Once upon a time, more precisely from the end of WWII until he died in 1085, the slightly paranoid dictator Enver Hoxha lived in Albania. Considered one of the most isolationist Stalinists, his paranoia at being invaded by neighbouring countries led him to build a defence system of over 750,000 concrete bunkers strategically located throughout the country. Today, many of them still dot the shores and hillsides, city blocks, and even the front yards of private houses to remind Albania's communist past. They come in different shapes, colours, and sizes, and many of them have even been converted into hotels, beverage stands or even burger restaurants? Shops. Pretty amazing, don’t you think?
The castles dotted around Albania’s landscape tell of Albania's long and eventful past. You find them everywhere: atop hills, along the Adriatic coast, or even in the middle of the fields. Some have been turned into museums, cafés and restaurants, while others rest on the grassy areas where sheep graze. The most well-known castles are Rozafa, Lezha, Gjirokastra, Butrinti, Porto Palermo, Kruja, Petrela, and Kanina… But don’t worry: whichever castle you visit, you will be taken back in time, into some of the most magnificent periods of Albania’s history.