Ali Pasha Castle (Venetian Triangle Castle)

The castle is a typical garrison fortress, built on plain ground. It is located on the left bank of the Vivari canal, opposite Butrint. It has a triangular planimetric shape, with round towers in all three corners and with a length of about 50m. The walls are preserved almost at full height and have numerous turrets. The inner part of the Vivari castle is crossed by a series of one-story alcoves supported by the wall on the west and east side. There are two entrances: the main one between the south wall and the other one in the north one. In the middle of the courtyard is a circular building covered with a spherical dome without windows, which served as a gunpowder depot during the Ottoman period. The walls are crowned by a 1.5 m high parapet described by numerous turrets. In the path of the guards leads a staircase supported on the inner side of the south wall near the main entrance. The construction of the castle of Vivar has gone through three phases: the first period belongs to the century. XIII-XIV, where it consists of a wall about 2.40 m thick, which surrounded a triangular territory and was protected by two belts of turrets. Its interior facilities such as: gate, balcony, roof, etc. had them of wood. The second period dates back to the 14th century, when a Venetian-style tower with a cannon was built on the first floor, while the second floor was used for living and was equipped with windows, chimneys and small arrow turrets. The constructions of the third period were realized in the century. XVII, where 2 more towers with wooden floors were erected. The first floors were equipped with 4 cannon turrets, while the second that was inhabited by the garrison had chimneys and small turrets for lighting. Later indoor facilities were added and turrets for firearms and cannons were opened. In 1995 the towers, coverings, stairs and a part of the walls that needed restoration were restored. The walls of the castle are built of small raw rough stones, bound with lime mortar, with thick fillers. The strips of wood are indistinguishable as we do not have any wall cuts anywhere to see them. The main gate at the top is covered with a cylindrical vault, while the roof itself is covered with an outstretched arch built of carefully worked stone blocks. The gates of the gate were also built with worked square stones. Above the gate there was a balcony that rested on a stone console. On either side of the gate are two recesses covered at the top with cylindrical arches. The interior stairs are made of stone. The stair rest rests on a cylindrical vault. The walls of the quadrangular environment near the northern wall are built of stones connected with mortar, where pieces of bricks were occasionally inserted. This environment was covered with a wooden roof with a drain in the direction of the castle courtyard. The second floor of tower no.1 was covered with a double roof, with wooden construction, covered with tiles. Its walls are built of semi-worked stones placed in rows and carefully bonded with a strong mortar. The walls of the towers (II and III) are built of stones slightly larger than those used in other parts of the fortification. The stones have almost quadrangular shapes and are placed in rows. Inside the walls are reinforced with wooden slats. The walls of the interior of the castle are built of small stones bound with mortar, placed on the site in an irregular shape. Carved stones were used on the doors to build the arches and beams.