Cultural & Natural Attraction Gjirokaster Discover Our Region

Çerçiz Topulli monument and square

Çerçiz Topulli monument and square, is the historic main square of Gjirokastra, and is located on the eastern edge of the Bazaar.
This is the historic main square of Gjirokastra, and is located on the eastern edge of the Bazaar. It is named for the revolutionary figure, Çerçiz Topulli, who is considered a national hero. He was born in Gjirokastra in 1880 and fought against Ottoman rule in the early 20th century. One of his most notable achievements was the killing of Turkish Bimbashi (the Ottoman commander of 1000 soldiers stationed in Gjirokastra). Çerçiz, together with his brother Bajo, assassinated Bimbashi on 25 February 1908. After Albanian independence in 1912, Çerçiz and his band fought to protect the new territory from invaders. Çerçiz was killed in Shkoder while fighting Montenegrin forces. The people of Gjirokastra liken Çerçiz to the famous revolutionary hero Che Guevarra. You may buy souvenirs and t-shirts depicting Çerçiz and calling him “Albanian Che”.
Overlooking the square is a sculpture of Çerçiz sculpted by Odise Paskali, Albania’s greatest artist of socialist realism.