"City of a Thousand Stairs" Top 5 Page for this destination Gjirokaster by illumina

Gjirokaster Travel Guide: 104 reviews and 250 photos

Eagle on the mountainside

Gjirokastra, clinging to the slope of Gjere mountain (Mali i Gje:re:) above the valley of the Drin river, is one of the most beautiful cities in Albania. It is known as the town of a thousand stairs due to the steep inclines, and is also called the Stone City because of the attractive stone from which most of the houses are built. It is the birthplace of Enver Hoxha, the communist dictator, and of author Ismail Kadare.

Museum City

Gjirokastra contains some 23 museums, of which my favourite was this Ottoman period tower house. Characteristic of the Balkan region, Gjirokastra contains a series of outstanding examples of typical tower houses (Turkish kule), a type of building which crystallized in the 17th century.

We were shown around by the owner, and a guide who translated for us. The house has been in the owner's family for over 200 years, and each floor is used during a different season of the year (the first floor in winter and the top, second floor in summer I believe). On each floor were two or three living rooms, with divans around 3 walls, and canopied fireplaces. At the back of the rooms were the women's galleries, where the female members of the family were supposed to conceal themselves, although our host explained that his family were more liberal and did not segregate their women.

One of the rooms at the top of the house was beautifully painted with eleborate designs on walls, ceiling, fireplace and on the wood of the door and gallery. The balcony afforded a magnificent view over the town and valley below.

Castle

Dominating the town is the 14th-century citadel, now a Museum of Armaments with a collection of old cannons and guns. In addition, the remains of an ancient American spy-plane, shot down in the 1950s, can be seen in the main yard of the fortress.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Beautiful old town, with fascinating buildings
Cons:Very steep slopes and lots of steps
In a nutshell:Romantic mountain city

Last visit to Gjirokaster: Sep 2002
Intro Updated Apr 19, 2006
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Reviews (9)

Bunkers Favorites (1)

On the way to Gjirokaster, you'll see Hoxha's ubiquitous bunkers in lines all over the Drinos valley, a reminder of the... more travel advice

View from Memedheu ABC Monument, - Gjirokaster

Memedheu ABC Monument Things to Do (5)

The Memedheu ABC Monument is in the centre of the town; it commemorates the 'rebirth' of Albanian education from around... more travel advice

Bazaar Mosque Things to Do (5)

Sadly I didn't actually get to visit this mosque while I was in Gjirokastra, but I got a good view of it from the... more travel advice

Fortress Things to Do (5)

As the castle is the highest point of the town, it offers fantastic views over the city itself and also the Drinos... more travel advice

Hotels (1)
Lingering communist decor
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Comments (8)

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Nemorino Oct 29, 2010 at 1:36 PM

This certainly does look like a beautiful and romantic mountain city -- with a thousand stairs and 23 museums.
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Arkeolog Apr 25, 2010 at 5:01 AM

Graet page. I didnt have time to visit this place when i was in Albania. I shouldgo there next time. Bora
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hunterV Apr 14, 2010 at 10:59 AM

Hello, Joss! ><>< I see it's a wonderful place which I would be privileged to visit.... ><><><><><
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nickandchris Oct 17, 2006 at 9:37 AM

Seems a fascinating place.
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starship Jun 13, 2006 at 7:35 AM

Nice info. on a country I know little about. I see you've been very busy updating or adding new pages. Hope you will take a moment to look at & rate some of my own. Thx.
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JLBG Apr 30, 2006 at 12:36 PM

Very good page. I know that I will have to go to the ethnographic museum next summer! Thanks for the tips!
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sourbugger Apr 27, 2006 at 5:33 AM

must rush now, buts likes good stuff here. i will check it out later
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cachaseiro Mar 29, 2006 at 1:34 PM

absolutely fantastic photos from gjirokaster. thanks for showing us so many images from albania.