According to Moikom Zeqo, Petrela was previously called Petralba, and that name evolved from Albanopolis, a Roman-era city mentioned by Ptolemy.

[3] The name Petrelë comes from the fact that the town and its castle are built on a huge stone on top of a small mountain.

Halfway up the hill on which Petrela is situated are the remains of defensive walls which comprise terracing operations on the S, E, and W sides; above each section is a level area.

On the best preserved, which is on the W side, rises a building to a height of 5 m and to a length of 20 m. The walls form a double ring, of which the outer section is built of square blocks which form a pseudo-isodomic structure strengthened by buttresses.

The castle has views of the Erzen valley, the hills, olive groves, and surrounding mountains.