Fico House In Gjirokastra

About Fico House

Although built later than most of the Ottoman houses of Gjirokastra, Fico House is one of the most iconic buildings in the city. The house, built in 1902, features on many photos and postcards with its yellow appearance. Structurally the house is similar to other houses, but the decorations were kept much simpler.

The house belongs to one of the most famous and influential families in Gjirokastra. Rauf Fico (1881 – 1944) became Minister of Internal Affairs in the first Albanian government in 1912 and Frederik Fico (1951 – 2005) was a well respected doctor and sports commentator.

During World War II, the house was used as a base for partizans, but during the communist era, the family was evicted as the house was divided into a printing workshop and apartments. In 1970 the house was returned to the family and it is now occupied by Lule Fico.