Zekate House, Ottoman tower house in Gjirokastër, Albania
The Zekate House is a residential structure built from local stone and timber with two distinctive towers and a double-arched facade spanning four stories. The building contains storage rooms and a spacious kitchen on the ground level, while upper floors house living quarters connected by a central winding staircase.
The house was built between 1811 and 1812 by Beqir Zeko while he served as a local administrator under Ali Pasha's government. Its construction marks a period when such large residences were typical for prominent families in the region.
The main reception room displays painted walls and carved wooden details that reflect how wealthy families displayed their status and hosted important visitors. The wooden balcony overlooking the street shows the connection between the private home and public life in the city.
Access to the house requires obtaining a key from neighbors, so plan time to make the arrangement before arriving. Detailed information leaflets are available at the Tourist Information Centre to help you understand the building's layout and history.
The ground floor kitchen has an unusually high ceiling and was designed as the heart of daily life for feeding the family and guests. This generous space reveals how important hospitality and shared meals were in this period.
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