Himara
Continuing your tour towards
the south, you will come across
the small city of Himara, which
has two neighborhoods: Old
Himara built on the hill, and
New Himara in the gulf of
Spille. Himara has four beach-
es: Filikuri, Spille, Llamani,
Potami and Livadhet. They are
all gravel beaches with deep,
clear waters. The city comes to
life during the summer tourist
season, when visitors take up
residence in the hotels or in
rented houses.
Himara is the ancient resi-
dence and city of the Illyrian
Kaon clan. It was settled in
the fifth century B.C. and its
name is of Pellazgë (pre-Illyr-
ian) origin. There are several
religious sites to visit such as
the Church of Shën Maria e
Athalit, the Church of Cassio-
peia, the Church of All Saints,
and the House of Lilo Llazari,
which has been turned into a
cultural monument.
Another site to visit is the
Castle of Ali Pashë Tepelena,
built on a small peninsula
in the tectonic gulf of Porto
Palermo. The castle was built
in the shape of a triangle and
has 20 m high walls. Ali Pasha
dedicated this castle to his
wife, Vasiliqia. It is said that it
was built on top of the ruins
of an ancient castle. Himara is
particularly noted for its tradi-
tional Albanian iso-polyphon-
ic songs (part of UNESCO oral
art patrimony).
Himara
Himara
