One of Albania’s best preserved castles, Petrela sits picturesquely on a steep slope overlooking a river, 15 km southeast of Tirana, along the road to Elbasan. Petrele Castle is 329 metres above sea level. On a clear day it can be seen all the way to Kruja, Emperor Justinian fortified this place to defend the settlement of Dyrrachium (now Durres). The tower in the centre dates back to 500 AD; surrounding it are walls from the Byzantine period, laid out in a triangle, with round towers at the corners. The castle was used during Skanderbeg’s war against the Turks; his sister Mamica lived here and defended then castle, but it was eventually captured and used by Turkish soldiers. The Castle, the prominent wooden structure is a restaurant, is perched on a rocky hill, above the village with the same name. It has a triangular shape with two observation towers. Although it was first built in ancient times, the present building dates from the 15th century.