Persqop Castle: A Journey Through Illyrian History

Persqop Castle, also known as the ancient city of Brysaka, is located south of Tirana, near Petrelë, Albania. This historical landmark, built on Mount Vila, dates back to the 4th century BC and offers a glimpse into the Illyrian civilization. The settlement's strategic position, 590 meters above sea level, allowed it to control a vast territory and the roads around the mountain.Persqop's fortifying wall is one of the best-preserved in Albania, stretching 60 meters long and 7 meters high, featuring ten lines of stones. The entrance, still visible today, measures 2.6 meters. The walls consist of an external wall (2m thick) and an internal one (1m thick), connected by perpendicular walls filled with soil and stones.Besides the ancient walls, Persqop contains traces of dwellings, an ancient tomb, and an aqueduct that supplied water from Vila Mountain. The city thrived for about 1000 years, with its peak from 2500 to 2200 years ago. It belonged to the Illyrian tribe of the Partheni and controlled the ancient road from Dyrrah (Durrës) through Tyran (Tirana) to Scampin (Elbasan), which later became part of the Egnatia road. The city declined after the Roman invasion of Illyria, and the construction of Petrelë Fortress in the 4th century AD further diminished its importance.Today, Persqop offers visitors a chance to connect with antiquity and enjoy the surrounding nature.