Description of the attraction
The ancient city-museum of Butrint is located near Saranda (18 km), on the shores of a beautiful lake. The city was founded by the Greeks in the 7th century BC. Later, one of the trade routes of international importance passed here.
Butrint can be seen as a microcosm of European history, as it displays visible evidence of the existence of most of the major empires that dominated the area - Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. The most interesting exhibits to be seen in Butrint include the Greek amphitheater (later rebuilt by the Romans), the baptistery, cathedral, gate, and a museum with many interesting artifacts found in the area. Next to the amphitheater of the ancient Greeks in the forest area there is a Roman theater; the floors of the baths, decorated with mosaics, are in excellent condition. The remains of the walls are replete with inscriptions in Greek, and the baptistery with floral motifs and images of animals. The traditional architecture of ancient cities can be traced in the ruins of aqueducts and fountains. In memory of the presence of the Turks, the acropolis and the fortress of the 19th century, built by order of Ali Pasha, remained.
Butrint is one of several places in Albania that was closed to locals during the communist era. The city was developed as a tourist destination for foreigners, but Albanian citizens were not allowed here due to fears that they would try to swim to Greece. This circumstance and the surrounding lush vegetation allowed the ancient ruins to be preserved in very good condition.
