DFI Online Magazine--Senior Edition

Butrint is a special archaeological site - a microcosm of the Mediterranean history, from the age of the ancient Greeks to the Venetians. Virgil believed, that it was the new Troy, and associated its fundation with Aeneas. Plutarch recounts the legend that Pan died here. Three thousand years of ever-changing settlement have left their mark and today a visitor can wander amongst the ruins of one of the greatest cities of the ancient world.

Excavations at Butrint have unearthed many of the major monuments of the city: Italians excavations in the 1920's and 1930's, led by count Luigi Ugolini, uncovered many ancient and classical monuments such as the city walls, gates, theatre and bath houses. Since 1946 research was continued by the Albanian Institute of the Archaeology and Monuments, and since 1991 by a Greek team of for the research of the origins of Butrint and the Butrint Fundation. The Butrint Fundation's work has been focused largely on the Byzantine monuments of the city, which include a palace complex, basilica and the fines of all - an early 6th-century baptistry with startling mosaics depicting wild animals, birds and fish, the symbols of baptism and Christian communion.

Baptistry

Ancient church

Ancient Theatre

Outside the city walls of Butrint, in the wonderfully unspoilt landscape of southern Albania, a visitor can find the remains of castles, churches, a Roman aquaduct that served the city, and many Roman villas. This historic landscape is also the home to a rich diversity of rare and endangered wildlife.


Tirana in 1902	The same view in 2002

	Various views of Tirana


City walls with flag	Dwelling tower	Lake Butrint