Gjirokastra suburbs, Albania
Church of the Monastery of the Dormition of Theotokos in Goranxi
According to the Albanian Orthodox Church data, this monastery dates since 1600, and it is one of the 24 monasteries situated in the valley of Drinos until 1911. The church of this monastery is the best representative example of the post-Byzantine churches in Albania and a very rare one due to the western influences in...
Libohova Sycamore Tree
The 5 centuries-old sycamore tree of Libohova (Rrapi i Libohoves) has been proclaimed a Monument of Nature of the 1st Category. With a great location at the very center of Libohova town square, at an elevation of 414 meters above sea level, reaching a height of 32 m, a diameter of 3 m, and a...
Kardhiqi Fortress
The fortress is situated near the village of Kardhiq in Gjirokastër district. There is not a final verdict about the date of the construction. Obviously, historians consider it diachronic, and some believe that its construction stretched between the 12th C and 14th C. Others judge that the most likely time of its construction is the...
The Fortress of Paleokastra
The Castle of Paleokastër is situated near the village of Paleokastër in the district of Gjirokastra, south of Albania. It belonged to the late antiquity period and was built by the emperor Constantine the Great (272-337 AD) around 311-314 AD as a Roman fort being probably one of the few Roman military installations Balkans. The...
Libohova Fortress
Libohova Fortress is an impressive monument situated between Zagori and Pogoni in the Gjirokaster region, south of Albania. Both these areas are well-known for their natural beauty and wealth in water resources. The Castle was built between 1796 and 1798 and consists of an almost quadrangular fortification built by Ali Pasha. The Ottoman Albanian ruler...
Ali Pasha’s Bridge
The so-called Ali Pasha Bridge, or Dunavat Bridge, is part of a large complex built by Ali Pasha Tepelena in the early 19th century, following the aqueduct. It is situated in the upper part of Gjirokastra, at a distance of around 45-minute walk, uphill, through two historic quarters such as Manalat and Dunavat. It demonstrates...
Kordhocë Bridge
Located about two kilometers south of Gjirokastër, Kordhoca Bridge is one of the most important Ottoman period buildings in Epirus. The stone arch bridge spans the Drino river at a maximum height of 7 meters, stretching about 20 meters with a width of 3.7 meters. According to historians, it was built around 1820 and at that time, it...
The Ancient site of Andrianoupoli
Sofratika Theater is located in the village of the same name about 500m east of the national road (Gjirokastra-Kakavija). The theater has a diameter of 50m and has a capacity of approximately 4000 people. It is the only example in the Balkans of an open field theater. This theater is thought to have been built...
Church of the Dormition of Theotokos
The Church of the Dormition of Theotokos, simply known as Koimissi or Saint Mary Church is an Eastern Orthodox Christian church in the village of Labovë e Kryqit, in Gjirokastra. It is one of the most representative samples of Byzantine architecture in Albania. The church shares a number of typical features of 9th–11th century Byzantine...
The Ancient Site of Antigonea
Antigonea is now an archaeological park, which is located in the province of Lunxheria, east of Gjirokastra, near the village Saraqinisht. This is an ancient city of the II century BC (since 296 BC). It is believed that the city was founded by King Pyrros of Epirus, who named the town in honor of his...