This week, the Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage (DRTK) in Gjirokastër completed the restoration of the outer gate of aresidence in the “Manalat” neighborhood within the city’s “Protected Area.” The gate, a prominent feature for many visitors, was in a state of deterioration and has been replaced with a new one while preserving its original elements.

The restoration was conducted in collaboration with the property owner.

Gjirokastër, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is renowned for its stone houses built on steep slopes, giving the city a distinctive stacked appearance. It boasts the oldest bazaar and castle in the Balkans, along with the historic residences of notable Gjirokastër families. The city extends from the mountainside to the edge of the River Drino, which creates a picturesque valley on the eastern side.

Visitors can explore the National Museum of Weapons, the Ethnographic Museum, and several notable traditional houses such as Zekatet, Babametot, Angonatet, and Dulajt.

Since 1968, Gjirokastër hosts the National Folk Festivals, bringing together folk groups from Albania, Kosova, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Italy, and other Albanian-speaking regions, every four years at the castle.

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