Dhërmi
Encyclopedia
Dhërmi is one of the nine villages of the Himara region/municipality, in Albania
. The village lies 42 kilometers south of the city of Vlorë
(the capital of the Prefecture) and about the same distance north of the southern city of Sarandë
. The village is built on a slope of the Ceraunian Mountains
, at approximately 200 meters in altitude. The mountains descend to the southwest into the Ionian
coast and Corfu
in the distance to the south. Nearby is the village of Palasë
. The inhabitants of Dhërmi speak a variant of the Himariote Greek dialect
, characterized by archaic features not retained in modern Greek
. Recently, the coastal area has seen a boom in the construction of accommodation facilities, such as wooden villa complexes. In addition, it is considered by the Albanian youth as a nightlife destination.
.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. The village lies 42 kilometers south of the city of Vlorë
Vlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
(the capital of the Prefecture) and about the same distance north of the southern city of Sarandë
Sarandë
Sarandë or Saranda is the capital of the District of Sarandë, Albania, and is one of the most important tourist attractions of the Albanian Riviera. It is situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the Mediterranean 2 nautical miles from the Greek island of Corfu. The city of Saranda has a...
. The village is built on a slope of the Ceraunian Mountains
Ceraunian Mountains
The Ceraunian Mountains is a coastal mountain range in southwestern Albania. The name is derived from Ancient Greek Κεραύνια ὄρη, meaning "thunder-split peaks"....
, at approximately 200 meters in altitude. The mountains descend to the southwest into the Ionian
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
coast and Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
in the distance to the south. Nearby is the village of Palasë
Palasë
Palasë is a village close to the Llogara National Park in the Albanian Riviera. It is located in the municipality of Himarë , in the District of Vlorë, Albania...
. The inhabitants of Dhërmi speak a variant of the Himariote Greek dialect
Himariote Greek dialect
The Himariote Greek dialect is a dialect of the Greek language that is mainly spoken by ethnic Greeks in the Himarë region of Albania. Despite the small distances between the towns in the region, there exists some dialectal variation, most prominently in accent.-Classification:Despite the fact...
, characterized by archaic features not retained in modern Greek
Modern Greek
Modern Greek refers to the varieties of the Greek language spoken in the modern era. The beginning of the "modern" period of the language is often symbolically assigned to the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, even though that date marks no clear linguistic boundary and many characteristic...
. Recently, the coastal area has seen a boom in the construction of accommodation facilities, such as wooden villa complexes. In addition, it is considered by the Albanian youth as a nightlife destination.
History
The foundation of the village is lost in the history. Himara, where Dhermi is included, has been inhabited by the Epirote tribe of ChaoniansChaonians
The Chaonians were an ancient Greek tribe that inhabited the region of Epirus located in the north-west of modern Greece and southern Albania. On their southern frontier lay another Epirote kingdom, that of the Molossians, to their southwest stood the kingdom of the Thesprotians, and to their...
.
Landmarks
- Alevra
- Gramata harbor
- The Pirates' cave
- The harbor of Gjipe
- Hypapante Church, Dhërmi
- Panagia Monastery Church, Dhërmi
- St. Stephen's Church, Dhërmi
Notable people
- Panos BitsilisPanos BitsilisPanos Bitzilis was an 18th century General Consul of Russia in Albania and Himara.Bitzilis came from a notable family of Himarë, modern Albania, then Ottoman Empire, that provided several officers to the Regimento Cimarioto of the Venetian army. Additionally, it was also the first clan in Himara...
, GreekGreeksThe Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
revolutionary. - Petro MarkoPetro MarkoPetro Marko was an Albanian writer. His best-known novel is titled Hasta la vista and recounts his experiences as a volunteer of the Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War. Petro Marko is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern Albanian prose.- Life :Petro Marko was born...
, AlbanianAlbaniansAlbanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
writer and founding father of modern Albanian prose.
See also
- Ceraunian MountainsCeraunian MountainsThe Ceraunian Mountains is a coastal mountain range in southwestern Albania. The name is derived from Ancient Greek Κεραύνια ὄρη, meaning "thunder-split peaks"....
- ChaoniansChaoniansThe Chaonians were an ancient Greek tribe that inhabited the region of Epirus located in the north-west of modern Greece and southern Albania. On their southern frontier lay another Epirote kingdom, that of the Molossians, to their southwest stood the kingdom of the Thesprotians, and to their...
- Greeks in Albania
- Himara
- Himariote Greek dialectHimariote Greek dialectThe Himariote Greek dialect is a dialect of the Greek language that is mainly spoken by ethnic Greeks in the Himarë region of Albania. Despite the small distances between the towns in the region, there exists some dialectal variation, most prominently in accent.-Classification:Despite the fact...
- PalasëPalasëPalasë is a village close to the Llogara National Park in the Albanian Riviera. It is located in the municipality of Himarë , in the District of Vlorë, Albania...
- Tourism in AlbaniaTourism in AlbaniaTourism in Albania is characterized by the archaeological heritage inherited from Greek, Roman and Ottoman times, unspoiled beaches, challenging mountain ranges, Cold War artifacts, unique traditions, unequivocal hospitality, delicious traditional cuisine, and the wild and peculiar atmosphere of...
External links
- Region of Himara. Official municipality website
- Dhermi at Himara Travel Guide (in English)
- Dhermi at Wikitravel
- Village of Dhërmi
- Contested Spaces and Negotiated Identities in Dhërmi/Drimades of Himarë/Himara area, Southern Albania. Nataša Gregorič Bon. Nova Gorica 2008.