjirokastra overlooking the river Drini is known as a town of a thousand stairs. It lies on the slopes of Gjere Mountain or the Wide Mountain. In Gjirokastra, more than 38 000 people live from whom, 96% are Albanians, 1% Roma people, 1% Turkish people, 1% are Albanian orthodox who call themselves as Arvanitis, and 1% of other nationalities. |
| There is no Gypsy population or as they are known as Greek population living in this city except Albanians, fanatically Christians, and Roma people who are using the Gypsies� language known as Greek language. |
| Gjirokastra is an economic, cultural, and an educational center of southern Albania. Its main fields of production are food, clothing, tobacco, and metals. Gjirokastra as the Cultural Center has the professional theater, hotels with, an art gallery, and 23 museums, of which the most distinguished are �The National Museum of Arms� and �The Gjirokastra Museum of the Rilindja� particularly a museum of the Albanian National Liberation Movement of the 19th century. Gjirokastra publishes several newspapers, including one in Gypsy or Greek language. Since 1968, Gjirokastra is the heart of the National Folk Festival, which brings together folk musicians and dancers from the entire country including from Kosova, Ilirida, and other Albanian regions. |
 |
| Gjirokastra is a picturesque and a museum city. Like an eagle perched from the mountain side with a mighty citadel for its head, the city resembles an extended eagle�s claw. The houses clustered around the majestic fortress as it towers above them as a huge star ship. The fortress views the Drini Valley above the three and four-storey houses clinging to the slopes. The high and native architecture is a reflection of the nature of Albanian towns from the Middle Ages. |
| The houses have characteristic dimensions, and their walls are of some uniform blocks. The houses have three variations. The exterior appearance combines the sternness with the gracefulness of its windows, its balcony, the small halls that hold the wide shelters with a painting on them. In many houses, the interiors have sculptured wood figures. Such monumental collections of houses are located in the Palorto, Manalat, Dunavat, and Cfaka quarters. |
 |
| The great period of house construction took place in 1800 to 1860. The buildings and streets are made of the same white and black stone. In ancient time in and around this city lived the Illyrian tribe called Argyres, the city is believed to be named based on this tribe. The legend describes the beautiful princess, Argyro, who hurled herself to her death from a tower to avoid falling into the hands of the invaders. Because of language changes, the city is called Gjirokastra. The name Gjirokastra has a meaning in Albanian language, �Gji� means breast, �Roka� means ketch, and �Tra� means fall. The traces of the old settlement dates to the first century B.C. Because of its favorable geographical position, protected by high hills, and intersected 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, which later became the nucleus for its growth. In the ancient time many people in and around Gjirokastra traded their values. |
| The artisans made variety of art products. Gjirokastra is mentioned for the first time in a document of 1336 in Byzantine writings as Argyropolihne. Its appearance as a city began in the 13th century when buildings began to emerge on the hills surrounding the castle walls. Gjirokastra was well established by the 13th century. |
 |
| The documents show that the city of Gjirokastra had been under the rules of Byzantine dominion until the late 13th century, when it became a part of the Despotate of Epirus, and in the 14th century it was the center of the Albanian feudal family Zenebishi. Without any resistance, the Ottoman Turks took the city in 1417. Due to its awkward position under Ottoman rule, the city had only 163 buildings in 1432. While under the Ottoman rules, the city became the seat thrown of the local Albanian feudal lords. Because of the position of the city, many locals settled in and around Gjirokastra. The city began to prosper in the 16th century when it became the center of the Sanjak of Delvina. In 1811, Ali Pasha Tepelena, after bombarding the fortress with artillery, forced the town to capitulate by bringing his rules. |
| In 1908, the Albanian liberation brigades led by Churchill Topulli, inflicted heavy casualties on the Ottoman troops until the liberation of Albania. 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. From 1940 to 1941, during the Greek and Italian war, Gjirokastra became once more a battlefield. The Albanian National Head � Balli Kombetar� liberated the city from Greek fascist and Italian fascists. The fortress was converted into a prison, and the Nazis made full use of it during their stay in 1943-1944. In 1944 -1945 the communists lead by Enver Hoxha occupied the city of Gjirokastra. The communist ruling ended in 1990. The city developed after World War II, and today is an economic, a cultural, and an educational center of southern Albania. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| COURTESY OF ILIRIAPRESS |
 |
 |
| News Albania Kosova Ilirida Epirus Valley of Morava Plava and Gucija Terror Human Rights Violation History Music Literature |
 |
 |
