Skënduli House

About

Skënduli House in Gjirokastër is one of the finest examples of traditional Ottoman‑era domestic architecture in Albania, preserved almost exactly as it was when the Skënduli family lived here. One of its most interesting facts is that the house contains six original hammam rooms and nine fireplaces, an unusually high number that reflects the wealth and status of its owners. It also features a rare system of hidden security mechanisms—wooden shutters, concealed locks, and observation openings designed to protect the household during turbulent periods. Inside, visitors move through beautifully furnished rooms arranged across multiple floors. The grand guest room is the highlight: carved wooden ceilings, embroidered cushions, and decorative niches showcase the artistry of Gjirokastër’s craftsmen. The women’s quarters display jewellery, textiles, and tools used for weaving and embroidery, offering insight into daily life. The lower floors include storage areas, wine cellars, and the family’s private hammam, each revealing how the household functioned. Light filters through characteristic qoshk windows, creating patterns across the stone walls and giving the house its distinctive atmosphere.

Gjirokastër Albania

Location

It is located at Rruga Palorto, also listed as Rruga Sokaku i Te Mareve, Gjirokaster 6001, Albania, right in the historic old town. You will find it on the cobbled Palorto quarter, a few minutes walk from the bazaar. It is one of the most beautiful Ottoman houses from the 18th century, built by the wealthy Skenduli family, and it is still owned by the family today. Inside you get to see original rooms, painted ceilings, carved wood, old furniture and the traditional guest rooms that show how rich families lived back then. The owner himself often gives the tour and tells amazing stories. Just a couple of minutes away you have the Ethnographic Museum at Rruga Hysen Hoxha 3, another traditional house museum built on the site of Enver Hoxha's birthplace. Also nearby is the house of Ismail Kadare at Rruga Fato Berberi 16, the famous writer's home, now a museum. Up the hill you have Gjirokaster Castle at Rruga Gjin Bue Shpata, one of the biggest castles in the Balkans. Inside the castle you can visit the National Museum of Arms and the Gjirokaster Museum. Right below the castle is the Cold War Tunnel at Rruga Gjin Zenebisi, a huge secret bunker. So you walk from one palace-like house to another, then up to a fortress and museums, all inside the same UNESCO old town, without needing any transport.