The Zekate House is the grandest privately owned kulla in Gjirokastër and one of the most impressive Ottoman domestic buildings in the entire Balkans. Built in 1812, it stands on the upper slopes of the old town with a twin-towered façade and views over the whole city and the Drino valley beyond. The Zekate family still owns and lives in the building, maintaining the tradition of family stewardship that has preserved so many of Gjirokastër's tower houses.
The interior is extraordinary. The reception rooms on the upper floors are lined with carved niches, painted ceilings, and the elaborate woodwork that characterised the houses of prosperous 19th-century Albanian merchants. The building is arranged around a central courtyard, with the public reception areas and private family quarters separated in the traditional Ottoman manner. It is significantly larger than the Skenduli House and shows a later, more ostentatious phase of the local architectural style.
The climb up from the bazaar is steep but the views from the terrace are among the best in the city. Small entrance fee paid directly to the family. Opening hours are informal; if the gate is open, visitors are welcome.