Himarë Castle | |
---|---|
Kalaja e Himarës | |
Himarë, Albania | |
Coordinates | 40°07′04″N 19°43′54″E / 40.11771°N 19.73166°E |
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 |
Himarë Castle ( Albanian: Kalaja e Himarës), locally also known as Kastro [1] is a castle in Himarë, in southern Albania.
It is one pf the main attractions located in the old town of Himara. [2] The Chaonian castle in Himara appears to belong to the set of the earliest Chaonian fortifications. [3] Its ancient walls probably date to the 5th-4th centuries BC. [4] There are also a number of Orthodox churches there such as Panagia Kassopitra where parts of the western side of the ancient wall are preserved inside it. [5] [2]
Another church inside the castle is that of the All Saints. According to a local legend when the Greek Orthodox missionary Kosmas visited Himara in 1779, he proposed to the locals to destroy part of that church in order to build a Greek school with this material. [6]
The church of Saint Michael also inside the castle was erected during the 13th century. [7]
The old mansion of Spyros Spyromilios is also among the main attractions found inside the citadel. [2]
η παλαιά πόλη της Χειμάρρας, στην οποία ξεχωρίζει το επιβλητικό Κάστρο... [the old town of Himare, with its imposing castle...