Butrint, just a few kilometres outside of Ksamil, is now one of Albania's most popular tourist destinations and one of the country's most famous sights.

Naturally, the incentive to visit was of great importance to us.

Butrint was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992 and, along with the neighbouring hilltop settlement of Kalivo and the architecturally unique towns of Berat and Gjirokastra, is one of Albania's must-visit World Heritage sites. This is obviously accompanied by the influx of tourists, especially in the mornings. We therefore recommend visiting in the early morning or afternoon. Those who have set up their "tents" in Ksamil are best served by taking the bus, which runs hourly between Saranda and Butrint. At the time of our visit, admission to the World Heritage Site cost 700 lek, which is approximately 4.90 euros.

Founding myths also exist here in Butrint

Like many ancient sites, Butrint also has myths about its founding. Two stories from Greek mythology and, unsurprisingly, another from Roman mythology are particularly worth mentioning:

Not very interesting: As in other regions, the name Butrint comes from its founding father! Whether this is true has been little researched to date.

More interesting: Helenus, a son of the Trojan king Priam, wanted to sacrifice a bull as part of a ritual while fleeing burning Troy after landing near present-day Butrint. However, the bull managed to escape, crossing the lagoon and then collapsing dead on the opposite shore. The name of the town of Butrint is thus derived from the Greek word for bull.

And now the Romans: According to the Aeneid narratives, Butrint was visited by the hero Aeneas when, after escaping from burning Troy, he found himself in the region of Epirus, before later arriving in Latium and becoming the progenitor of the Romans. In Butrint, he encountered Andromache and Helen, who, having also escaped from Troy, ruled the Chaonia region.

As mentioned, several times, the Romans often adopted myths or parts of them from the Greeks, giving them different names but spreading the mythologies in a similar way. This is especially true of their gods!

Finds in Butrint point to the Epirote Chaonians

Butrint was originally an Epirote city; its population consisted of Illyrians and Greeks. It was one of the main centres of the Chaonians, one of the three major Epirote tribes. The oldest finds to date from the 10th to the 8th century BC. However, there are finds dating back to the 12th century BC in neighbouring Kalivo. The settlement, located on a hill east of Butrint on Lake Butrint, was surrounded by a wall and is considered a possible site of Virgil's Troy. Excavations have unearthed Proto-Corinthian pottery dating back to the 7th century BC. Black ceramics from the 6th century BC have also been found in Corinth and Attica. A fortification existed on the Acropolis from the 6th century BC.

In the 4th century BC, the Molossians were able to strengthen their political position in Epirus, and under their leadership, they founded a koinon with several tribes that encompassed large parts of the region. Butrint was the leading centre in this alliance and was largely Hellenized linguistically and culturally during this time. Butrint was one of the largest cities in the region during this period and boasted several magnificent buildings. These included the theatre, a temple dedicated to Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, and a gymnasium. Around 380 BC, Butrint was fortified with a new, 870-meter-long wall enclosing an area of four hectares.

Roman Period in the area

In 228 BC, Butrint, along with Corfu, became a Roman protectorate, but it wasn't until 167 BC that Roman influence increased so much that it finally became dominant. However, well into the Imperial period, Butrint and its surroundings were able to maintain a certain autonomy, which existed in the form of a koinon and was governed by the praesebes. In 146 BC, Butrint became part of the newly established province of Macedonia.

In 48 BC, Gaius Julius Caesar visited the city and declared it a veterans' colony. However, the local landowner Titus Pomponius Atticus raised objections to his correspondent in Rome, Cicero, who then argued against the plan in the Senate. As a result of this resistance, the city received only a small number of colonists. Atticus, who owned land around Butrint, was celebrated by the residents for his success and became one of the most influential people in the city. On the shore opposite the city, he had the richly decorated Villa Amaltea built, which is one of Butrint's most important archaeological sites.

But just a few years later, shortly after his victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, Emperor Augustus renewed plans to turn Butrint into a veterans' colony. New residential areas, an aqueduct, a bath, a forum complex, and a nymphaeum were built. The theatre was also expanded. During this time, the city doubled in size, and it experienced its peak in the decades that followed. The many busts and statues of Augustus, his wife Livia, and his general Agrippa demonstrate the importance of these figures to Butrint. The city was named Colonia Iulia (or Augusta) Buthrotum in honour of the emperor and minted coins as such.

According to an inscription and a statue of Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus discovered nearby, he, Nero's grandfather, was the patron saint of Butrint in 16 BC. The city was also the hometown of many other members of the Ahenobarbus family.

With the Christianization of Butrint in the 4th century, an earthquake caused extensive damage. However, thanks to its protected location on a peninsula, Butrint survived the raids during the Migration Period unscathed, while the Slavic invasions were able to capture the neighbouring Onchesmos (now Saranda) to the north in 547. The diocese still exists today as a Roman Catholic titular see under the name Buthrotum (Latin for Butrint).

When the sun is saying - enough for today in Perea

Ksamil – coming from Vikos Gorge and Bourazani

• Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City
• Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City
• Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City
• Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City
• Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City
• Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City
• Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City
• Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City
• Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City Butrint - ancient Greek and Roman City
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