Porto Palermo Castle, Stone castle on Porto Palermo peninsula, Albania.
Porto Palermo Castle is a triangular fortress built on a peninsula near Himarë, featuring three rectangular towers at its corners. The structure was constructed from local limestone blocks with thick defensive walls that define the entire site.
Ali Pasha of Tepelena commissioned this military fortress in the early 1800s to control maritime trade routes along the coast. The fort played an important role in defending the region's waters during that turbulent political era.
The fortress shows a blend of Ottoman defensive design and local building methods that reflect the craftsmanship of the region. Visitors can still see this fusion today in the stone walls and the geometric arrangement of the towers.
The site is accessible from the road, and visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven and some stairs are steep. There is limited shade, so it is best to visit early or late in the day during warm weather.
During the Communist era, the military used the grounds as a secret submarine base, with tunnels carved into the surrounding rock. These underground structures are still partially visible today and reveal a completely different use of the fortress.
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