Ali Pasha's Castle

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Ali Pasha’s Castle occupies a commanding position at the mouth of the Vivari Channel, controlling access to Butrint and with extensive views along the coast and across to Corfu.

It may have originated as a Venetian fortress of the sixteenth century, but has been much modified - and was partially destroyed by the French in 1798. The castle was subsequently rebuilt by Ali Pasha of Tepelena, de facto ruler of Albania between 1788 and 1822. The castle is only accessible by boat from nearby Butrint.

Butrint itself was a strategic port throughout Hellenistic and Roman times. It was subsequently ruled by the Byzantines and Venetians, before being finally abandoned as a settlement in the middle ages. However it retained its strategic importance into the nineteenth century.

The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, and the Butrint National Archaeological Park was created in 2000.

Model created from 331 photographs taken on 6 and 9 June 2024.