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Offered languages
- English
- Italian
Defined by its castle, roads paved with chunky limestone and shale, imposing slate-roofed houses and views out to the Drina Valley, Gjirokastra is a magical hillside town described beautifully by Albania's most famous author, Ismail Kadare (b 1936), in Chronicle in Stone. There has been a settlement here for 2500 years, though these days it's the 600 'monumental' Ottoman-era houses in town that attract visitors. For Albanians, the town is also synonymous with former dictator Enver Hoxha, who was born here and ensured the town was relatively well preserved under his rule, though he is not memorialised in any way here today.
The aim of his tour is for you to experience the unique, magical and friendly atmosphere of Gjirokastra, not just to see the most popular tourist attractions,accompanied by our guides that knows all the secrets of the city.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Our guide will pick you up from your hotel reception indicated in your booking,holding a sign TravelAlbania
Itinerary
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1Gjirokastra Bazaar
Departure from Tirana at 08:30 am.Pass By: Gjirokaster Castle Gjirokastra (approx. 3-hour drive.) Gjirokastra is love on the first sight. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old town is famous for being a well-preserved Ottoman style town, with its fortress overlooking the entire city, the old houses lean against the slopes of the hills with their beautiful old wooden facades. Being the birthplace of the Nobel-laurate writer Ismail Kadare and also of the notorious communist leader Enver Hoxha, the city is intriguing and controversial as it preserves well all phases of history. In this short tour you will have the opportunity to discover some of the magic of the city by visiting the medieval Old Bazaar and the highlight of the city the Argjiro Castle.We will start the tour at Cerciz Topulli square where we will get some information about the tour and also learn a bit about the history of the city. Than we continue towards the Old Bazaar stopping at the Neck of Bazaar learning a bit about the architecture of the Bazaar and another stop at Obelisk the first school of the city. We have an amazing view of the city from here. It is the perfect spot to see some of the old characteristic buildings of the Stone City and also a perfect place to shot some pictures. Than we head towards the Castle where we spend around an hour and a half and learn more about the magic of the city and the history of the Castle. After the Castle we head towards the magical house of Zekate a must see. We learn there about the architecture of the house, what were the rooms used for, take some nice picture accompanied by successors of Zekate. Our last stop will be the Ethnographic Museum which was the house where the dictator of Albania Enver Hoxha was born.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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