KASTRO OF HIMARA

This partially ruined fortified city (Kalaja e Himarës) is located on the hill of Barbakas, 180 m above the sea. Still inhabited, it offers a magnificent panorama on the beach of Livadhi and the island of Corfu. Occupied since the Bronze Age, it preserves walls from the Hellenistic period (^5th-4th centuries BC) and was reinforced by the Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans. From the central square (Balili), you can explore the alleys to discover its churches. Located at the entrance of the kastro, the Church of All Saints (Ιερός Ναός Αγίων Πάντων/Ieros Naos Agion Panton) was built in 1775 to organize the common celebrations of all the inhabitants, since until then each family had its own church or chapel, a total of one hundred and fifty places of worship! In the southwestern part, the church of Panagia Kassopitra is dedicated to the "Virgin of Kassiopi". It dates from the 16th century and preserves frescoes of this period. It owes its name to a miraculous icon from the village of Kassiopi in Corfu. In 1537, the Corfu church of Panagia Kassopitra was destroyed by the Ottomans and some of the inhabitants found refuge here. In the southern part of the kastro, the Episkopi church is now in ruins. It was the former metropolis (bishopric) of Himara. The building was founded on the site of a temple dedicated to Apollo. On both sides of the entrance, notice the bas-reliefs representing the double-headed eagle surmounted by a crown, symbol of Byzantium and the Greek Orthodox Church.