Skenduli House

Skenduli House is a three-story stone mansion typical of Gjirokastër's wealthy Ottoman-era families. The building features 12 rooms, 64 windows, 44 doors, 9 fireplaces, 6 bathrooms, and 4 hammams (Turkish baths). In Gjirokastër, the number of fireplaces indicated social status – more fireplaces meant greater wealth. The ground floor held storage rooms and larders, the middle floor served as family living quarters, and the upper floor housed formal reception rooms with panoramic views over the Drino Valley and surrounding mountains.

The interior highlight is the wedding ceremony room with 15 windows, some featuring stained glass. Photography is forbidden in this room. Carved wooden ceilings, original furniture, and textiles remain in their original state – most items are authentic, without restoration replacements. The thick stone walls are surrounded by a fortified perimeter, reflecting the security concerns of the era.

During the communist period (1945–1991), the house was confiscated and repurposed as the city's Ethnographic Museum. After the regime's fall, ownership was returned to the Skenduli family. Today, Nasip Skenduli personally conducts tours, sharing the history of each room, family stories, and details of daily life in the Ottoman period. The format feels more like a private home visit than a museum tour.

Scale – 12 rooms, 64 windows, 44 doors, 9 fireplaces, 6 bathrooms, and 4 hammams in a single building

Age – built in the early 1700s, partially rebuilt in 1827, over 300 years of history

Wedding room – ceremonial hall with 15 windows, stained glass, and a photography ban

Authenticity – original interiors without restoration replacements, including furniture and textiles

Family tours – house owner Nasip Skenduli personally guides visitors in English

Status – designated Cultural Monument of Albania, part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Gjirokastër

The house was built in the early 18th century by Skënder Skënduli, head of one of the wealthiest families in southern Albania. The 1827 partial reconstruction preserved the original structure – most elements have survived to the present day. At its peak, the Skenduli family was among the most influential in the city, evidenced by the house's scale, the number of fireplaces, and the four hammams – a significant luxury for the period.

After the communist regime took power in 1945, the house was confiscated and converted into Gjirokastër's Ethnographic Museum. As Nasip Skenduli himself wryly notes, his neighbor Enver Hoxha's house had only one fireplace – the dictator's family was far less wealthy. Following the regime's collapse in 1991, the property was returned to the heirs. Authorities have not conducted official restoration, but the family independently maintains the house in its authentic condition, welcoming tourists year-round.

From central Gjirokastër (on foot, 10–15 minutes):

– Walk uphill from the bazaar along Rruga Palorto

– The house is near the Ethnographic Museum

– Route involves steep cobblestone streets – wear sturdy shoes

From Tirana (227 km, 3.5–4 hours):

– Bus: 11 departures daily from 05:00 to 20:30, ticket 1,200 ALL (~$13 USD / ~12 EUR)

– Departs from Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut

– Taxi: ~$185 USD / ~170–180 EUR per car

– Car rental: from $22–27 USD / 20–25 EUR per day

From Sarandë (49 km, 1–1.5 hours):

– Bus: several departures daily, 500 ALL (~$5 USD)

– By car via SH8 highway through mountain switchbacks

On the ground:

From Gjirokastër bus station to the house – 20–25 minutes on foot or 300–500 ALL by taxi

Season: April–October. July–August are hot, making the uphill walk tiring. November–March: open only for pre-booked groups.

Time of day: Morning (9:00–11:00) – soft light for the stained glass in the wedding room and fewer tourists. In summer, the house may stay open until 7 PM.

Duration: 30–45 minutes with a guided tour.

Avoid: Winter months without a prior reservation. Cruise ship groups from Sarandë typically arrive between 11:00–13:00.