History of Tirana

Ancient traces of inhabitation in Tirana's area

Basilica

Basilica

The Fortress of Petrela

The Fortress of Preza

The Paleolithic station in the northeast of Dajti�s mountainside called The Black Cave or The Pigeons Cave is a permanent inhabitation that certificates the ancient traces of life in this area.

 Paleochristian basilica near Peza, III century (Durak village).

 The basilica of Tirana IV century or the Church Kroi I Sh�ngjinit.

This testimony belongs to the western area of the city�s center. It is presented as a construction with a long axis, directed to west east and is composed by the �naos � (the meeting-room) in the west, while �narthex �(the fore meeting �room) and the other environments were situated in the north side.

Interesting for studies on the development of this area, in particular for this rural inhabitation center that links the streets of Dyrrahu and Skampa are the two mosaics, naos and narthex.

It is thought that the building was ruined in the late antiquity period. We have to do with an inhabitation building of the II-III century of our era converted in a church, a cult building during the IV-V century.

Rests of Illyrian fortifications, such as that of Brari, Dajti, Ndroqi etc.

Fortifications or fortified inhabitations in the area of Tirana or in the back land of Durr�si, such as those of Petrela, Preza, Dor�zit, Brarit, Vil�s, Tujanit etc.

THE FORTRESS OF PETRELA

From the discoveries made, the fortress of Petrela is a medieval fortress constructed in the time of invasion of the Byzantium Emperor Justian I, in the VI century AC. This was one of the fortresses he raised in the defensive system of the Empire. This is a fortress raised on a terrain with very inclined sides, rugged in the south and southeast, which made the fortress too protected. It was raised in the moment when the Fortress of Vile, the antique fortress, situated in front of the Fortress of Petrela lost its particular importance.

In the beginning of the XIV�century it was under the Topiaj invasion, at the time owners between Mat and Shkumbin and in one of the sidewalls there is still kept the emblem of Topiaj.

THE FORTRESS OF PREZA

Barleti mentions Preza as the city of Parthinks. The fact that Barleti mentions it shows that Topiaj that owned the area built it before Kruja�s besieges and its construction dates back at the beginning of the XV-century.

As it is understood, it was abandoned during the time of Gjon Kastrioti�s time and his own son. After the Turkish invasion it underwent some reparations, among which there was reconstructed a mosque.

Small or large cemeteries along the fragments of �Egnatia� Street touch Tirana �s area.