650BC7th century BC – 1798 · Butrint, near Saranda
Butrint, from Greek town to Venetian outpost
On a wooded peninsula by a lagoon facing Corfu, Butrint grew from a Greek hilltop settlement into a sanctuary town with a theatre, then a Roman colony under Augustus and a Byzantine bishop's seat. Venetians and later Ali Pasha held its forts before the marshes emptied it. Excavated from 1928, it shows over two thousand years of Mediterranean history on one site.
Sites
- Site 1: Theatre and sanctuary of AsclepiusGreek theatre, later rebuilt by the Romans, beside the healing sanctuary.Map ↗
- Site 2: Baptistery and Great BasilicaSixth-century baptistery, its mosaic floor usually under sand, and the basilica.Map ↗
- Site 3: Acropolis castle and museumVenetian-era castle on the hilltop, housing the site museum.Map ↗
Guides who take you there
History-only · order never for saleWe haven't found an independent history guide for this yet. Guide here? Tell us about your tours.
Also in Tirana
More from the Ancient World
Read more: reference. Summary written by History-Tours.com.