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.