Albanian Historical Gems

This collection spans millennia of history in Vlorë County, from the ancient Greek and Roman ruins of Phoenice and Oricum to the medieval fortifications of Kaninë and Porto Palermo. It highlights the region's diverse architectural heritage, including Byzantine-style churches like St. Nicholas in Mesopotam and modern landmarks like the Independence Monument. These sites illustrate the strategic importance of the Albanian Riviera through various eras, featuring Ottoman-era castles, communist-era bunkers, and archaeological parks.

Albanian Historical Gems — Map

A

Big bunker

A large concrete fortification built during the communist era as part of the country's extensive bunkerization program to defend against potential invasion.

Tori Oseku / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

Porto Palermo Castle

Porto Palermo Castle is a castle near Himarë in southern Albania. It is situated in the bay of Porto Palermo, a few kilometers south of…

Rob Sherratt / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

St. Nicholas Monastary Church

St. Nicholas Monastery Church is the katholikon of the abandoned Orthodox monastery of Saint George in Mesopotam, Vlorë County, Albania.

Andrey Bugaev / CC-BY-SA

D

Kalaja e Borshit

Also known as Sopot Castle, these medieval ruins sit atop a hill overlooking Borsh. The site includes fortifications dating back to the 4th century BC with later Ottoman additions.

E

Kalaja e Treportit

Archaeological remains of an ancient walled settlement and harbor, with foundations dating from the 7th century BC to the 2nd century BC.

Arian Mavriqi / CC BY-SA 4.0

F

Ali Pasha Castle

Ali Pasha Castle is a castle in Albania. It is named after Ali Pasha of Tepelenë who resided there until 1820.

G

Delvinë Castle

Strategic medieval fortification overlooking the town of Delvinë, featuring defensive walls and structural remains from the Ottoman period.

Giuseppe.lepore4 / CC-BY-SA-3.0

H

Phoenice

Phoenice or Phoenike was an ancient Greek city in Epirus and capital of the Chaonians.

I

Oricum

An ancient Greek colony founded in the 7th or 6th century BC. The archaeological park features a small theater, ancient roads, and Byzantine church ruins.

J

Triangular Fortress

Located across the Vivari Channel from Butrint, this 15th-century Venetian fortification was later reinforced by Ali Pasha Tepelena in the early 19th century.

K

Kaninë Castle

Kaninë Castle is a castle in the village Kaninë near Vlorë, in southwestern Albania.

L

The old castle of Himara

Built on the site of the ancient city of Chimera, these hilltop ruins feature continuous layers of fortification from the 4th century BC through the Byzantine era.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

M

Independence Monument

A 17-meter-tall bronze sculpture in Vlorë's Flag Square commemorating the 1912 declaration of Albanian independence from the Ottoman Empire.

N

Lapidari ALI DEMI

A socialist-realist memorial dedicated to Ali Demi, a World War II resistance fighter and Hero of the People.