The Castle of Porto Palermo is located on a small island near the seashore and has a very intriguing history. The triangular plan with round towers in the corners, similar to the Butrins’ Castle, suggests that it was built by the Venetians. The castle gained popularity during the XIX century, when Ali Pasha Tepelena reconstructed it and, according to legend, donated it to his wife Kira Vasiliki.

During the communist regime, a Soviet military base was built in Porto Palermo Bay, and the castle served as a storehouse and offices for the base. With the fall of the communist regime, the castle turned into an inevitable tourist destination. Today tourists can visit the thick-walled interior, the ruins of the nearby St. Nicholas church, or step at the castle’s terraces and enjoy the breath-taking views of the Ionian Sea.