Himarë

Himarë ( ; , Chimara or Χειμάρρα, Cheimarra) is a municipality and region in Vlorë County, southern Albania. The municipality has a total area of and consists of the administrative units of Himarë, Horë-Vranisht and Lukovë. It lies between the Ceraunian Mountains and the Albanian Ionian Sea Coast and is part of the Albanian Riviera. The traditionally perceived borders of the Himarë region gradually shrank during the Ottoman period, being reduced to the town of Himarë and the villages of the coastline (Bregdet in Albanian), generally including only Palasë, Dhërmi, Pilur, Kudhës, Vuno, Iljas and Qeparo. The coastal region of Himarë is predominantly populated by an ethnic Greek community. The local population is bilingual in Greek and Albanian. The town of Himarë and the villages of Dhërmi and Palasa, which together account for the bulk of the population of the region, are primarily populated by a Greek population. The villages of Iljas, Lukovë, Kudhës, Pilur and Vuno are inhabited by an Albanian population, while Qeparo is inhabited by both ethnic Albanians and Greeks. In the 2011 census, 83% of the inhabitants of the former municipality of Horë-Vranisht declared themselves as Albanians, while the rest failed to provide a reply. In the former Lukovë municipality, the population is predominantly Albanian (94%) with a small Greek minority (6%).

Himarë ( ; , Chimara or Χειμάρρα, Cheimarra) is a municipality and region in Vlorë County, southern Albania. The municipality has a total area of and consists of the administrative units of Himarë, Horë-Vranisht and Lukovë. It lies between the Ceraunian Mountains and the Albanian Ionian Sea Coast and is part of the Albanian Riviera. The traditionally perceived borders of the Himarë region gradually shrank during the Ottoman period, being reduced to the town of Himarë and the villages of the coastline (Bregdet in Albanian), generally including only Palasë, Dhërmi, Pilur, Kudhës, Vuno, Iljas and Qeparo. The coastal region of Himarë is predominantly populated by an ethnic Greek community. The local population is bilingual in Greek and Albanian. The town of Himarë and the villages of Dhërmi and Palasa, which together account for the bulk of the population of the region, are primarily populated by a Greek population. The villages of Iljas, Lukovë, Kudhës, Pilur and Vuno are inhabited by an Albanian population, while Qeparo is inhabited by both ethnic Albanians and Greeks. In the 2011 census, 83% of the inhabitants of the former municipality of Horë-Vranisht declared themselves as Albanians, while the rest failed to provide a reply. In the former Lukovë municipality, the population is predominantly Albanian (94%) with a small Greek minority (6%). ==Geography== The Himarë region is a strip approximately 20 km long by 5 km wide, covering a total of 132.13 km 2 , and bounded by the 2000-metre-high Ceraunian mountains to the northeast and the Ionian Sea to the southwest. There are long pebbled beaches and the few hills close to the sea are terraced and planted with olive and citrus trees. The traditionally perceived borders of the Himarë region gradually shrank during the Ottoman period, being reduced only to the town of Himarë and the villages on the coastline (Bregdet in Albanian). ==Demographics== and the Albanian Riviera Himarë is composed of three former municipalities which now serve as administrative divisions of the post-2011 municipality: Himarë, Vranisht and Lukovë. In the 2011 census, the three - then independent municipalities - had a total combined population of ~7,800. Lukovë had 2,916 permanent inhabitants, Himarë 2,822 and Vranisht 2,080. Comparatively, the 2015 Albanian Civil Registry offices, which list all Albanian citizens including those who live abroad, put the population of the municipality at 27,049 people¹. The Himarë municipality has the second lowest population density in Albania after Dropull. The majority of the population has left to live in Greece or large cities in Albania. ==== Himariote dialect of Greek==== . Its inhabitants speak mainly the Himariote Greek dialect. On the other hand, the vast majority of people in Himarë, who call themselves "Horiani" ( ), meaning locals in the local Greek dialect, are bilingual in both Albanian and Greek. In the town of Himarë as well as in nearby villages of Dhërmi and Palasa mainly speak a unique local Greek dialect that preserves many archaic features no longer found in standard Modern Greek. This dialect has small variations in the way it is spoken in every town, especially in the accent. Elements of Slavic influence are limited compared to the neighboring Albanian idioms, as well as the other variants of the Greek language spoken in southeast Albania and Nartë region. Greek schools were operating until the 1920s. During the struggle for the re-establishment of Greek education in the area (1934-1936) even the Albanian-speaking villages asked for the reopening of Greek schools, however their demand was rejected by the Albanian government. In the spring of 2006, a private Greek-language school opened in the town of Himarë, at the precise location where the Orthodox missionary Cosmas the Aetolian founded the Acroceraunian School in 1770¹. Among those who identify as Greeks in Himarë there is near equal proficiency with Albanian. This may be explained by mixed marriages with Albanian elements on the part of the ancestors of the Himarë Greeks, and as the result of the Hellenization of the local Albanian population via policies encouraged by the Greek Orthodox Church up until the time of Albania's founding, accentuated by the differences in cultural norms among Christians and Muslims. Albanian is the state language, while Greek is the language of high culture, religion, and the state language of an economically powerful neighbor where many Himariotes now earn their living. The Greek language went through a difficult period between 1946 and 1990, when the Greek population of Himarë could not study in its native language, religion was prohibited, and relations with Greece were severed. ==Attractions== The area has a great potential for tourism, with the major characteristics of the municipal town being its seaside promenade, the tavernas and the traditionally preserved old town built on a hill. The town of Himarë consists of the old town, Kastro, situated on and around the old castle and the coastal region of Spilea, which is the touristic and economic center of the region. Other parts of the town are Potami, Livadhi, Zhamari, Michaili and Stefaneli. North of the town of Himarë lie the villages of Vuno, Ilias, Dhërmi, with its coastal region Jaliskari, and Palasë. Dhermi contains a number of recently built beach resorts. On the mountains lie Pilur and Kudhës, while Qeparo lies to the south of the town of Himarë. The region has several Orthodox churches and monasteries, built with traditional Byzantine architecture, like the Monastery of the Cross, Athaliotissa, Saint Theodore, Virgin Mary in Dhërmi and Saint Demetrius. Moreover, a number of churches are located inside the castle of Himarë, which was initially built in classical antiquity, like the Church of Virgin Mary Kasopitra, Episkopi, which is built on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo, as well as the Aghioi Pantes church, in the entrance of the castle. Additional monuments in the castle include the mansion of the Spyromilios family and the Greek school. ==Sports== The city of Himarë's soccer club KF Himara. The club currently plays in the Albanian Second Division. Its home stadium is Petro Ruci Stadium in Orikum, Albania which is owned by KF Oriku and has a capacity of 2,000 people. ==Notable people== Dhimitër Anagnosti, People's Artist of Albania, cineast, and former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Nafiz Bezhani, Albanian jurist, politician and writer Pano Bixhili, revolutionary Vasil Bollano, former mayor of Himarë and President of the organization of the Greek minority, "Omonoia" Pyrros Dimas, Greek weight-lifter Dimitrios Doulis, Greek military officer and minister of Defence of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus Christos Armandos Gezos, Greek novelist and poet Zenel Gjoleka, leader of the Albanian Revolt of 1847 Odhise Grillo (1932–2003), Albanian writer of children's books Hysni Kapo, military commander and leading member of the Party of Labour of Albania Zaho Koka, Albanian partisan, Hero of The People of Albania Spiro Jorgo (Gogo) Koleka (1879 or 1880–1940) prominent Albanian politician and activist Spiro Koleka (1908–2001), long-serving member of the Politburo of the Party of Labour of Albania Muzafer Korkuti, Albanian archaeologist and Vice President of the Academy of Sciences of Albania Vasil Laçi (1922–1941), Albanian patriot Sofokli Lazri, counselor of Enver Hoxha and writer Petro Marko, Albanian writer of the post-World War II era Zachos Milios (1805–1860), Greek Army officer and revolutionary Paskal Milo, Albanian historian, politician Koço Muka, Albanian politician, lawyer and Minister of Education in 1944 Neço Muko, Albanian musician of the 1920s Robert Ndrenika, Albanian actor Niphon of Kafsokalyvia Greek Christian Orthodox saint and monk Sotiris Ninis, former international Greek football player Gogo Nushi, Albanian political figure and World War II guerilla Athanasios Pipis (–1821), revolutionary of the Greek War of Independence Andon Qesari, Albanian actor and director Spyromilios (1800–1880), Greek Army general and politician Pyrros Spyromilios (1913–1961), Greek Navy officer; director of the Greek Radio Orchestra Spyros Spyromilios (1864–1930), Greek Gendarmerie officer; declared the region's autonomy (1914) Georgios Stephanou (1824–1901), Greek gendarmerie officer; leader of the Epirus Revolt of 1878 Andreas Tatos (1989–), football player of Olympiacos (Super League Greece) Leandro Zoto, politician and former mayor of Tirana Fredis Beleris, MEP of Greece ==See also== Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus Northern Epirus Chaonians Epirus Himarë (town) List of cities in ancient Epirus Tourism in Albania Qafa e Vishës bus tragedy ==References== ==Sources== ==External links== Official Himara Travel Guide Region of Himarë. Official municipality website Research Foundation Greeks in Albania Himara's Directory Mercenaries from Himara Louis Arnaud, "Prières superstitieuses des Grecs de Chimara", Revue des études byzantines, 1911, 88 pp. 146-151

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