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Gjirokastėr ( Albanian: Gjirokastėr or Gjirokastra, Greek: Argyrokastron or Girokastron) is a city in southern Albania at 40.08°N, 20.15°E with a population of around 30,000 (including some Greek minorities). It is an ancient city with old settlement traces dating back to the 1st century BC. Gjirokastėr is located on the hills of the Wide Mountain (Mali i Gjerė). At one point the city was a castle (Castle of Gjirokastėr) and then it began to grow with buildings springing up on the hills around the castle walls.
During the 13th century it was known as Argyropolis, the City of Argyro (i.e. the silver city) or Argyrokastron (i.e. the silver castle).
In the 14th century it was part of the Despotate of Epirus and in 1417 it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire. The houses in Gjirokastėr have a distinguished Albanian style. Gjirokastėr also features an old bazaar which was originally built in the 17th century, but that had to be rebuilt in the 19th after it was set on fire. During the 19th century, Gjirokastėr was central to the Albanian liberation movement as it hosted the Assembly of Gjirokastėr in 1880. The city was developed after World War IIWorld War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the world's nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. The war was fough and it is today an economic, educational and cultural center of southern Albania. There are over 20 museums in Gjirokastėr today and it is also the city of the National Folk Festival.
Gjirokaster is the birth place of Ēerēiz Topulli , Ismail KadareIsmail Kadare was born on January 28, 1936 in Gjirokaster, Albania. He is probably the most well known Albanian writer. Kadare has studied at the Faculty of History and Philology at the University of Tirana and at the Gorky Institute of World Literature i, Eqerem Cabej , Musine KokalariMusine Kokalari ( February 10, 1917 Adana, Turkey August 14, 1983) of Gjirokaster, Albania was probably the most interesting figure among the minor prose writers of Albania's pre- communist period, both as an individual and as an author. Kokalari was the. Gjirokastėr is also the birth place of Albanian dictator Enver HoxhaEnver Hoxha en-vehr hoj-e ( October 16, 1908 April 11, 1985) was the communist leader of Albania from the end of World War II until his death, primarily as the First Secretary of the Albanian Party of Labour. He was also prime minister of Albania from 194.
1 See also
- List of cities in AlbaniaThis is a list of cities in Albania Bajram Curri Ballsh Berat Bilisht Bulqize Burrel Butrint Cerrik Corovode Delvine Durres Elbasan Erseke Fier Fushe-Kruje Gjirokaster Gramsh Has Himare Kamze Kavaje Kelcyre Klos Koplik Korce Kruje Krume Kucove Kukes Lac L
- History of AlbaniaThis article briefly outlines each period of History of Albania only; details are presented in separate articles (see the links in the box and below). Illyria Main article: Illyria The Albanian people are the direct descendants of a group of tribes known
2 External links
