Kalaja e Lëkurësit

Kalaja e Lëkurësit rises on a pyramid-shaped hill above Saranda, overlooking the bay, Ionian Sea and Ksamil islands. From the limestone walls, you can also see the surrounding mountains and Butrint Lake in the distance. The paved route climbs from Qafë Gjashtë, while the walk from Saranda’s centre takes roughly forty-five minutes to an hour.

Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent built this Ottoman fortress in 1537 to defend the region against Venetian power. Its square layout has two round towers, limestone walls about two metres thick and walls reaching seven metres high. The southeastern tower near the entrance remains the best preserved, with restored cannon embrasures along the parapet. A garrison of around two hundred soldiers once occupied the site, while the lower tower floors stored supplies and held defensive loopholes. The fortress also formed the centre of Lëkurës village, whose abandoned remains still appear opposite the entrance.

Ali Pasha of Ioannina attacked the stronghold in the eighteenth century, and later decay left its structure open across the hill. Twentieth-century artillery pieces stand near the entrance, adding another layer to the military story. A restaurant with a panoramic terrace occupies the grounds, and traditional Albanian dishes accompany views that become especially striking at sunset.