TIRANA, Oct 4 /ATA/ – More than 50 000 tourists visited the castle and other attractions in the museum city of Gjirokaster, a UNESCO world heritage site, in September alone, Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage said on Friday.
According to official data, the number of visitors to Gjirokaster, a popular destination in southern Albania, rose 19% year-on-year to 50,818 visitors in September.
Gjirokaster is a very important historical and cultural town that is known for its extensive use of stone in building the houses, which resemble small fortresses, and cobblestone streets, which is how it got the name “The City of Stone”.
The old town and the domineering 4th century castle and fortress grant Gjirokaster the UNESCO World Heritage Site status because it’s a rare and wonderful example of a very well-preserved Ottoman town. And it’s one of the prettiest towns in Albania.
The medieval Gjirokaster castle is one of the biggest in the region. Gjirokaster castle is mentioned for the first time as a citadel and a castle in 1336. Situated on the hilltop overlooking the city, the castle extends across the 1100-foot-high hillside, like a giant ship made of stone.
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