ATA 07/16/2025

ATA - Gjirokastra celebrates 20 years as a UNESCO Site

TIRANA, July 15 /ATA/ Gjirokastra commemorates two decades as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, continuing to stand out as one of Albania’s foremost cultural and historical tourist destinations.

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared in the social media images from Gjirokastra on the occasion of this anniversary.

“Gjirokastra celebrates 20 years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and forever a treasure of the soul,” wrote Rama.

By the end of June this year, Gjirokastra Castle had attracted 100,000 visitors.

Known also as the Castle of Argjiro, it stands as the city’s most iconic monument. Perched majestically on a hilltop, it evokes the image of a ship extending its welcome to both domestic and foreign guests.

Gjirokastra, also known as the “stone city,” is one of the most beautiful cities in southern Albania and among the first Albanian cities to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Its castle is perched on a hill slightly detached from the Mali i Gjerë mountain range, rising from a vantage point approximately 370 metres above sea level.

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