Himara Castle

Above the modern town of Himara on the Riviera stands the old settlement, a walled hilltop that was the town proper until the twentieth century, when people moved down to the coast: a circuit of walls and towers of medieval and Venetian date enclosing lanes of stone houses, many roofless and overgrown, several churches including one with frescoes, and a handful of buildings that have been restored and reoccupied, with a few guesthouses and a restaurant. The view runs along the whole Riviera coast and out to sea. It is a genuine abandoned town rather than a monument, walked freely with no ticket, and the contrast with the beach resort below is the point of climbing up.

What you actually see

• Walls and towers of the old town - the medieval and Venetian circuit.
• Roofless stone houses - lanes of abandoned buildings inside the walls.
• Churches with surviving frescoes - the older religious buildings.
• The Riviera coast view - the whole shoreline from the hilltop.

When to go

April to October. Two hours. Late afternoon for light along the coast and cooler walking. The climb from the town is steep; a road reaches the edge for those who drive.

Honest expectations

Buildings are ruinous and unsafe in places; walls and floors collapse. There is no interpretation and no ticket office. The climb is steep with no shade. Facilities are limited to a couple of seasonal places.

Nearby

Himara beach is below; Livadhi and Porto Palermo lie either side.