Archaeological sites in Ksamil

Butrint Archaeological Wonders

Explore the UNESCO-listed remains of Butrint, an ancient city reflecting over two millennia of Mediterranean history. This site contains a well-preserved 3rd-century BC Greek theatre, a Roman forum, and early Christian structures including the Great Basilica, all protected by massive Hellenistic defensive walls. Visitors can trace the city's evolution through the on-site museum and the Venetian-era Triangle Castle, which stands guard at the mouth of the Vivari Channel.

inoue-hiro / CC BY-SA 3.0

Butrint

An ancient Greek polis and later Roman city and seat of an early Christian bishopric in Epirus.

Piotrus / CC BY-SA 3.0

Theatre

Built in the 3rd century BC and later expanded by the Romans, this well-preserved structure seated up to 2,500 people. It is situated adjacent to the Sanctuary of Asclepius and features a stone stage and seating area.

Piotrus / CC BY-SA 3.0

Forum

The civic heart of the Roman city, this paved square was the center of trade and public life. Excavations have revealed marble flooring and the foundations of surrounding public buildings and shrines.

Piotrus / CC BY-SA 3.0

Great Basilica

A 6th-century early Christian church featuring a three-aisled nave and a large transept. It remains one of the site's most significant religious structures, originally decorated with intricate floor mosaics.

inoue-hiro / CC BY-SA 3.0

Hellenistic walls

Dating to the 4th century BC, these massive fortifications protected the city's acropolis. The walls are constructed from large, precisely fitted stone blocks characteristic of Greek military architecture.

inoue-hiro / CC BY-SA 3.0

Lion Gate

One of the city's primary entrances, named for the relief depicting a lion devouring a bull. This defensive feature was modified in the 5th century AD to narrow the original Greek gateway for better protection.

inoue-hiro / CC BY-SA 3.0

Nymphaeum

A decorative Roman public fountain once supplied by an aqueduct. The structure features several niches that originally held statues, serving as both a functional water source and a civic monument.

Piotrus / CC BY-SA 3.0

Archaeological Museum of Butrint

The Archaeological Museum of Butrint was opened in 1938. It was reopened during the 1950s-1960s in the premises of the Venetian Acropolis, and today displays finds excavated from the surrounding site.