Petrelë
{{Infobox settlement AL
|type = mu
|official_name = Petrelë
|image_flag =
|image_shield =
|image_skyline = Castillo de Petrela, Petrela, Albania, 2014-04-17, DD 02.JPG
|image_caption = Petrelë Castle
|image_location =
|county = Tirana
|municipality = Tirana
|coordinates = {{coord|41|15|N|19|51|E|type:adm1st_region:AL_dim:100000|display=inline,title}}
|elevation =
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|population_as_of = 2011
|population_unit = 5542
|postal_code = 1034
|area_code = (0)49
|website =
}}
Petrelë is a village and a former municipality 15 km south of Tirana, in central Albania. It is part of Tirana County. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Tirana.{{cite web |url=https://www.vendime.al/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/137-2014.pdf |title=Law nr. 115/2014 |language=sq |pages=6375|access-date=25 February 2022 }} The population at the 2011 census was 5,542.[http://www.instat.gov.al/media/195838/11__tirane.pdf 2011 census results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207163244/http://www.instat.gov.al/media/195838/11__tirane.pdf |date=2016-02-07 }} It is known for its castle and history.
Castle
It has been suggested that Petrela was originally called Petralba.{{cite book|last1=Zindel|first1=Christian|last2=Lippert|first2=Andreas|last3=Lahi|first3=Bashkim|last4=Kiel|first4=Machiel|title=Albanien: Ein Archäologie- und Kunstführer von der Steinzeit bis ins 19. Jahrhundert|publisher=Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht|year=2018|language=de|page=464}} Moikom Zeqo has further suggested that the name Petralba evolved from Albanopolis, a Roman-era city mentioned by Ptolemy.{{cite book | last=Zeqo | first=Moikom | title=Globalizmi dhe shqiptarët: biseda me Makabe Zaharinë | publisher=Florimont | year=2004 | page=102}} The name Petrelë comes from the fact that the town and its castle are built on a huge stone on top of a small mountain. Halfway up the hill on which Petrela is situated are the remains of defensive walls which comprise terracing operations on the S, E, and W sides; above each section is a level area. On the best preserved, which is on the W side, rises a building to a height of 5 m and to a length of 20 m. The walls form a double ring, of which the outer section is built of square blocks which form a pseudo-isodomic structure strengthened by buttresses. In the vicinity, fragments of Hellenistic pottery have been discovered.[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0006:entry=petrela PETRELA Albania], entry in The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites.
The tower in the center was built in the 5th century AD, although most of the remainder is Byzantine, dating from between the 11th and 14th centuries. The castle was used mostly to watch for Ottoman troops marching towards inner Albania. In Ottoman times, the castle was the house of Scanderbeg's sister (Mamica Kastrioti). The town and castle were also very dear to Scanderbeg, and he used to take time off to come and rest in the area.
The castle has views of the Erzen valley, the hills, olive groves, and surrounding mountains.{{cite web|url=http://albania.shqiperia.com/kat/m/shfaqart/aid/2287/Petrela-Castle.html|title=Albania - The Land of the Illyrians|website=albania.shqiperia.com|access-date=22 April 2018}}
See also
Gallery
File:Albania_petrela_castle.jpg|Petrelë Castle, near Tirana, Albania
File:Castillo de Petrela, Petrela, Albania, 2014-04-17, DD 02.JPG|Rock on which Petrela castle was built
File:Vista de Petrela, Albania, 2014-04-17, DD 12.JPG|View from Petrela Castle
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References
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Category:Former municipalities in Tirana County