Petrela

Petrela is a village and a former municipality 15 km south of Tirana county in central Albania, with a population of 5,542.

Understand
Petrela was previously called Petralba. The name evolved from Albanopolis, a Roman-era city mentioned by Ptolemy. The name Petrelë comes from the fact that both the town and its castle are built upon a huge stone on top of a small mountain. Halfway up the hill on which Petrela is situated are the remains of defensive walls which comprise terracing operations on the S, E, and W sides; above each section is a level area. On the best preserved, which is on the W side, rises a building to a height of 5 m and to a length of 20 m. The walls form a double ring, of which the outer section is built of square blocks forming a structure strengthened by buttresses. In the vicinity, some fragments of Hellenistic pottery have been discovered.

The tower in the center was built in the 5th century AD, although most of the remainder is Byzantine, dating between the 11th and 14th centuries. The castle was used mostly to watch for Ottoman troops marching towards inner Albania. In Ottoman times, the castle was the house of Scanderbeg's sister (Mamica Kastrioti).

The castle has views of the Erzen valley, the hills, olive groves and surrounding mountains.

Get in
Petrela is accessible via automobilist road by passing through Tirana and Elbasan.

See
The village is known for its castle and ancient history. The castle was built around the 5th century AD and holds ruins from the Byzantine era between the 11th and 14th centuries. It prevails over the village and the Erzen Valley, making it an ideal place to look into history and enjoy the surrounding nature. at the restaurant inside the castle, one may taste traditional Albanian food cooked by the hands of locals. The castle was ruled by Mamica, the sister of Skanderbeg, Albanian national hero and protector of Christianity during ottoman empire.

On the other side of the hill where lays the village and the castle, are situated the remains of antique defensive walls belonging to the ancient city of Përsqop.

The castle has views of the Erzen valley, the hills, olive groves, and surrounding mountains.