Gjirokastër

It has a population of 35,000, and is the economic and administrative centre for the Gjirokastra District, which includes the town of Libohovë and communes of Antigone, Lower Dropulli, Upper Dropulli, Lazarat, Lunxhëri, Odrie, Picar, Pogon, Qendër Libohovë, and Zagori. The majority of Gjirokastrans are ethnic Albanians with a minority of Greeks, as well as small communities of Vlachs and Romas. 
 
While the architecture of the historic buildings in Gjirokastra is indisputably influenced by Ottoman traditions, the old town is itself a product of many elements. Topography has done much to determine the location and layout of the town which grew up on the steep slopes below the castle.  The availability of natural stone for building blocks and large limestone roof slates helped to create the distinctive look of the city.
Gjirokastra was an important administrative centre in the 19th-century populated by landowners with the means to build the grand fortified tower houses known as kullë.  There are over 500 of these historic buildings in the city.  The design of these houses is a function of life in Albania at that time.  A well defended residence was necessary as disagreements between Albanian clans often lead to violent feuds.  In addition there were a number of rebellions against the Sublime Porte in Istanbul.  It was also important to have a secure structure to house livestock in the winter and to have a cool store for water during the long dry months of summer.  The stone lower sections of the tower houses were both defendable fortresses and serviceable storehouse.  The social spaces in the upper levels of the house reflect the hospitable nature of the Gjirokastra people as well as their cultural need to display the high status of the residents through opulent interiors.  This need perhaps out weighed the need for security and the design of some individual properties are obviously less defensible. 

The culture of the Gjirokastra district is characterised by a wealth of folk costumes, musical traditions and regional customs.  It is famous for wood and stone work, as well as for its dairy products and raki (an alcoholic drink) production.
Albanian women are known for their skills in textile crafts.  Local costume is traditionally decorated with intricate embroidery.  Colourful floor rugs are woven on hand looms while sweaters, socks and gloves are knitted from local wool.  Gjirokastra lace is famous throughout the country and, like many of these crafts, skills are passed down from generation to generation.  Men work with metals such as copper and brass to craft decorative plates, wall-hangings, and utensils.
Women’s folk costumes are heavily decorated; the most remarkable folk costumes come from the areas of Lunxhëri and Dropulli.  Traditional clothing for men comprises white woollen breeches with a loose waist and narrow legs ending at the calf accompanied by gaiters, or a white pleated kilt (fustanella) accompanied by a waistcoat and shoes with tassels. Headwear includes either a tall black cap made of lamb fleece, or a pointed brimless cap made of white felt.
Traditional Albanian iso-polyphonic music can be divided into two major stylistic groups as performed by the Ghegs of northern Albania and the Tosks and Labs living in the southern part of the country. The term iso is related to the ison of Byzantine church music and refers to the drone accompanying polyphonic singing. The drone is performed in two ways: either it is continuous and sung on the syllable ’e’, using staggered breathing; or the drone is sometimes sung as a rhythmic tone, performed to the text of the song. Rendered mainly by male singers, the music traditionally accompanies a wide range of social events, such as weddings, funerals, harvest feasts, religious celebrations and festivals such as the Albanian folk festival in Gjirokastra.
Albanian polyphonic music has been UNESCO-recognized since 2005 as an “intangible cultural heritage.”