Fortress of Justinian

Fortress of Justinian (Albanian: Kalaja e Justinianit) or simply known as Tirana Castle (Albanian: Kalaja e Tiranës) is a castle in Tirana, Albania. Its history dates back before 1300 and is a remnant from the Byzantine-era. The fortress is the place where the main east–west and north–south roads crossed, and formed the heart of Tirana. The current fortification has three known towers and it is undergoing a process of restoration, for touristic purposes. Inside the fortified walls of the former fortress, there are many buildings that can be visited, including restaurants, hotels, and cultural institutions.[1]

Fortress of Justinian
Native name
Albanian: Kalaja e Tiranës
Castle of Tirana
LocationTirana
Coordinates41°19′35″N 19°49′19″E
Height6 m
Current useOpen to the public
Owner Albania
Websitekalajaetiranes.al
Designated10 June 1973
Location of Fortress of Justinian in Albania

About all that is left of the fortress above ground is a 6-metre (20 ft) high Ottoman-era wall, covered in vines. The recently uncovered wall foundations were incorporated into the pedestrianised Murat Toptani Street, while a mosaic commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Albania's Independence was unveiled near the Albanian Parliament.[2]

The Castle of Tirana was declared a monument of culture of first category on 10 June 1973 and the new tracks of walls of Tirana Castle were declared a cultural monument on 15 May 2008.[3]

Traditional bazaar

In December 2018, a new traditional bazaar was opened inside Tirana Castle with various traditional hand crafts stores and traditional cuisine restaurants.

  • Tirana Castle
  • Inside the castle
  • Fortress walls
  • Part of the castle's fortification
  • Pedestrian Murat Toptani St nearby fortress
  • Pedestrian Murat Toptani St nearby fortress
  • Explanatory plaque

References
  1. "Kalaja (The Fortress of Tirana) | Visit Albania". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  2. "Fortress of Justinian". Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  3. "Castle of Tirana". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
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