Gjirokastra Castle, 1,745 visitors in February

Tourist visits to the Gjirokastra fortress in February have been increasing compared to the same period a year ago. This is reported by the Gjirokastër Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage, which has published on its website the data on the number of visitors. "1,745 visitors during this period or +895 more visitors than during the same period in 2022", says DRTK Gjirokastër. The castle has a history connected with the city of Gjirokastra and is mentioned for the first time as a city and castle in 1336. However, different historians think that the existence of the stone castle is earlier. The peak of its history this castle would have in the period of the Paschalek of Ioannina, when Ali Pasha Tepelena would carry out a series of new constructions or other interventions, giving the castle of Gjirokastra the architectural and construction physiognomy it has today. Starting from 1968, the stone stage of the Gjirokastra castle generously hosts folk instrumentalists, singers and dancers as part of the Gjirokastra National Folk Festival. At the same time, during these years, the surroundings of the castle have also served for the organization of concerts, spectacles and various cultural fairs. The stone castle is also one of the most attractive points in the guides of local and foreign tourist groups that visit Gjirokastra, protected by UNESCO. It was July 2005, when Gjirokastra became a UNESCO property through a very welcoming and friendly process by representatives of UNESCO and all member countries of this organization. Gjirokastra also has historical houses,