Albania until very recently has remained away from the tourist map. But now Albanians want to show themselves to the world and to teach their beauty, both cultural and natural. And it should be done before mass tourism discovers it. This is how the well-known Spanish newsletter El Pais describes Albania recommending Spanish tourists to visit this country. The article suggests 12 places to visit in Albania, and one of them, absolutely is Gjirokastra. Here is what the article says about Gjirokastra. Traveling to the deep south, we find a unique place, in Albania and in the Balkans: Gjirokastra or Argirocastro (silver castle, in Albanian), a town located in a wide idyllic valley and surrounded by villages that hide ancient Byzantine churches. To understand the origin of its name, it is better to see it in the rain when bright stones of the great fortress, rich in legends and with a gloomy fame for having been used as a prison at various times in its history.

What To Expect

Gjirokaster We will start our tour from Tirana, the first stop we will do it after 2 hours to drink a coffee on the way (around 30 minutes break)then after 1 hour we will reach a UNESCO World Heritage Site city with ease in a day from Tirana. We will visit the Old Town (around 1 hour ) the Gjirokaster Bazaar(around 1 hour ) , Gjirokaster Castle (2 Hours), and more as you navigate the stone streets of the city.

We will enjoy our lunch for 1 hour in one of the best restaurant in Gjirokastra with traditional food. After lunch, it's time to take the last photos in the fantastic streets of Gjirokastera and leave full of inspiration for Tirena. About 3 hours and 30 minutes included a 30 minute break along the way. The tour will be flexible around 10 to 12 hours 4 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Gjirokaster Castle Our company was established on February 28 2014. The origin of the city starts with the castle of Gjirokastra, built in IV century AD. The city was named Argyrokastro, in 1336. In 1417, it was conquered by the Ottoman army. The city reached its peak over 1800-1830 when monumental assembly houses were built. The first neighborhoods are of Bazaar and Hazmurate.

The main characteristic of Gjirokastra is the intensive use of stone in building the houses, which look like small fortresses, the streets of cobblestone, which all lead to Bazaar.

The most important structure of the city is the castle, which is the biggest castle in Albania. Inside the castle, you can visit the Museum of Weapons,opened in 1971. Weapons from the prehistoric times up to the World War II are exhibited on here. 4 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Gjirokastra Bazaar The Old Bazaar in Gjirokastra, called by locals as “Qafa e Pazarit” makes up the centre of the Old Town. The history of Bazaar dates back in 17th century. In fact there is no much left from that period. The sources says that a destroying fire impacted the old bazaar in 3d quarter of 19th century.1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Gjirokaster Castle Gjirokastra’s castle is one of the biggest in the Balkans. It is situated on the hilltop overlooking the city, witnessing the history of the whole region across the centuries. The date for building this fortification is still unclear. According to archaeologists, the place had been inhabited since IV-V century.

However the first walls of this citadel were built between 12th -13th centuries. According to historians, the decision to build this fortification came after the fall of Hadrianopolis. Some rich families built the castle to feel safe and protect themselves from the war. Then gradually many other families populated it.2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

The Blue Eye The "Blue Eye is a water spring and natural phenomenon. A popular tourist attraction, the clear blue water of the river can be seen from a depth of more than fifty metres. Divers have descended to fifty metres, but it is still unclear what the actual depth of the karst hole is. The source stands at an altitude of 152 m and has a discharge rate around 18400 L/s. The protected area of Blue Eye has been designated as a natural monument which covers an area of 180 ha. 1 hour • Admission Ticket Included