- The Cold War Tunnel - The visit will begin at the Cold War Tunnel,build to protect the political bureau of the 1970’s. Stories,confessions and facts about how it would serve as a shelter for the leaders,so that they could lead military action in case of danger.
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Gjirokaster Castle - The 2nd stop will be the city castle, more precisely the prison building located inside the castle.
You will travel in the time that the communist regime imprisoned hundreds of intellectuals in Gjirokastra alone. There are dozens of cases of prisoners who served their sentences in cold rooms or disappeared without a trace. This prison is one of the strongest evidences of the violence of the regime of the time, even though it is visually extremely poor. During the visit the accompanying guide will introduce you not only to the stories of the people who lived their sentences within the walls of this prison, but also to the stories of the communists of the time, people who served that regime. -
Gjirokastra Bazaar - The third stop of our tour will be in the house where dictator Enver Hoxha was born and raised. The house which was burned and rebuilt 5 times bigger, is a dwelling of history as strange as it is absurd.You will be introduced to the story of how his life as a leader began, accompanied by resentment and punishments, at once, for opponents, for those who knew him best, for those who did not believe him, for acquaintances and even childhood
friends. You will also get acquainted with the history of the house which started as the house of Enver Hoxha, continued to become the Museum of Weapons and to end as the Ethnographic Museum. After the visit where the whole historical area of
Gjirokastra will be
traversed, we will close it with a short presentation in the premises of our hall, where you will be able to enjoy a coffee.
The presentation will focus on the less visible sides to visitors.
- Complimentary tea and coffee
During your tour, you’ll undertake a unique journey through time, focusing on aspects usually hidden from the casual observer. Authentic stories, facts, and revelations will expose you to the bleakest periods of Albanian history. We’ll unravel key societal ideologies that were forcefully instilled in the populace, like ‘The Concept of the Young Man’, what it implies in the context of Albanian society, proletariat dictatorship, school and art philosophies, and lifestyle disparities between urban and rural residents. We’ll dissect how these doctrines were implemented by the then governing regime in Albania. Supporting evidence, primarily in the form of preserved photographs and archive materials from Gjirokastra families, will be used to substantiate our discussions.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
