Tirana Castle (Kalaja e Tiranës), also known as the Fortress of Justinian, is a historic landmark located in the heart of the Albanian capital. The ancient fortress, with its history dating back to the Byzantine era, has been restored for tourism recently. There are now several eateries and traditional handcraft stores inside the fortress’s protective walls.
It is thought that the castle was one of the defenses that Emperor Justinian constructed or reconstructed in the 6th century of our era. It is among the oldest surviving examples of a city, located exactly where the old and new roads that connected Tirana with other cities in Albania crossed.
The 6-meter high walls that can be seen today were constructed by Ahmet Pashë Bargjini in the second half of the 18th century on the ruins of the old castle. In 1798, the castle fell into the hands of the famous Toptani family from Kruja, and it is in its ownership to this day. Recently, the family restored the castle and transformed it into a tourist attraction.
About all that is left of the fortress above ground is the Ottoman-era walls. The walls were incorporated into the newly pedestrianized Murat Toptani Street, which also offers many cafés and souvenir shops. Furthermore, it is also home to what is probably the most modern shopping center in Tirana, the Toptani Shopping Center. Just a few meters away is the Hotel Plaza, the tallest skyscraper in Albania.
Photo Courtesy of Jakub Hrab
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