Kaninë Castle

Kaninë Castle (Kalaja e Kaninës) is a castle in the village Kaninë near Vlorë, in southwestern Albania.

History
This castle was built in the village with the same name which is about 6 km from Vlorë. The castle rises on the side of the Shushica Mountain, about 380 meters above the sea level. The castle was built on the site of an ancient settlement, one of the oldest in the Vlora region. The castle is believed to have been erected in the 3rd century B.C. In the 4th century B.C. the castle was transformed into a fortress town. In the 6th century A.D. the castle was reconstructed by Justinian I. The castle was the center of the Principality of Valona in the 14th century.

The settlement covers an area of 3,625 hectares.