During my trip to Ksamil, I tried to combine the pleasure of enjoying its gorgeous beaches and landscapes with the one of exploring a few interesting places, situated close to this small Albanian village.
The archaeological site of Butrint was one of the places I visited during my stay in Ksamil and I must confess that this place didn’t impress me when I visited it. A few days ago, I came across some pictures of this place, and after I had looked at them I started to see Butrint in a different way. I was curious to find out some details about its history and while I was reading about it I realized how lucky I was to visit this place.
The ancient city of Butrint has had a rich and tumultuous history which marked its evolution over time. Butrint was home to various civilizations including the Greek, the Roman and the Byzantine one, which influenced it a lot. Nowadays, this archaeological site shelters only the ruins of what this imposing city used to be.
The site has a lot to offer, in case you are wondering what you can visit there. You can admire the old baptistery decorated with colorful mosaics of animals and birds and the impressive arches of its basilica. Exploring the ancient theater which used to shelter about 2500 people or analyzing the geometric mosaics of the public baths, covered by a layer of sand are other interesting things you can do inside the site. The Skea Gate and the Lion Gate are still standing today and they can be admired together with the other interesting ruins of the site.
In addition, at the top of the hill, there is a castle which shelters a small museum. The statue of Apollo, the marble heads of Zeus, the portrait of Agrippina and the head of Livia are among the most valuable objects in this museum.
The entire place has an interesting and mysterious vibe and spending a few hours inside the ancient walls of Butrint, will pull you out of everyday reality. All things considered, in case you ever get to the area of Ksamil, you can add the archaeological site of Butrint to your trip itinerary. Although you have to pay an entrance fee, this place is worth visiting, especially if you are passionate about history and archaeology.
