“Automobile enthusiasts and tourists brought a new colour to autumn in Gjirokaster,” Rama wrote alongside footage from the event.

Rare historic cars lined the cobbled streets of the UNESCO-listed stone city, creating a distinctive setting against the sounds of Albanian iso-polyphony and Gjirokaster’s characteristic landscape.

The “Gran Tour Albania”, organised by the Old Cars Club and Albania’s General Directorate of Road Transport Services (DPSHTRR), brought together Italian collectors of historic vehicles and attracted tourists and automobile enthusiasts.

The event was part of a tour promoting vintage cars and Albanian tourist destinations, with the Gjirokaster stop adding a different dimension to the city’s autumn tourism offering.

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Speaking at an information meeting with local officials and residents in the southern city of Gjirokastër as part of consultations on the reform, Rama said the changes would aim to rationalise the allocation of local government functions and improve the functioning of administrative units.

“The aim is to ensure a more rational distribution of some functions that small municipalities cannot perform, and to address the fact that administrative units themselves are not functioning properly,” Rama said.

Such representation would allow the towns to have a direct voice in municipal decision-making and budget allocations, he added.

Rama also acknowledged concerns that some administrative units were not functioning effectively or fulfilling the responsibilities for which they were established.

The territorial reform consultations, he said, were intended to address these shortcomings and create a more functional structure for local government.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video postcard of the city on social media on Wednesday, highlighting Gjirokastra’s historic character and its appeal to domestic and international tourists.

The city’s most prominent landmark is Gjirokastra Castle, which sits on a hill rising from the Mali i Gjerë range. Built in a strategic position overlooking the surrounding area, the fortress stands about 370 metres above sea level.

Gjirokastra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has become an increasingly important destination on Albania’s tourism map in recent years. Its historic bazaar, castle, traditional houses, cobbled streets and rich cultural heritage are among its main attractions.

Rising tourist numbers have also boosted activity among local artisans, while more families in surrounding rural areas are investing in accommodation and other tourism-related businesses.

The city’s tourism offer is expanding beyond its historic centre to include rural experiences, traditional cuisine and agritourism. Farms and guesthouses in the surrounding villages offer visitors an opportunity to experience local food and rural life.

Gjirokastra’s appeal lies in the combination of history, nature and gastronomy, while the growth in tourism is also supporting handicrafts and encouraging family-run investment in nearby villages.

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A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the museum city of Gjirokaster is known for its rich history, distinctive architecture and atmosphere that evokes another era.

Prime Minister Edi Rama on Monday shared images of the city on social media, highlighting its transformation and emergence as one of Albania’s most prominent tourist destinations.

Rama contrasted Gjirokaster as it was in the past with the city visitors see today, describing a transformation evident in “every stone and every alleyway.”

The images show the city as it once looked and document changes to its urban landscape through the restoration and revitalisation of historic areas.

“We found Gjirokaster with much of its beauty hidden beneath years of neglect. Today, transformed, it speaks for itself, stone by stone and alley by alley, as one of Albania’s most beautiful and most visited destinations,” Rama said.

Gjirokaster draws visitors with its distinctive character, combining traditional stone houses, narrow cobbled streets and panoramic views to offer a unique experience.

The city’s best-known landmark is Gjirokaster Castle, which stands on a hill rising from the Mali i Gjerë range.

Built in a strategic position overlooking the city, the castle sits about 370 metres above sea level and offers sweeping views of Gjirokaster and the surrounding area.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday shared images of the family-run business on social media, highlighting its setting amid nature and traditional Albanian hospitality.

Located about 1,000 metres above sea level, the farm offers visitors fresh air, tranquillity, scenic views and locally sourced fresh produce, Rama said.

The business, which has received support from the Albanian Agency for Agricultural Development (AZHBR) through the EU-funded IPARD programme, offers accommodation in seven rooms.

“Bizhga” agrotourism farm is adding another attractive rural tourism destination to Gjirokastër, Rama said.

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Tourists from the United States, France, Spain and Italy shared their impressions while visiting Gjirokaster Castle, highlighting the city’s rich heritage and distinctive character.

“I came here to visit Gjirokaster Castle. It is really beautiful and has a very rich history, dating back several centuries. That makes the city really interesting,” said an American visitor.

She said the visit had given her an opportunity to see first-hand elements of the past and how traditions and historic landmarks had been preserved across generations.

French visitors also praised the city and castle, singling out their history and architecture as well as Albanian cuisine.

“We visited the castle, which is full of interesting history. It is beautiful, as is the city as a whole. We also really enjoyed the food. We had tavë kosi (yogurt and lamb casserole) and moussaka,” they said.

Visitors from Spain were particularly impressed by the castle’s history and architecture, while describing the surrounding landscape as a place to relax.

“We are here to visit this beautiful castle. We read that it is also linked to World War Two, and its history and architecture are very interesting. The city is beautiful, and the landscape we can see from here is wonderful. You can really relax, and we also enjoyed the food,” a tourist from Barcelona said.

An Italian visitor said even a short stay had been enough to appreciate the city’s appeal.

“Unfortunately, we stayed for only one day, but it was enough to see the beauty of the city. Both the castle and the surrounding nature were truly precious. The landscape is very beautiful,” she said.

For foreign visitors, Gjirokaster offers a combination of history, architecture, nature and cuisine, making it one of the destinations drawing tourists to southern Albania.

Gjirokaster Castle, the historic city and the surrounding landscape remain among the area’s main attractions, contributing to efforts to promote Albania’s cultural heritage and tourism.

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Deputy Minister Albana Koçiu described the “Stone City” on the anniversary as a shared heritage of humanity and a source of great pride for Albania, saying that for more than two decades it has showcased its values to the world.

The inscription on July 15, 2005, followed a lengthy process of documentation and evaluation, during which Albanian institutions, heritage experts and the local community worked together to demonstrate the city’s outstanding universal value.

The Academy of Sciences said Gjirokastra’s inclusion on the UNESCO list was supported by research from historians and architects, the commitment of the Ministry of Culture and the Institute of Cultural Monuments, as well as by local residents who have carefully preserved the city’s distinctive tower houses, the old bazaar, an 18th-century mosque and churches dating from the Ottoman period.

The living heritage reflected in its cobbled streets and its 13th-century citadel stands as evidence of historic urban life and a rare example of preserved Ottoman architecture.

Gjirokastra is not only a museum city, but also a symbol of Albania’s cultural identity, a heritage treasure connecting the country with its history and strengthening its place on the world’s cultural map.

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The Haskova Bridge, located at the entrance to the village of the same name along the Gjirokastër -Jorgucat road, spans the Dry River (Alb. Lumi i Thatë) and is a notable example of traditional Albanian bridge-building.

The humpback stone bridge features two arches with spans of 6.4 metres and 7.8 metres. Built entirely of limestone slabs, its arches are slightly pointed and framed by finely dressed stonework. The bridge’s cobbled deck is paved with limestone blocks and interrupted at regular intervals by transverse stone steps, a distinctive construction feature. The structure reaches a maximum height of 4.6 metres.

Another important example of traditional engineering is the Glina Bridge, located near the village of Grapsh alongside the national highway. Built over a branch of the Drino River, locally known as the Dry River, the bridge provides access to the nearby village of Glina, from which it takes its name.

The bridge consists of four boat-shaped stone arches spanning between 5 and 7.2 metres, a hallmark of traditional Albanian bridge architecture. Historical records show it was already documented in 1897 as an important crossing linking the villages of Peshkëpi and Grapsh.

Both bridges are considered valuable monuments of Albania’s cultural heritage and remain popular attractions for visitors exploring the history, traditional architecture and natural landscapes of the country’s southern region.

Their preservation and promotion continue to enrich the cultural tourism offer in the southern Albania district of Gjirokastër.

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The UNESCO-listed city, known for its distinctive stone architecture, continues to attract both domestic and foreign visitors year-round, drawn by its cultural heritage, historic landmarks and traditional cuisine.

In a post on social media, Rama highlighted the steady flow of tourists visiting the city’s historic bazaar, museums, restaurants and cafés.

Among Gjirokastër’s main attractions is its hilltop citadel, which overlooks the city and surrounding valley. The city is also home to several museums, including the Cold War Museum, the Weapons Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and the Ismail Kadare House Museum.

The museum city of Gjirokastër, one of Albania’s best-preserved Ottoman-era towns, was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for its outstanding architectural and cultural significance.

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The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Blendi Gonxhja, shared images of the castle teeming with tourists, highlighting the growing interest in cultural tourism in Albania’s south.

“A picture that speaks more than words. Gjirokastër Castle welcomes visitors from around the world every day, amid history, architecture and unique landscapes,” Gonxhja said, noting that the summer season is just beginning.

Visitors from across Europe and beyond are drawn to the UNESCO-protected city of Gjirokastër to explore its historic architecture, cobblestone streets, and panoramic views over the Drino valley.

Darsi Dhuka, director of Gjirokastër’s Cultural Heritage Directorate, told Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) that from January through early May, roughly 48,000 tourists visited the castle, with nearly 70% being foreign visitors.

“The high number of visitors in the first 12 days of May indicates that the summer season has just started and tourist arrivals are expected to increase significantly in the coming months,” Dhuka said.

Foreign tourists show particular interest in the castle’s monumental architecture, the Weapons Museum housed within the site, and the city’s panoramic vistas. In April alone, 72% of visitors were from over 40 countries worldwide, while 28% were domestic tourists.

“These figures reflect growing international interest in Gjirokastër’s history and culture, as well as increasing engagement from domestic visitors in exploring and appreciating our national heritage,” Gonxhja said.

Interest in visiting Gjirokastër continues to rise year on year, establishing the city as one of Albania’s key cultural tourism destinations. Last year, the castle welcomed 307,000 visitors.

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