Këlcyra
| Këlcyrë | |
|---|---|
| Municipality | |
 |
|
 Këlcyrë
|
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| Coordinates: 40°18′47″N 20°11′31″E / 40.313°N 20.192°ECoordinates: 40°18′47″N 20°11′31″E / 40.313°N 20.192°E | |
| Country |
 Albania
|
| County | Gjirokastër |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Klement Ndoni (SP) |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 304.65 km2 (117.63 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 176 m (577 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Municipality | 6,113 |
| • Municipality density | 20/km2 (52/sq mi) |
| • Administrative Unit | 2,651 |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal Code | 6402 |
| Area Code | (0)875 |
| Vehicle registration | AL |
Këlcyrë (definite Albanian form: Këlcyra) is a town and a municipality in southern Albania, located on the bank of the river Vjosë. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Ballaban, Dishnicë, Këlcyrë and Sukë, that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Këlcyrë. The total population is 6,113 (2011 census), in a total area of 304.65 km2. The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 2,651. The municipal unit consists of the town Këlcyrë and the villages Fshat Këlcyrë, Mbrezhdan, Maleshovë, Limar, Leskaj and Kala. The Vjosë forms a canyon near the town, known as the Këlcyrë Gorge.
A medieval chronicle from the year 1272 mentioned the location with the Latin name Clausura (a word with meaning "close"). The Byzantine Suda lexicon, writes that the Romans called the forts at the passes (Greek: Κλεισοῦραι). During the Byzantine era the town was also called Klisura (Κλεισούρα).
In antiquity the region was part of Epirus, and afterwards was incorporated into Upper Macedonia. Later it became part of the Roman empire.
During the Second Macedonian War against the Romans, the troops of Phillip V and Athenagoras of Macedon attempted to delay the Roman consul, Titus Quinctius Flamininus. The Macedonians had secured the passage and then blocked the Roman advance in 198 BC. A shepherd is said to have led the Roman troops through the mountains, so that they could attack the Macedonians in the narrow gorge of two sides and destroy them. The Macedonians had been decisively defeated a first time. Later, the Romans used the route through the gorge of modern Këlcyrë and built a small settlement.
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Wikipedia