Litharitsia bastion was built on the homonymous low hill, located at a short distance southwest of the Castle. This impressive project, a sample of the late Ottoman fortification architecture was built by Ali Pasha around 1800. At this point we can report information on the castle reconstruction and reinforcing plan, implemented by Ali Pasha in order to strengthen his power preparing for the conflict with the Sultan. The bastion along with a number of other fortifications was built between the hill and the castle constituting a protective zone, a first line of defense in front of the city’s Castle.
On the hilltop Ali Pasha built a seraglio, a large palace, designed by the engineer Freywald. Near the seraglio, according to the traveler WM Leake, Ali Pasha built two more palaces for his sons Veli and Mukhtar. The bastion was severely damaged during the 1820 siege of the sultan’s troops. Ali Pasha and his sons’ seraglios were completely destroyed and the remains of the complex are the mosque, the seminary and the kitchens.
In the area where Mukhtar’s palace was, Rasim Pasha (who ordered a series of reconstruction work in the city) laid the foundations of the building of the 8th division. The construction of the building was completed in 1879 by Teki Pasha, Rasim’s successor. The meeting of the Turkish military command, in the evening of 20 to 21 of February , when the surrender of the city was decided, took place In this building.
