“City Rock” in Shpellë, Mokra

Fshati: Shpellë, Njësia Administrative: Velçan, Bashkia: Pogradec

The fortification known as “Shkëmbi i Qytetit” (City Rock) lies to the north of the village of Shpellë, in the Upper Mokra area. It stands above the confluence of the Shkumbin river and the Bishnica stream and is the highest crest of a rocky ridge that breaks away from the mountainside, separated from it by a low saddle. It was precisely through this saddle that the traditional road ran, linking Lower Mokra with Korça via Kamja Rock and with Devoll via the Panja Pass. The rocky height on which the ancient settlement lies consists of two peaks joined by a shallow saddle. It was protected on the north-western side by a wall of unworked stones laid dry, dating from the Early Iron Age (around 1200–1000 BC). In the Roman period a second wall of small stones bound with mortar was built on top of this wall. At the same time a square tower was also built, which appears to have served as a lookout.

Monument record

Ownership: State-owned
Current use: Cultural site
Original use: Fortified settlement
Dating: 1st millennium BC – Roman period (1st–3rd century AD)
Declared a monument: Ministry of Education and Culture, Decision no. 1886, dated 10/06/1973
Monument category: I – First
Current condition: The ancient wall is still distinguishable above ground, although it survives to a height of only a few centimetres.
Distance from Pogradec city centre: 62 km to the west.