Qeparo Old Village

Qeparo has two parts: the modern village on the coast with its beach and guesthouses, and the old village three hundred metres above it on the slope, a settlement of stone houses with slate roofs and cobbled lanes that was largely abandoned in the second half of the twentieth century when people moved down to the shore. Many houses are roofless and overgrown, some have been bought and restored, and a small number of families remain, along with a church, a school building and an olive press. The view runs along the Riviera coast and out over the sea. It is walked freely with no ticket, and the mixture of ruin, restoration and continued occupation is the character of it.

What you actually see

• Roofless stone houses - the abandoned half of the village.
• Cobbled lanes on the slope - the old settlement layout.
• Restored houses among ruins - the partial return of occupation.
• The Riviera coast view - the shoreline three hundred metres below.

When to go

April to October. Two hours. Late afternoon for light along the coast. The walk up from the modern village is steep and takes about half an hour; a road reaches the edge.

Honest expectations

Buildings are ruinous and unsafe in places. There is no interpretation, no ticket and few facilities. The walk up is steep with no shade. People still live there, so lanes and yards should be treated as private.

Nearby

The Qeparo beach is below; Borsh and Himara lie either side on the coast.