- Type
- Castle
- Coordinates
- 40.4440°, 19.5206°
History
The fortress on the slope of Mount Shushicë, some 380 metres above sea level and a few kilometres from Vlorë, stands on the site of one of the region's oldest settlements, probably fortified as early as the 3rd century BC. In the 6th century Emperor Justinian I renewed its defences. In the Middle Ages Kaninë changed hands repeatedly – belonging to Byzantium, the Despotate of Epirus, Manfred of Hohenstaufen and the Angevins – and in the 14th century it was the centre of the Principality of Valona. The Ottomans took it early in the 15th century and made it the seat of a sanjak. In 1690, during the Morean War, the Venetians briefly held the fortress, but the Ottomans soon recovered it.
What to see
A road leads to the ruins through the village of Kaninë. Long stretches of wall with towers survive, enclosing an area of about 3.6 hectares, along with remains of the buildings inside. The main draw is the sweeping view over Vlorë, the bay, the Karaburun peninsula and Sazan island – especially at sunset.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q3299266
Popularity: articles about this site in 13 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).