Location: Butrint, Vlore Region
Built: 1819 by
order of Ali Pasha Tepelene
Ali Pasha Castle (Kalaja e Butrintit) is located near Butrint, Vlora Province in Albania. Ali Pasha Castle was constructed on the orders of Ali Pasha of Tepelenë in 1819 by order of Ali Pasha Tepelin. It was found on the base of the 17th century citadel that belonged to Corfiote family. However, the old military fortress of the aristocratic Corfiot family stood here from the 17th century. Ali Pasha quickly conquered the old fort in 1804 and built his own in return. Here he founded his official residence. For his own peace of mind and deciding that the house should be a fortress in the truest sense of the word, he erected walls, towers and added a few guns for the safety of Ali Pasha’s castle.
The fortress of Ali Pasha Tepelena is a fortress near the ancient
city of Butrint in southern Albania. It is named after Ali Pasha von
Tepelena, who ruled there briefly around 1820. The building was
erected before 1718.
The fortress is located on a small
island at the mouth of the Vivar Canal, which connects the Butrint
Sea with the Ionian Sea. It can only be reached by boat. Butrint is
about two and a half kilometers further east at the beginning of the
canal. The rectangular facility is about 22 by 30 meters. In the
corners there are towers that were armed with cannons - the western
towers are round, the inland ones are square. The main entrance was
on the north side directly on the canal, a battlement walked along
the other three walls. Even the inner courtyard was probably under
water at times.
The fortress was first mentioned long before
Ali Pasha was born: it is shown on a Venetian map from 1718 and
probably belonged to the Corfiot Gonemi family. A rectangular tower
above the later entrance was the oldest part of the complex.
In 1386 Butrint went to the Venetians. In the middle of the 17th
century the city fell temporarily to the Ottomans. Then the
Venetians expanded the fortifications. In 1800, Ali Pasha captured
Butrint from the French, who ruled the area for two years after
Napoleon smashed the Republic of Venice and the Ionian Islands went
to France. Ali Pasha had the fortress renewed; he controlled Butrint
until his assassination in 1822. Thereafter, the fortress fell to
the Ottoman army.
There are other fortresses in the region,
with which the rulers wanted to secure the strategically important
location on the Strait of Corfu and protect the rich fishing grounds
around Butrint. Inside the ancient city of Butrint, on the
acropolis, is the Venetian fort, which dates back to medieval
structures, and at the foot of the hill there is a Venetian defense
tower on the canal bank. On the southern side of the canal opposite
the city is the Kalaja trekëndore (triangle castle), also under
Venetian rule, probably built in the early 16th century on the site
of previous buildings.
The facility is located within the
Butrint National Park.
The castle is a small fortification with thick stone walls and three towers, reflecting its military purpose. Its compact size (approximately 150 meters long and 60 meters wide) suggests that it served more as a control point for access to Butrint from the sea than as a major fortress. Inside, there are remains of rooms, although the interior remains simple and devoid of decoration. From the top, there are spectacular views of the Vivari Canal, the Ionian Sea and the nearby island of Corfu.
The castle can only be reached by boat, which is offered by locals at the entrance to the Butrint Archaeological Park (costing about 10 euros per person). The castle itself is free to visit, but the infrastructure is minimal - there are no cafes or guides on site. Visitors often combine a visit with a tour of Butrint, a UNESCO site located 2.5 km to the east. The best time to go is spring or autumn, to avoid the summer heat and crowds.
Ali Pasha Castle is not only a monument to military history, but also a testament to the influence of Ali Pasha, whose policies changed the face of the region. Its secluded location and well-preserved structure make it a hidden gem of Albania, often overlooked by tourists in favor of more famous attractions. It is an ideal place for those looking for a combination of history, nature and silence away from the crowds.