# Gjirokastër

> town in Albania

**Wikidata**: [Q173690](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q173690)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gjirokastër)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gjirokaster

## Summary
Gjirokastër is a town and city located in southern Albania, serving as the capital of Gjirokastër County. Situated at an elevation of approximately 190 to 286 meters above sea level, it had a population of 19,836 according to the 2011 census. Known by various names historically, including Argyrokastro and Argirocastro, it is recognized as a significant urban settlement with extensive international documentation and twin-city relationships.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: City (instance of "city"; described as a "large human settlement").
- **Location**: Gjirokastër County, Albania.
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 40.07583, Longitude 20.13889.
- **Elevation**: Ranges between 190 meters and 286 meters above sea level.
- **Area**: 59 hectares.
- **Population (2011 Census)**: 19,836 (Preferred value).
- **Population (Historical)**: 24,207 (1989); 20,630 (2001); 19,400 (2012 estimate).
- **Time Zone**: UTC+01:00 (Standard Time) / UTC+02:00 (Daylight Saving Time).
- **Postal Codes**: 6001–6003.
- **Local Dialing Code**: 084.
- **Official Website**: https://bashkiagjirokaster.gov.al/ (Albanian language).
- **Administrative Role**: Capital of Gjirokastër County.

## FAQs
**What are the geographic coordinates and elevation of Gjirokastër?**
Gjirokastër is positioned at 40.07583° N latitude and 20.13889° E longitude. The city is situated at an elevation that varies between 190 and 286 meters above sea level, covering a total area of 59 hectares.

**How has the population of Gjirokastër changed over time?**
According to census data, the population was 24,207 in 1989, dropping to 20,630 in 2001. The 2011 census recorded a population of 19,836, while a 2012 estimate placed it at 19,400, indicating a gradual decline over recent decades.

**What are the different names and aliases for Gjirokastër?**
The city is known by several names in different languages, including Gjirokastra (definite article), Argyrokastro, Argirocastro, and ギロカストラ. Historical and linguistic variants include Argirocastro+(città) and Гирокастра. It is also referred to as the "Museum City of Gjirokastra" (e.g., Cidade-museu de gjirokastra).

**Which cities is Gjirokastër twinned with?**
Gjirokastër is twinned with several administrative bodies, including Sarandë (Albania), Casale Monferrato (Italy), Grottammare (Italy), and Patras (Greece).

## Why It Matters
Gjirokastër holds significance as a regional administrative center and a well-documented historical settlement in the Balkans. Its inclusion in major encyclopedic works such as the *Encyclopædia Britannica* (11th edition), the *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*, and the *Great Russian Encyclopedia* underscores its long-standing historical and geopolitical relevance. The city's extensive cataloging across diverse authority control systems (including VIAF, GND, and the Library of Congress) and its presence in 110 Wikipedia language editions highlight its global cultural recognition. Furthermore, its twin-city agreements with municipalities in Italy and Greece reflect its active engagement in international cooperation and cultural exchange.

## Notable For
- **Administrative Capital**: Serves as the capital of Gjirokastër County.
- **Global Documentation**: Possesses identifiers across over a dozen international knowledge bases, including MusicBrainz, GeoNames, and the Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
- **Historical References**: Cited in the 1911 *Encyclopædia Britannica* under the entry for Argyrokastro and the *Great Russian Encyclopedia*.
- **Cultural Designations**: Referred to as a "Museum City" in several linguistic aliases.
- **Digital Presence**: Maintains an official municipal website and is featured on platforms ranging from Google Play to Quora.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Gjirokastër is a city located within Gjirokastër County in Albania. It functions as the administrative capital of the county. Geographically, it is situated at 40.07583° N latitude and 20.13889° E longitude. The city covers an area of 59 hectares and is positioned at an elevation of 190 to 286 meters above sea level.

### Demographics
The population of Gjirokastër has been tracked through multiple censuses. In 1989, the population was recorded at 24,207. By 2001, this number had decreased to 20,630. The most preferred recent data point is from the 2011 census, which lists the population as 19,836. A subsequent estimate from 2012 places the population at 19,400. The demographic data is supported by sources such as CityPopulation.de and archived records.

### Infrastructure and Communications
The city utilizes the UTC+01:00 time zone for standard time and UTC+02:00 for daylight saving time. Postal services in the area operate under the codes 6001 through 6003. For telecommunications, the local dialing code is 084. The official municipal website is accessible at https://bashkiagjirokaster.gov.al/, which serves users in Albanian.

### International Relations
Gjirokastër maintains twinning agreements with four distinct cities:
- **Sarandë**: A city in Albania.
- **Casale Monferrato**: A town in Italy.
- **Grottammare**: A town in Italy.
- **Patras**: A city in Greece.

### Identity and Nomenclature
The entity has a complex identity structure with numerous aliases and labels.
- **Native Label**: *Gjirokastër* (indefinite article) and *Gjirokastra* (definite article).
- **Official Name**: Gjirokastër.
- **Aliases**: Gjirokaster, Argirocastro, Argyrokastro, ギロカストラ (Japanese), 吉罗卡斯特 (Chinese), and Гирокастер (Russian).
- **Encyclopedia IDs**: It is listed in the *Orthodox Encyclopedia* (ID 165035), the *Online PWN Encyclopedia* (ID 3905693), and the *TDV Encyclopedia of Islam* (ID ergirikasri).

### Bibliographic and Academic Records
Gjirokastër is extensively indexed in global library and academic systems:
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n80036475.
- **VIAF ID**: 155934203.
- **GND ID**: 4229382-0.
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID**: 12560913c.
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 987007564332205171.
- **GeoNames ID**: 783148.
- **MusicBrainz Area ID**: 5dd346fd-6cfb-4c54-9150-6df80b50a21f.
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID**: 274323115.

It is also categorized under "Category:Gjirokastër" and associated with "Category:People from Gjirokastër" for biographical data. The city has a coat of arms image stored in Wikimedia Commons.

## References

1. GEOnet Names Server. 2018
2. [Source](https://www.patrasevents.gr/article/303087-i-lista-me-tis-23-adelfopoiimenes-poleis-tis-patras-iparxei-ousia-omos)
3. BnF authorities
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. GeoNames
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. MusicBrainz
8. [Albania: Prefectures and Major Cities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information. Citypopulation.de](http://www.citypopulation.de/en/albania/cities/)
9. Quora
10. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)