Himara Castle: A Sentinel of the Albanian Riviera

Himara Castle, also known as Kastro e Himarës, stands as a powerful reminder of Albania's vibrant history. Overlooking the town of Himarë from its hilltop perch, the castle has been a strategic point for millennia. Originally inhabited by the Greek tribe of the Chaonians, the site was fortified around the 8th century BC. The Roman author Pliny first mentioned it in writing in the 1st century AD. Throughout the centuries, Himara Castle has been a melting pot of cultures and a witness to numerous power shifts. It served as a stronghold during the Middle Ages and Byzantine times, undergoing several destructions and restorations. The castle became the center of the Bishophric of Himara in the 8th century. Inhabited until the 16th century, the population gradually migrated towards the coast, near the Port of Himara. Today, Himara Castle invites visitors to explore its network of small cobbled streets, inhabited and ruined houses, and historic churches. Among the notable religious sites are the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus and the Church of St. Mary Kasopitra. The Greek-Orthodox Church Of All Saints sits at the foot of the castle, next to the main road. The castle's elevated position, approximately 240 meters high, provides stunning views of Livadhi Beach, the Ionian Sea, Corfu, and the Ceraunian Mountains.