Zekate House

Zekate House History: Zekate House (Albanian: Zapanaja e Zekatëve), is a house in Gjirokastër, Albania. The house, built in 1812, is said to be “one of the grandest examples of Gjirokastër architecture in the Ottoman style”. Fortified tower houses, (known as kullë in Albanian), belonged to wealthy people, such as government officials or merchants. All rooms have a basic design: […]

Skenduli House Description: Skender Skenduli, another wealthy land owner, built the Skendulate House (22) in 1823 during Gjirokastra’s greatest period. The house had two courtyards and is unique in having both an internal and external staircase. It used to have 46 chimneys, indicating the wealth of the Skënduli family.  The main guest room (oda), in […]

Ethnographic Museum (Enver Hoxha’s House) History: Gjirokastër Ethnographic Museum is a museum in western Gjirokastër, Albania. The museum, constructed in 1966, is built on the site of communist leader Enver Hoxha’s birth home and offers an insight into the traditional lifestyle of the town. From 1966 to 1991, the building served as the Anti-Fascist Museum, but after the fall […]

Gjirokaster Castle Hitory: Gjirokastër Castle (Albanian: Kalaja e Gjirokastrës or Kalaja e Argjirosë) is a fortress in Gjirokastër, Albania (during Ottoman rule it was historically known as Ergiri while local Greeks referred to it as Argyrokastro, a name applied also to the castle). Gjirokastër Castle is situated at a height of 336 metres (1,102 ft). The castle dominates the town and overlooks the strategically important […]

Gjirokastra Bazaar Description: The Old Bazaar in Gjirokastra, called by locals as “Qafa  e Pazarit” makes up the centre of the Old Town. The history of Bazaar dates back in 17th century. In fact there is no much left from that period. The sources says that a destroying fire impacted the old bazaar in 3d […]

Byllis History: Byllis was an ancient city and the chief settlement of the Illyrian tribe of the Bylliones, located in the transboundary region between southern Illyria and Epirus. The remains of Byllis are situated north-east of Vlorë, 25 kilometers from the sea in Hekal, Fier County, Albania. Byllis was designated as an archaeological park on 7 April 2003 by the government of Albania. Stephanus of Byzantium mentions a town called Byllis […]

Church of St Mary History: Thechurch is a lovely stone and brick building with a terracotta roof with a domeand a separate bell tower which was built later. The church, built between1250-1270 upon the remains of an older church.The St MaryChurch which is the part of the Orthodox Ardenica Monastery and its wonderfulfrescoes and icons […]

Apollonia Archaeological Park Description: If we could choose the one place where you will have your most memorable encounter with history in Albania, it would have to be the ancient city of Apollonia, founded in the sixth century B.C. Situated in southwestern Albania, about 13 miles from the city of Fier, this city was built by Greek […]

St. George Cathedral St George Cathedral is the second biggest church in Albania’s territory. It’s located in the centre of Fier city, very close to the Municipality Building and to the Mosque. It’s a part of the new project for the centre and it’s next to Gjanica River. Open: No info Duration: 20 min Places […]

Cyclopes Eye Description In Elbasan there is a destination that has aroused the curiosity of many visitors. He is the Eye of the Cyclops and there is a legend about him. There is a legend about the abyss below the rocks of Krraba. There is a lake with emerald water. They say that it is […]