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Porto Palermo Castle
Kalaja e Porto Palermos
Himarë, Albania
Porto Palermo Castle
Porto Palermo Castle
Coordinates	40°03′44″N 19°47′26″E / 40.062317°N 19.790475°E / 40.062317; 19.790475
Site information
Owner	Albania
Controlled by	Chaonians (Epirus) Roman Empire  Byzantine Empire Despotate of Epirus Kingdom of Albania Republic of Venice  Ottoman Empire  Albania
Open to the public	Yes
Site history
Built	5th Century BC
Built by	final form created by Ali Pasha of Tepelena
Kep i Palermos Lighthouse
Foundation	stone base
Construction	stone tower
Height	10 m (33 ft)
Shape	irregular octagonal tower with balcony and light atop
Markings	unpainted (tower)
Power source	solar power
Focal height	113 m (371 ft)
Range	8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi)
Characteristic	Fl W 8s

Porto Palermo Castle (Albanian: Kalaja e Porto Palermos) is a castle near Himarë in southern Albania. It is situated in the bay of Porto Palermo, a few kilometers south of Himarë along the Albanian Riviera. The area together with Llamani beach will be proclaimed a protected area holding the status of Protected Landscape by the Albanian Government. It is the most well preserved garrison erected by Ali Pasha in the region.

History

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2015)

Due to its strategic position, the shores of Porto Palermo have been utilized for defensive purposes from antiquity to World War II.

Porto Palermo Castle is a castle near Himarë in southern Albania with an intriguing history. It is situated in the closed bay of Porto Palermo, a few kilometers south of Himarë, and makes nearly an island that is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. The fort served as former Soviet submarine base during the communist regime in Albania, and nowadays its semi abandoned tunnel and barrack attract attention of visitors, as well as the stronghold walls and gates built by the powerful Ali Pasha of Ioannina.

The well preserved castle was built in the early 19th century by Ali Pasha of Tepelena. In 1921 the castle was called Venetian. In 1803 Ali Pasha offered the castle and port to the Royal Navy. At which time the fort only had 4 or 5 cannon implying that Ali Pasha did not see the fort as important for him. William Martin Leake visited the fort and noted that the garrison consisted of 10 men with two four-pounders. François Pouqueville in 1806 reports, "The tower or fort stands on the southern point of the entrance, connected with the continent by a low narrow isthmus. It consists of a square with bastions, having a few guns, of no service either to command the entrance or to protect the shipping at anchor. Near it are some warehouses, a custom-house, and a Greek church."

• Abandoned barracks at Porto Palermo
• Abandoned building on Porto Palermo, contains former socialist message "Long live the albanian-chinese friendship" (RROFTE MIQESIA SHQIPTARO-KINEZE).
• Abandoned building on Porto Palermo (side) with socialist message saying "Long live the Communist Party of China and comrade Mao Zedong" (RROFTE PK E KINES DHE SHOKUN MAO CE DUN)
• Abandoned building on Porto Palermo, contains former socialist message "THE DECISIONS OF THE 6th Congress of the PLA WORK PROGRAM (...)" (VENDIMET E KONG. 6te PPSH PROGRAM PUNE (...))

Literature

The erection of the castle by Ali Pasha was praised by Greek poet and member of Ali Pasha's court, Ioannis Vilaras.

See also

• List of castles in Albania
• List of lighthouses in Albania
• Tourism in Albania
• Albanian Riviera
• Geography of Albania
• Porto Palermo Tunnel

References

1. List of Lights, Pub. 113: The West Coasts of Europe and Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and Azovskoye More (Sea of Azov) (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2015.
2. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Albania". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
3. "Error - Akses i palejuar". Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
4. Σμύρης, Γεώργιος (2000). "Castle Network of the Pashalik of Ioannina" (in Greek). Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο (ΕΜΠ). Σχολή Αρχιτεκτόνων Μηχανικών: 7. doi:10.12681/eadd/12426. hdl:10442/hedi/12426. Retrieved 13 September 2022. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
5. Neumeier, Mary (1 January 2016). The Architectural Transformation Of The Ottoman Provinces Under Tepedelenli Ali Pasha, 1788-1822. Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations (Thesis). p. 103. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
6. Ndarurinze, Renate (2008). Albanien entdecken: Auf den Spuren Skanderbegs (in German). Berlin: Trescher Verlag. p. 243. ISBN 978-3-89794-125-0.
7. Scriven, George P. (April 1921). "Some Highways of Albania and a Forgotten Riviera". Geographical Review. 11 (2). American Geographical Society: 198–206. doi:10.2307/207325. JSTOR 207325.
8. p 86 J. W. BAGGALLY 1938 Ali Pasha and Great Britain Basil Blackwell: Oxford
9. "1804 | William Martin Leake: Travels in Southern Albania". Archived from the original on 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
10. "1806 | François Pouqueville: Travels in Epirus and Albania". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
11. Kyriazis, Doris; Qirjazi, Dhori Q. (2016). "Vepra në gjuhën greke për Shqipërinë dhe shqiptarët, shkruar prej grekësh dhe shqiptarësh. Vështrim i përgjithshëm". "Letrat shqipe dhe gjuhët e tjera të letërsisë shqiptare". Konferencën Ndërkombëtare e Albanian Academy of Sciences (Tiranë, nëntor 2015: 25. Retrieved 13 September 2022.

External links

• Picture of the lighthouse

v t e Castles in Albania
Northern Albania	Burgajet Drisht Durrës Ishëm Krujë Lezhë Peca Rodoni Rozafa
Central Albania	Bashtova Dajti Dorëzi Elbasan Justinian Fortress Persqopi Petrelë Peqin Prezë Tujani
Southern Albania	Ali Pasha Amantia Apollonia (Illyria) Badhër Berat Borsh Butrint Byllis Delvinë Dimale Gjirokastër Gjon Boçari Kaninë Kardhiq Këlcyrë Libohovë Lëkurësi Margëlliç Paleokastra Pogradec Porto Palermo Skelë Skrapar Tepelena Venetian Acropolis Venetian Triangular Vokopolë
See also List of castles in Albania

40°03′43″N 19°47′28″E / 40.062°N 19.791°E / 40.062; 19.791

• Castles in Albania
• Buildings and structures in Himara
• Tourist attractions in Vlorë County