One of the most intriguing mysteries of the history of Epirus. In the interior of the territory of Finiq, far from tourist attention, lies the ancient city of Malchani – a fortified urban center of the 3rd century BC, known today only as the “castle”. But according to serious hypotheses by archaeologists, including Halil Shabani, this city could be the Helikranon mentioned in ancient sources, still not definitively identified.

Helikranon is associated with important historical events, such as the aid of the Aetolians to Phoenicia during the attack of the Illyrian queen Teuta and Skerdilaid – which makes Malchani a strategic node of ancient Epirus.

The archaeological facts speak clearly:

A real city, not just a fortress
Walls about 1000 m long, up to 3.5 m thick
Surface area about 110,000 m²
16 defensive towers
Advanced urban planning with residential terraces

Oral traditions speak of a water supply system through ceramic pipes from several kilometers away – and of the city’s fall after the water was cut off during a siege. The identification of Malçan with Helicranon would be a key discovery for the history of southern Albania.

Without new excavations and institutional attention, this city risks remaining just a great hypothesis and a silent treasure. Is Malçan Helicranon? The answer still remains open.