Shkodra
Shkodra is one of the oldest
cities in Albania, founded in
the fourth century B.C. as the
center of the Labeat tribe of
Illyrians. Throughout history
Shkodra has been occupied
several times: first by the Ro-
mans (168 B.C.), then Serbians
(1040), the Venetians (1396),
and finally the Ottomans
(1479). The city returned to
Albanian control as the feu-
dal principality of the Balshaj
during the 14th century and
served as the municipal cen-
ter of the Bushatllinj Pashallëk
from 1757 to 1831. Shkodra is
rich with cultural Heritage, the
city itself as well as the people
bear the pride that the large
number of artists, musicians,
painters, photographers, po-
ets and writers born here
strove to create.
Shkodra’s main tourist attrac-
tion is Rozafa Castle. Rising
majestically upon a rocky hill
west of the city, the outcrop-
pings and battlements paint
a blazing picture against the
setting sun. It is surrounded
by the waters of three rivers;
the Drini, Buna, and Kiri. Much
like the town it protected, the
castle has Illyrian origins. Ac-
cording to the historian Tit
Liri “it was the strongest area
of the Labeats”. Like all ancient
works, the castle comes with a
popular local legend. Rozafa
was the name of the bride of
the youngest of three broth-
ers who originally built the
castle. The three men worked
tirelessly by day laying mortar
and stone but the walls always
crumbled overnight. Consult-
ing a wise man they learned
that to expel the evil tearing
at their daily work and protect
their friends and family with a
strong castle that would last
through the ages, one of their
wives needed to be entombed
within the walls. The brothers
made a heart wrenching pact
not to alert their wives to this
danger, and whoever brought
her husband his noon meal the
following day, she would be
sacrificed. The elder brothers
broke their word however, and
it was Rozafa alone who came
with food. When she heard the
proclamation, she wept for her
newborn son and husband,
but allowed herself to become
a living part of the walls so
that the castle could be built.
According to both legend and
local folklore, the calcareous
water flowing at the entrance
of the castle is the milk flowing
from one of her breasts, which
she requested be left exposed
so that she could feed her
baby. She also pleaded for one
foot and one arm to be left
free, in order to rock her son’s
cradle at night and sooth him
during the day.
Historians tell us a less en-
chanting and more scientific
background of the castle’s
characteristics. It reflects the
dominion of the Balshaj fami-
ly, but passed through enough
other ruling periods that each
left their own signs and mark-
ings on the grounds, including
a distinct Venetian flare, some
Ottoman architecture from the
16th and 17th centuries, and
even a few modifications from
the Bushatllinj family during
the 18th and 19th centuries.
Within the castle walls is a mu-
seum that a discerning lover
of antiquities could spend a
comfortable afternoon read-
ing more of the history, and a
restaurant has been added to
showcase local food and tradi-
tional dress.
In addition to the castle, you
might also want to visit other
notable landmarks, such as
the city’s History Museum,
near the stadium and the re-
nowned Marubi Fototekë.
