Trashëgimia EN

Peqini Castle, located in Elbasan County, Albania, traces its roots back to the Roman period, specifically the time of the construction of the Via Egnatia. The castle gained its current structure in the 17th century AD during the Ottoman rule under Abdi Pasha, an Albanian politician and military leader. The castle is built on hard, rocky terrain and originally featured walls as tall as 12 meters. Its design includes robust fortifications, a saray (palace), a harem, and hidden underground tunnels used...

Ishëm Castle, locally known as Kalaja e Ishmit, lies east of the village of Kërtushaj in the county of Durrës, Albania. It was built between 1572 and 1574 by a local Ottoman ruler named Mehmet. The castle’s primary purpose was to house a garrison of approximately 410 soldiers to suppress local peasant rebellions. The castle overlooked the Ishëm River. In historical times, this river was navigable and featured a small port, which the castle guarded. Its architecture reflects a blend of...

Rodoni Castle, also known as the Castle of Rodon or Skanderbeg Castle, is located on the Cape of Rodon in Durrës County, Albania. It was constructed by Skanderbeg, Albania’s national hero, between 1450 and 1452 AD. The castle was destroyed by Ottoman forces in 1467 AD following the Siege of Krujë but was rebuilt by the Republic of Venice in 1500 AD. The castle’s walls measured 400 meters in length, with towers situated at each of its four corners. Historical records...

Durrës Castle, an ancient fortress town in Durrës, Albania, dates back to the 400s during the rule of Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I, who was raised in this region. The castle was declared a monument of cultural heritage in 1971, under the “Archaeology” type. The walls of the castle, famously described in the 11th century by Byzantine princess and historian Anna Komnene in her Alexiad as being thick enough for “four horsemen to ride abreast,” demonstrate its durable architectural design. These walls...

Built during the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian between 284 and 305 AD, it was originally called Mansio Scampis. Situated on the Via Egnatia, a major Roman road linking the Adriatic coast to Byzantium, the site connected significant regions of the empire. Abandoned at some point, it was later rebuilt in the 15th century by Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror, who transformed it into a garrison town in 1466 during his conflict with the League of Lezhë, led by Albania’s...

The Fortress of Bashtovë, built in the 15th century under Venetian rule, was designed to facilitate trade. It underwent further modifications during the Ottoman conquest in the same century, with construction activities continuing into the early 16th century. The fortification walls suffered damage during the 2019 earthquake and are currently being restored. Located along the ancient “Via Egnatia” road, the fortress held significant strategic importance for connecting the east and west. It was constructed to control and potentially resist Ottoman attacks...

Originally established in the Illyrian or Roman period as a settlement to protect the Kosovo trade route. Became a Byzantine fortress in the 10th century, rebuilt during the 12th century. It was strengthened as a fortification by the Serbian Principality of Zeta in the 14th century. Current walls and towers date back to the Venetian era (1396–1478). The Castle fell to the Ottomans after the siege of Shkodra in 1478. The castle is located on an 800-meter-high rocky hill with natural...