Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
6 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
6 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
7 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
8 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Albania Gjirokaster Zekate House

Zekate House

This beautifully preserved Ottoman house is steeped in history.

Gjirokaster, Albania

Added By
Max Cortesi
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Audience room on the top floor.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Audience room on the top floor.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Smaller room on the second floor.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Woodwork in the audience room.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Elaborate mantel of the fireplace in the audience room.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Zekate House   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Room on the first floor.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Main room on the second floor.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Second floor landing.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Traditional handwoven rug on the wooden stairs.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Wardrobe, lattice woodwork and ceiling.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Zekate House   ShkelzenRexha
Front gate (no longer in use).   Llukman Ibrahimi
Roof.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Zekate House   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
View of Drino Valley from the balcony on the top floor.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Gjirokastër is a charming town in the south of Albania that is mainly famous for its homonymous castle and quaint cobblestone alleys. The older quarter of the city is a treasure trove of picture-perfect historical buildings, but one stands out from this multitude: Zekate House. 

At the beginning of the 19th century, Gjirokastër was part of Rumelia, territories in southeastern Europe belonging to the Ottoman Empire. Rumelia was divided into different administrative units, each ruled by a pasha. Gjirokastër was part of a unit ruled by Ali Pasha, a political figure remembered for both his diplomatic skills and the atrocities committed under his name. Ali Pasha would crack down on dissenting entities with ferocity and rewarded loyalty handsomely. One example of Ali Pasha’s generosity towards his allies was the construction of a stately tower house in Gjirokastër, which he eventually gifted to the administrator of the town, Beqir Zeko.

The name of the house, Zekate, is an adjective form of the family name Zeko.  Built between 1811 and 1812 using stones and timber from the region, this structure is considered an outstanding example of Ottoman architecture in Albania.

Zekate House consists of four floors, reachable through a set of wooden stairs. The ground floor, known as katoqi, was designated for the storage of foodstuff, firewood, and all cooking utensils. The first floor was where women spent most of their time, and a large room with a sofa suggests that this may have been the equivalent of a living room. The second floor is where the bedrooms are located, with a fireplace, rudimentary toilets, and a hammam. 

Finally, the top floor consists of three large rooms, two with large windows to combat the heat of the summer weather, and one with fewer, smaller windows and a sizable fireplace suitable for the winter weather. 

The audience room between the two towers is particularly remarkable. It is painted with colorful floral patterns and its tinted windows add to the cheerfulness of the room. A traditional sofa follows the walls around the room, and a large rug covers the whole floor.  This room opens to a balcony with a commanding view of the Gjirokastër Castle and the Drino Valley.

Apart from the stonework, Zakate House is remarkable for the way it managed to preserve the wooden elements of the original structure, including the staircase, built-in wardrobes, lattice woodwork, ceiling, and the intricate structure supporting the roof.

Related Tags

Design Architecture History & Culture

Community Contributors

Added By

Max Cortesi

Published

March 15, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Zekate House
Rruga Bashkim Kokona
Gjirokaster
Albania
40.074773, 20.132506
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Gjirokaster Castle

Gjirokaster, Albania

miles away

Syri i Kalter: The Blue Eye

Sarandë District, Albania

miles away

Benja Thermal Baths

Përmet District, Albania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Gjirokaster

Gjirokaster

Albania

Places 2

Nearby Places

Gjirokaster Castle

Gjirokaster, Albania

miles away

Syri i Kalter: The Blue Eye

Sarandë District, Albania

miles away

Benja Thermal Baths

Përmet District, Albania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Gjirokaster

Gjirokaster

Albania

Places 2

Related Places

  • Uránia Nemzeti Filmszínház

    Budapest, Hungary

    Uránia Nemzeti Filmszínház

    A stunning Art Nouveau cinema in the heart of Budapest.

  • Hôtel Solvay

    Brussels, Belgium

    Hôtel Solvay

    This historic Art Nouveau townhouse was the former home of the son of a famous chemical inventor and industrialist.

  • Mudéjar Thematic Park

    Olmedo, Spain

    Mudéjar Thematic Park

    The best collection of Mudéjar building replicas gathered in a theme park in Olmedo.

  • St Martin’s Rotunda, Prague

    Prague, Czechia

    Rotonde Saint-Martin (St Martin’s Rotunda)

    The largest and best-preserved rotunda in Prague.

  • Granary in Jankowo up close

    Jankowo, Poland

    Walter Gropius's 1906 Spichlerz

    A Bauhaus co-founder designed this quirky, abandoned granary.

  • Modern Cloisters of Valira Park

    La Seu d'Urgell, Spain

    Modern Cloisters of Valira Park

    This parody of ecclesiastical cloisters features famous figures from the 20th century.

  • The Little House

    Shepherdstown, West Virginia

    The Little House

    True to its name, this little house presents like a dollhouse, and surprising details are revealed with a quick peek through the window.

  • The Sun on The Floor of La Puerta del Sol

    Madrid, Spain

    The Sun on The Floor of La Puerta del Sol

    This little sun pays homage to a massive gate that once stood at this location.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.