world reviewer
Gjirokastra
Listed under Historic Towns and Villages in Albania. Rated 111th of all Historic Towns and Villages in the world.
The historic town of Gjirokastra, in the Drinos River valley in southern Albania, is a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town, built by farmers of large estate. The 13th-century citadel provides the focal point of the town with its typical tower houses (Turkish kule). Characteristic of the Balkan region, Gjirokastra contains a series of outstanding examples of kule, a type of building that crystallized in the 17th century. But Gjirokastra also features some more elaborate examples from the early 19th century. The kule has a tall basement, a first floor for use in the cold season, and a second floor for the warm season. Interiors feature rich decorative details and painted floral patterns, particularly in the zones reserved for the reception of visitors. The town also retains a bazaar, an 18th-century mosque and two churches of the same period.
Copyright © UNESCO/World Heritage Centre. All rights reserved.
Written by 
World Reviewer Staff.
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