Çerçiz Topulli Square
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Çerçiz Topulli Square () is a
town square A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Relat ...
located in
Gjirokastër Gjirokastër (, sq-definite, Gjirokastra) is a List of cities and towns in Albania, city in Southern Albania, southern Albania and the seat of Gjirokastër County and Gjirokastër Municipality. It is located in a valley between the Gjerë moun ...
,
Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...
. In fact, it is actually a widened street (''Rruga Gjin Zenebisi'', Gjin Zenebisi Street) located east of the entrance of ''Qafa e Pazarit'' (Bazaar Pass) The city's
Old Bazaar The Old Bazaar (; ; ) also known as Turkish Bazaar (; ) is a bazaar located in Skopje, North Macedonia, situated on the eastern bank of the Vardar, Vardar River, stretching from the Stone Bridge (Skopje), Stone Bridge to the Bit-Pazar and from th ...
begins at the upper corner (west) of the square. The square is named after
Çerçiz Topulli Çerçiz Topulli (20 September 1880 – 17 July 1915) was an Albanian revolutionary and guerrilla fighter involved in the Albanian national movement operating in the mountainous areas of southern Albania. He was the younger brother of Bajo Topul ...
,
Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...
hero born in Gjirokastër. Within the square is a monument also dedicated to him. It was erected in 1934 by
Odhise Paskali Odhise Paskali (22 December 1903 – 13 September 1985) was an Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Sea ...
, an Albanian realist sculptor. On the monument is a bullet hole inflicted by an Italian soldier during the Occupation of Albania during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.


History

A rally was held in the square on 17 May 1944. While Albanian politician Ismail Golemi gave a speech, a hand grenade was thrown into the crowd, effectively killing seven people: Aleko Kekezi, Miro Sporeja, Gole Gushi, Asaf Gjebrea, Fato Gozhita, Skënder Çina and Arshi Mezini. A more detailed account was provided by Myzafer Malile, a veteran of the Albanian National Liberation Movement. He reports that the rally was initially staged by Ismail Golemi, and was truly meant to be massacre. Golemi and several of his colleagues were located in a balcony above the square. Every citizen of Gjirokastër were to participate in the rally, where, because the square was to be flooded by people, no one could hide. Upon the opening of the "rally," a person behind the mayor was to throw a hand grenade into the middle of the crowd. This grenade was indeed thrown into the crowd, killing three people, and many left injured. Among those killed was a shoemaker of the Balloma clan from the Varosh neighbourhood. In panic, Golemi grabbed a rifle and fired it, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Immediately after the rally, Ballistët (members of
Balli Kombëtar The Balli Kombëtar (literally ''National Front'') was an Albanian nationalist, Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, collaborationist, and anti-communist resistance movement during the Second World War. It was led by Ali Këlcyra a ...
) patrols were launched throughout the city. A patrol of three men that circulated in the neighborhood of Hazmurat shot 25-year-old Arshi Mezini in the front gate of Mehmet Terihati's household. Wounded, Terihati's mother attempted to bring Mezini to a hospital. However, Mezini died before reaching the hospital. In an act to cover the crime, Balli Kombëtar falsely blamed guerrilla leaders as planting the grenade-throwing person into the crowd.


Expansion efforts

Due to increased tourism in the last decade, local citizens and various tourist groups expressed the need for an expansion of the square to adequately provide more room for parking, effectively doubling the size from 6,000 square metres to 12,000 square metres. This would allow 1500 parked vehicles in the square. Local authorities approved the project, albeit the project of one million
euros The euro (currency symbol, symbol: euro sign, €; ISO 4217, currency code: EUR) is the official currency of 20 of the Member state of the European Union, member states of the European Union. This group of states is officially known as the ...
.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cerciz Topulli Square Buildings and structures in Gjirokastër Squares in Albania Tourist attractions in Gjirokastër County