Rozafa Castle is a historical fortress located in the city of Shkodra, Albania. It has endured through the ages, starting from its ancient Illyrian walls, to its medieval ruins, and the Towers of the Bushatllinj. The castle has played a significant role in Albania’s history, having withstood the changes of various empires, including the Roman and Ottoman. Rozafa Castle is also famous for its legend of Rozafat, a woman who was sacrificed for the castle’s construction. Her sacrifice is said to allegorically represent Albania’s struggle and the sacrifice of its people. The castle comprises three main courtyards, making it easy to navigate. The first courtyard contains the oldest structure in the castle grounds, the 4th-century tract of the Illyrian wall, along with the medieval ruins of cisterns, the towers of the Balshaj, and the former Venetian residences. In the second courtyard, you’ll find the ruins of the Church of St. Stephen, which is now a mosque. The third courtyard houses the three-story Venetian building, known as the “Capitol,” which served as the residence of the Venetian ruler. The Castle of Shkodra Museum, located inside this building, provides information on the castle’s 4000-year-old history, including the most renowned medieval families of the city. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking panoramas of the beautiful Lake of Shkodra, as well as the city’s rivers and expansive mountain ranges from high up at the castle. To the southwest of the castle, in the third courtyard, visitors can also see where the three rivers of Drin, Kir, and Buna join.
