Perched on a triangular peninsula at the entrance to the Bay of Porto Palermo, this triangular Ottoman castle is one of the most striking fortifications on the Albanian coast. It was built in the early 19th century under Ali Pasha of Ioannina, the powerful and brutal Ottoman governor who controlled much of what is now Albania and northern Greece.
The castle's distinctive triangular plan, with a tower at each corner, was designed to command the narrow entrance to the bay. During the Communist period it was used as a naval base and submarine facility, which kept it closed to visitors for decades. It has since been restored and opened, and the interior gives access to the towers and walls, with views over the extraordinary blue-green waters of Porto Palermo Bay.
To reach it from Jalë, drive or walk south along the coastal road for about 3 kilometres; the peninsula is clearly visible from the road.