Destination 》Europe 》Central and Eastern Europe 》Albania 》Gjirokaster
Year Visited: 2018 – September
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After few days in Saranda (Sarandë), an unofficial capital of the Albanian Riviera, we continued our backpacking through the Balkans journey and arrive in the old town of Gjirokastër, the prettiest Ottoman town in Albania and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Gjirokastër, is an Ottoman-era “museum city” complete with a beautifully destroyed castle perched on top of a huge hill, surrounded by houses with layered flat stone roofs. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, described as “a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town, built by farmers of large estate”.
Gjirokastër can be divided into roughly two halves, the old town up on the hill, and the new town in the valley below. The hilly old town has very steep cobbled streets. As we had only one night in the town, we spent most of our time in the Old town.
Along with Muslim and Orthodox Albanians, the city is also home to a substantial Greek minority. Together with Sarandë, the city is considered one of the centers of the Greek community in Albania.
Gjirokastër is the birthplace of former Albanian communist leader Enver Hoxha.
After a night in the prettiest Ottoman town in Albania, we continued our backpacking through the Balkans journey by taking a bus to the old town of Berat, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Window on the World 