For the first time in 32 years, the gate of the fortified underwater tunnel at Porto Palermo has been opened. This marks the first step in a project by the Ministry of Defense to revive and rehabilitate the entire infrastructure complex in the Bay of Panormas for military and civilian functions.
Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of the underwater tunnel opening on Facebook, stating that this is the first step in a project by the Ministry of Defense to turn the enchanting Bay of Panormas into a historic tourist destination. The project will combine the pristine nature of the bay, protected by the Albanian government, with the revival of old military buildings, the creation of a Cold War Museum, and the revitalization of the famous fortress of Ali Pasha. “I wish you a beautiful Sunday,” wrote Rama.
The tunnel served as an autonomous base for the safe housing and passage of naval vessels of the time within the Porto Palermo peninsula. The opening of the steel gate of this underwater tunnel, reinforced with concrete, has set its mechanism in motion for the first time in many years.
Construction of the tunnel began in 1969 and was completed in 1988. It served as a secure base for housing and the safe passage of naval vessels, simultaneously functioning as a powerful and protected base.
