Located in southern Albania, Gjirokastra stands on the steep slopes of the Drino River valley, in a commanding position over a landscape rich in history, whose borders are delineated by high mountain peaks. This is the “city of a thousand steps” that includes hundreds of Ottoman-type tower houses with distinctive stone roofs, wooden balconies and stone walls, sometimes whitewashed with lime. Dominated by its own magnificent castle perched on a steep hill, Gjirokastra is a magical town with a troubled past.