Gjirokastër

Gjirokastër (Greek: Αργυρόκαστρον Argyrókastron, Italian: Argirocastro, Turkish: Ergiri) is a city in southern Albania at 40°04′N 20°08′E / 40.067°N 20.133°E / 40.067; 20.133 with a population of around 30,000. It is the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County. Its old town is inscribed on the World Heritage List as "a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town, built by farmers of large estate".

Gjirokastër is one of the most venerable towns of Albania. Its name means Silver Fortress, and neatly shows the relation within one linguistic group of Greek, Latin, Etruscan and Albanian. Following the archeological site of Butrint, located on the Ionian coast south of the city of Saranda, Gjirokastër was the second site in Albania to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In the south of the country, 300 meters above sea level, Gjirokastër has a beautiful and dramatic situation in a lush valley between the high Gjerë mountains and the rushing river Drin or Drinos.

History

Gjirokastër is an ancient city with traces of human habitation dating back to the 1st century BC. It is located on the slopes of the Mali i Gjerë ("Wide Mountain"), overlooking the Drinos river. The city was probably founded some time in the 12th century AD around a fortress on the hillside. Under the rule of the Byzantine Empire, it developed into a major commercial centre known as Argyropolis ("Silver City", Greek: Αργυρόπολις) or Argyrokastron ("Silver Castle", Greek: Αργυρόκαστρον).

The city was part of the Despotate of Epirus in the 14th century before passing to the Ottoman Empire in 1417. It was captured in 1811 by the Albanian-born Ali Pasha, who carved out his own semi-autonomous fiefdom in the southwestern Balkans. In the late 19th century it became a centre of resistance to Turkish rule. The Assembly of Gjirokastër, a key event in the history of the Albanian liberation movement, was held there in 1880.

During the First Balkan War of 1912-1913, the city was claimed by Greece due to its large ethnic Greek population, but they never achieved it. During the Second World War, the city was occupied on various occasions by Italy, Greece and Germany before returning to permanent Albanian control in 1944.

The postwar Communist regime developed the city as an industrial and commercial centre. It was elevated to the status of a "museum town" largely due to the fact that it was the birthplace of the dictator Enver Hoxha, who had been born there in 1908. His house was converted into a museum which became a focal point of Hoxha's cult of personality.

Gjirokastër suffered severe economic problems following the end of communist rule in 1991. It was particularly badly affected by the 1997 collapse of a massive pyramid scheme which destabilised the entire Albanian economy. The city became the focus of a rebellion against the government of Sali Berisha and violent anti-government protests took place which eventually forced Berisha's resignation. On December 16 1997, Hoxha's house was blown up by unknown (but presumably anti-communist) attackers.

Economy

Gjirokastër is principally a commercial centre with some industries, notably the production of foodstuffs, leather, and textiles.

Culture and places of interest

Many houses in Gjirokastër have a distinctive local style that has earned the city the nickname "Town of the Stones", because most of the old houses have roofs covered with stones. Due to Gjirokastër's importance to the Communist regime, its city centre was spared at least some of the thoughtless redevelopment that afflicted other cities in Albania, but its designation as a "museum town" unfortunately did not translate into maintaining the old town. Consequently, many of its historic buildings have become dilapidated, a problem that is only slowly being resolved.

The Citadel dominates the town and overlooks the strategically important route along the river valley. It is open to visitors and contains a military museum featuring captured artillery and memorabilia of the Communist resistance against German occupation, as well as a captured United States Air Force plane to commemorate the Communist regime's struggle against the "imperialist" powers. The citadel dates back to the 18th century and its construction was ordered by Gjin Bue Shpata, a local tribal leader. Additions were built during the 19th and 20th centuries by Ali Pasha Tepelene and the Government of King Zog. Today it possesses five towers and houses a clock tower, a church, water fountains, horse stables, and many more amenities. The northern part of the castle was eventually turned into a prison by Zog's government and housed political prisoners during the communist regime.

Gjirokastër also features an old bazaar which was originally built in the 17th century, but which had to be rebuilt in the 19th century after it burned down. There are more than 200 homes preserved as "cultural monuments" in Gjirokastër today, and it is also the site of the National Albanian Folk Festival held every four years (most recently in 2005).

When the town was first proposed for inscription on the World Heritage List in 1988, ICOMOS experts were nonplussed by a number of modern constructions which detracted from the old town's appearance. The historic core of Gjirokastër was finally inscribed in 2005, 15 years after its original nomination.

Education

The first Albanian school of Gjirokastër was Drita School opened in 1908. Eqerem Çabej University of Gjirokastra is the highest education school.

Famous inhabitants

Eqrem Çabej, ethnologist
Nelson Çabej, molecular biologist
Adil Çarçani, former Prime Minister
Andon Zako Çajupi, writer
Enver Hoxha, dictator
Koto Hoxhi
Ismail Kadare, writer
Viktor Kalemi, translator and former Ambassador of Albania
Musine Kokalari, author
Omer Nishani
Baba Rexhepi, Bektashi religious leader
Avni Rustemi
Zihni Sako, writer
Çerçiz Topulli, Albanian resistance fighter
Haki Toska
Asim Zeneli

References

External links