Lëkurësi Castle

A ruined Ottoman fortress on a hilltop above Saranda in southern Albania, probably built in 1537 by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent during his campaign against Venetian-held Corfu. The castle has a square floor plan with two round towers at diagonally opposite corners, strategically positioned to command views of Saranda, the road to Butrint, and the sea including the Ksamil islands. It housed a garrison of 220 soldiers. In the late 18th century it was attacked by Ali Pasha of Ioannina, and during WWII it served as a base for German and Italian forces.