Experience the present and past life of the City of Stone. Culture, history, architecture, archaeology, traditional gastronomy, nature. A three days experience just for those who love heritage, tradition and more…
Day 1: Gjirokastra at first sight – a Chronicle in Stone
Starting time 09.00
Introduction to the history and heritage of Gjirokastra
- Visit the Castle and the Gjirokastra Museum
Ancient handicrafts and artisan traditions of Gjirokastra
- Meet artisans and handmade souvenir producers
- Shop for personalized souvenirs in the Medieval Bazaar
Tasting the mastery of Gjirokastra home cooking
- Lunch with homemade food in a typical historic house,
- Taste traditional dishes of Gjirokastra: qifqi and hoshaf
Written in stone: the unique architecture of the Gjirokastra
- Walk upon the unique cobblestone streets
- Visit the Medieval Bazaar and Palorto neighborhood
- Meet a master stone-carver.
- Socialize with the locals.
Ottoman-style Gjirokastra houses and life in the past
- Visit the tower house of Zekate and meet the family visiting the Babameto House
- An example of revitalization in effort to save the City of Stone
Experience iso – polyphonic traditional Gjirokastra singing – singing class
- Sipping traditional “coffee of stone” (ground in stone)
- Evening of entertainment and traditional dinner at the 19th century Babameto House
- A full local taste entertainment: food, dancing, and singing together
Day 2 : Life in Gjirokastra – the challenge of saving the historic city
Starting time 09.00
Visiting the Skenduli House
- The challenge of restoration and preservation of the authenticity
- A visit to the newly restored home of the most famous Albanian writer: Ismail Kadare
- Learn about the architecture and life of Kadare’s hometown
An extraordinary variety of the traditional costumes
- Visit the Ethnographic Museum
- Meet a senior artisan who works on costumes
Lunch from a traditional wood stove
- Eat lunch cooked together in a traditional stove
- Learn three local recipes prepared for you
- Take the written recipes home with you
Isolation and paranoia under Communism
- Visit to the Cold War Tunnel under the Castle Visit the Armament’s Museum
- Meet with two locals who tell their different stories about their lives under Communism
Dinner made exclusive from a family’s garden in Karjan village
- Visit the Krisafi family’s garden Choose your fresh vegetables for dinner in the family garden Cooking class – experience local cooking from the family Taste dhalla (savory yogurt-based beverage), homemade raki (strong alcoholic distillation of grapes) …and more.
Day 3 – A day in the Gjirokastra Countryside
Starting time 09.00
Crossing the picturesque Drino river valley, experience its rich history and diverse villages
- Overlook the Drino Valley Explore its ancient heritage and rural life
Visit the Archaeological park of Antigoneia
- The ancient town of Antigoneia and the famous King Pyrrhus of Epirus, a city built by his love and burnt by the hatred of his enemies
Visiting the village of Saraqinisht and Saint Nicolas church
- Meeting Albanian and local Aromanian communities, a Latin speaking people native to the Southern Balkans
Tasting the organic and traditional food of the Saraqinisht village
- Picnic on-site
A short stop at the archaeological site of Hadrianopolis
- The city constructed by Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD and abandoned in the 6th century AD
- The village named after the Holy Cross
Visit Labova e Kryqit village and the Cross Church (13th C.)
- Socialize with the locals at the village square visit and dinner in Libohova
- Enjoy drinks under the 220-year old monumental Plane tree
- Enjoy local delicacies from chef Sedat
No of people: 5-12
Activity: 9 hours
Accommodation: Babameto House or similar. Traditional breakfast included.
