About The Settlement Of Karos

The settlement of Karos consists of the ruins of a fortified settlement of a community that once lived in the area close to what is now Qeparo. What’s left are some archaeological remains of the fortification walls and a later addition in the form of the Tower of Ali Pasha. The settlement is located on a hill, 450 meters above sea level, overlooking the Qeparo River and with a view at the old town of Upper Qeparo and Qeparo Beach. The area is full of beautiful olive groves as well.

View from the Settlement of Karos

History Of The Settlement Of Karos

Nowadays, the beating heart of Qeparo is located at the seaside, but long before this part was built, the center of town was in the old part of Upper Qeparo. However, the old town was not the earliest settlement in the area. The first people residing in the area lived on the adjacent Hill of Karos, about 200 meters north of Upper Qeparo, next to the Qeparo River valley.

After excavations of the fortified settlement, archaeologists estimate the first residents to have arived between the Iron Age and the 4th century AD. The fortifications consist of multiple defence lines with the outer wall following the natural shapes of the hill for about 340 meters. The highest preserved wall is about 1.5 meters in height.

Inside the settlement you can find a brick building which is called the Tower of Ali Pasha, referring to the later Ottoman period. The tower is a 3 story building with some beautiful arches.

How To Get To The Settlement Of Karos

The Hill of Karos is located about 200 meters east of Upper Qeparo and can be reached via an old shepards path. You might even actually meet a shepard with his herd of sheep when hiking down there. Upper Qeparo can actually be reached by car so you don’t necessarily have to hike all the way up from the lower village.

Shepherds path between the olive groves in Qeparo

If you don’t have your own transportation, renting a car can be ideal, especially when you’re not staying in Qeparo or just want to be able to move around and see more of the amazing riviera coast. You can also book a tour that includes a visit to Qeparo.

Qeparo can also be reached by buses from other towns. From Saranda there is a direct bus, but you can take any bus in the direction to Himara, Dhermi or Vlora. Bear in mind that you’d have to undertake a long and steep hike in order to reach Upper Qeparo and the Settlement of Karos.