Gjirokastër Highlights

Gjirokastër, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is characterized by its distinctive Ottoman-era stone houses and steep, cobbled streets. This historic center is dominated by its massive 12th-century fortress, which contains a 19th-century clock tower. The city's layout includes the 17th-century Old Bazaar, a complex Cold War-era underground bunker, and the remains of an extensive aqueduct system built by Ali Pasha. These landmarks represent centuries of military, commercial, and political history in the Drino Valley.