Butrint Archeological Park and Ottoman Fortress

 

Butrint city walls with ancient gate

Saturday, July 9 - Trip Day 10

Butrint Archeological Park was fun to explore, as each area that you encounter is a puzzle that fits with development of a certain era.  And it was in a shady, landscaped location with water on all sides.  We had already seen major areas of Roman baths and a large Roman palace, a complex dedicated to the Greek god, Asclepius, with its associated theater (a favorite of the physicians in our group), and a complex of Byzantine baptistery and basilica.

We were now climbing along the city defensive walls - interesting because the original stones were massive and stacked perfectly without mortar.  Later additions were evident by the differences in building patterns.  And, perhaps my favorite area of the compound, the Lion's Gate, located where goods would be brought to the city from the lake and canal.

The Lion's Gate of Butrint's city walls

The Lion's Gate, more than 2000 years old, with a lion biting the neck of a bull

At the top of the hill, the Venetian fortress

The Venetian fortress is now an archeological museum

A commanding view from the fortress overlooking the canal to the South; mountains of Greece

Busts of Roman rulers excavated at the site

When we finished our tour of Butrint's archeological museum, we loaded back on our busses and drove north on the Ksamil Peninsula to return to Sarande.  Above the town is the Lekursi Castle, built in the 1500's by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent as a fortification for attacking the island of Corfu.  It now houses a restaurant, and we were stopping for snacks and a folkloric performance by a renowned flautist, Vendim Kapaj. 

Lighthouse and the Ionian Sea, with Corfu on the right and Greek mountains on the horizon

Castle keep of the Ottoman fort

Traditional Albanian shepard's flute, played by national artist, Vendim Kapaj

Snacks for our visit to the castle: pickled vegetables, feta cheese, dolmas

Albanian pastries

Interior of Lekursi Castle with folkloric performance

View of the Sea Cloud and Sarande beaches from the restaurant terrace

Returning to the Sea Cloud - time for our next adventure