Albania

Butrint

WHS Score 3.32 Votes 71 Average 3.52

Butrint is a relict cultural landscape representing an example of Mediterranean history from the time of the Greek colony until the Middle Ages.

The site, which was inhabited from prehistoric til Ottoman times, has a fine natural setting. Major remains include the well-preserved ancient Greek theatre and the paleo-Christian basilica with beautiful mosaics.

Community Perspective: easy to reach by boat from Corfu (or the Albanian mainland), this is a vast site spanning a large time span. The mosaics unfortunately are generally not visible to the public. Nan has provided tips for visiting on public transport.

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Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Butrint (ID: 570)
Country
Albania
Status
Inscribed 1992 Site history
History of Butrint
WHS Type
Cultural
Criteria
  • iii
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources
News Article

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Archaeological site: Ancient Greece
Travel Information
No travel information
Recent Connections
  • Reclaimed land
    "In 44 BC Butrint became a Roman colony…
  • Acropolis
    "The acropolis was erected on a hill on…
  • Extended
    1999: To include a range of hills to th…
View all (29) .
Connections of Butrint
Geography
History
  • Byzantine Empire and Civilization
    After a period of abandonment, Butrint was reconstructed under Byzantine control in the 9th century. (OUV)
  • Archaic Greece
    "Bouthroton (modern day Butrint) was originally one of the major centres of the Epirote tribe of the Chaonians, part of the northwestern Greek group of tribes... The earliest archaeological evidence of settled occupation dates to between 10th and 8th centuries BC...The acropolis was erected on a hill on the bank of a lake Butrint (or lake Bouthrotum). The first extension of the 7th century BC acropolis occurred during the 5th century BC (wiki)
  • Ancient Roman colonies
    After the arrival of the Romans in 44BC, Butrint became a Roman colony in the province of Illyria and expanded considerably, on reclaimed marshland. It was equipped with the usual appurtenances of a Roman city. (AB Ev)
  • Republic of Venice
    The triangular fortress (Angevin and Venetian period) and a Venetian defensive tower
  • Bronze Age
    There are several Bronze Age (2000-500BC) sites in the nominated area, including those at Kalivo, the acropolis of Butrint, and Shën Dimitri. (AB Ev)
Ecology
  • Lagoons
    Lake Butrint is a saltwater lagoon
Architecture
Damaged
World Heritage Process
Religion and Belief
  • Founded after Animal Miracle
    Legend tells us about an ox that was meant to be sacrificed but escaped, struggled wounded ashore and died on the beach. Of course this was taken as a good sign and so Butrint was founded. It connects nicely with the namecalling too because originally the place was known as Buthrotum meaning "wounded ox".
  • Goddesses
    Goddess of Butrint
  • Cathedrals
    Byzantine (former)
  • Nymphaeum
Human Activity
  • Reclaimed land
    "In 44 BC Butrint became a Roman colony and expanded considerably on reclaimed marshland, primarily to the south across the Vivari Channel, where an aqueduct was built" (OUV Brief synthesis)
Constructions
  • Theatres and Opera Houses
    Ancient Greek theatre
  • Aqueduct
    Ruins of the Roman aqueduct
  • Baths
    Roman Baths
  • Gates depicting Lions
    Lion Gate
  • Acropolis
    "The acropolis was erected on a hill on the bank of a lake Butrint (or lake Bouthrotum). The first extension of the 7th century BC acropolis occurred during the 5th century BC. (...) The acropolis of Bouthrotum was protected by three circuit walls." (wiki)
  • Asklepieion
    "By the 4th century BC it had grown in importance and included a theatre, a sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius" (Wiki). "Butrint owes its growth and early fame to a sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine. The sanctuary was located on the south slope of the acropolis. Worshippers came to the sanctuary in order to be healed, leaving symbolic objects and money to the god and his attendant priests. The sanctuary was the making of Butrint and the sacred power of Butrint’s water was revered as long as the town lasted."

    See landways.eu

WHS on Other Lists
Timeline
  • Built in the 6th century
    In the early 6th century AD, Buthrotum became the seat of a bishop and new construction included a large baptistry, one of the largest such Paleochristian buildings of its type, and a basilica. (wiki)
  • Built in the 4th century BC
    By the 4th century BC it had grown in importance and included a theatre, a sanctuary to Asclepius and an agora. Around 380 BC, the settlement was fortified with a new 870 metres long wall (wiki)
News
architectsjournal.co.uk 12/16/2022
Stirling Prize finalist shortliste…
balkaninsight.com 04/28/2022
Secrecy Surrounds Albanian Plan to…
worldbulletin.net 03/08/2014
Albania 'sold' land in Butrint pro…
Recent Visitors
Reserved for members.

Community Reviews

Show full reviews
First published: 09/01/23.

Clyde

Butrint

Butrint (Inscribed)

Butrint by Clyde

I visited this WHS in Spring 2022. This ancient port city is one of the most visited cultural sites of the country, being very close to the modern ferry port city of Sarande. Thanks to the Italian Archaeological Mission, who worked here for nearly 10 years in the 1920s-30s, Butrint offers today a remarkable journey through the ages of history, dating back to the 8th century B.C. The old city retains a unique testimony of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman cultures and civilizations.

The historical site of Butrint lies in the Butrint National Park which also includes "natural monuments" such as Ksamil's Islands, Butrint's Forest, Vivari's Channel, Bufi Lake and Mulleri Salted Springs (and some excellent birdwatching spots too). While approaching Butrint from Sarande, you'll be able to spot some of the Venetian/Ottoman fortifications from above and after parking near the entrance (or also by car if you want), you can catch a fun little barge to explore one of the triangular fortifications across the channel to the Vrina plains.

After paying the entrance ticket, the first thing you'll see is a 15th-16th Venetian tower and from there you can visit most of the different sites in a clockwise or anticlockwise loop. The vast majority tend to visit in a clockwise fashion, so we decided to visit in an anticlockwise fashion and had the sites mostly for ourselves for most of the time of our visit. Also, this way we started mainly with scattered ruins in a …

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First published: 19/10/21.

Sebasfhb

Butrint

Butrint (Inscribed)

Butrint by Els Slots

So far as archaeological sites in the Balkans go, Butrint is an absolute highlight. I visited Butrint while staying in the popular resort town of Sarandë for 2 weeks, in 2019. Trip from Sarandë is very easy. There is a direct bus connection with Butrint. As there were no 'real' bus stops, we had to stop the bus on the middle of the public road. The route is very scenic. I would recommend stopping at the nice town of Ksamil on the way back, just to lie down on the most well-known and popular 'beach' of Albania. I must say, beaches are not Albania's strongsuit. Butrint is a very nice collection of Greek, Roman, Venetian and Ottoman archaeological sites. Tip: make sure to visit the castle on top on the hill, as you get a very nice view from there. You could spend at least a couple of hours just wandering around. 

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First published: 08/06/19.

Nan

Butrint

Butrint (Inscribed)

Butrint by Nan

As ruins go, Butrint spans a large time span and covers a large area. You find Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian buildings and remains. The site also holds floor mosaics, but these are buried below sand to protect them from the humid climate. Only every two years are they uncovered and made visible to the public.

Rising water levels constantly endangered parts of Butrint. The Triconch Palace is a good example here, being built on the shoreline.

When the Venetians in the 16th century built the fortress on the other side of the canal, the city was finally abandoned. The new fortress controlled access to the lagoon and the rich fish reservoir, so a settlement in Butrint was no longer needed.

Getting There

The hub for Butrint is Saranda. By ferry, you can visit from Corfu. By minibus, you can connect to all over Albania (Gjirokaster) and Greece. If you are so inclined, you can visit both Gjirokaster and Butrint in a day by getting a taxi in Saranda (should go without saying: agree on a fixed price). But personally, I liked Albania better than Corfu, so for me, Corfu would be the day trip.

From Saranda, hourly line buses depart half past from the bus station on Rruga Skënderbeu facing the ruins of the old synagogue. The bus stop is 50m from where the minibuses to Tirana and Gjirokaster depart. In addition, there are also private buses that run along the …

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First published: 25/05/15.

Els Slots

Butrint

Butrint (Inscribed)

Butrint by Els Slots

Butrint lies just across the Straits of Corfu from my previous destination, the Old Town of Corfu. It’s an easy trip out there from the Ionian Island: daily hydrofoils and ferries ply the route to the Albanian resort of Sarande, from where an hourly local bus heads out to Butrint 30km south. The WHS covers an archeological site that spans a long period, with mainly Greek, Roman and Byzantine remains. It also seems to have been renominated in 1999 as a cultural landscape, although UNESCO does not list it as such.

During the high season, the site can be crowded with daytrippers from Corfu, but fortunately I arrived early in the season. After paying the 700 lek entrance fee (5 EUR), I headed out on the forest path that connects the ruins. This shady environment was the first surprise of my visit: it’s a pleasure just to walk here, and I heard birds singing all the time. The natural area of Butrint also is awarded Ramsar wetland status.

The wetness of the area clearly shows at the first major archeological group: the former Greek sanctuary and theatre can only be entered via a boardwalk, and I noticed frogs in the Roman baths. Here’s where the origins of the site are, Butrint was founded as a sanctuary to Asklepios the Greek god of medicine. Visitors even freed some of their slaves to persuade the gods to help them – and they testified to that by carving inscriptions into the …

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First published: 08/01/14.

John Booth

Butrint

Butrint (Inscribed)

Butrint by john booth

I reached Sarande by bus along a modern highway from Tirane, about 80% complete. From Sarande a local bus took me to the gates of the site. In exchange for the 700 lek entry fee I received a descriptive brochure with a map of the site, in English. There were other signposts around the site attempting to explain which parts of the excavations belong to which period of occupation. There was no compulsion to join a tour or hire a guide.

Even without the archaeological site the scenery of the sea separated from the lake by a narrow strip of land would be worth visiting.

From Sarande I left by hydrofoil ferry for Corfu, another WHS.

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First published: 23/08/08.

Anonymous

Butrint

Butrint (Inscribed)

Butrint by Els Slots

This is certainly an awesome site. We went on a tour whilst on a holiday in Corfu, to Sarande in Albania. The place is full of antiquities! Unfortunately as others have noted, the place is collapsing into the nearby lake. Infact the main temple and other parts of Butrint are already underwater. The area is a treasure in itself with remains of Greek, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and the Turks. A definite visit for history enthusiasts!

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First published: 19/08/05.

Anonymous

Butrint

Butrint (Inscribed)

Butrint by Els Slots

We visited Butrint in mid August 2005 on a day trip from Parga in Greece. Our gude was extremely knowledgeable and genuinely helped us understand the site. This was important because the "guidebook" (effectively an expensive pamphlet at 6E) was probaly the most useless of it's type I have encountered!

The main dissapointment was that we were not able to explore, and followed a set route, which although benefiting from the guide, meant we did not see all that we would have liked. Also dissapointing was that the mosaics were all (rightly) covered with sand for protection, but there was only a very poor diagram - a photo display would have been so much better.

The other point to note is that Butrint is in a marsh, and the attendent mosquitoes are very active. We all got severely bitten, despite pleanty (we thought) insect repellent.

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First published: 01/05/05.

Anonymous

Butrint

Butrint (Inscribed)

Butrint by Els Slots

Butrinti is an extensive site covering most periods of Albanian and Balkan history - with the merciful exception of the 20th century. Many of the ruins are very striking but, because one is looking at an early Christian basilica one moment and maybe remains of fortifications built by an early 19th century local warlord the next, mental orientation can be quite difficult at times and a guide is particularly useful. If travelling independently, an excellently-produced guide-book is available but it may not be on sale at the site - this is Albania, after all - although it should be in the nearby town of Saranda. What is easy to appreciate, however, is the glorious siting of Butrinti, almost surrounded by a lake and against a mountain backdrop.

All visitors to Corfu should consider a day-trip to Butrinti - easily arranged and with minimal formalities. Not only is this an opportunity of seeing one of the great Balkan achaeological sites, it also allows a brief glimpse of a fascinating country which has come a long way in the last decade but still has a hard road ahead of it.

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