Ancient Butrinti & Sarande Sightseeing

OVERVIEW

Browse the ruins in Butrint, Albania’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, and explore the main attractions in downtown Sarande – both past and present. Although Butrint wasn’t excavated in earnest until the late 1950s, the discoveries since then have been extraordinary. Rarely have ruins from so many times periods been preserved, all because marshes encroached so severely during the Middles Ages that Butrint was abandoned. You will see archaeological treasures from prehistory, Greek and Roman times and through the period when Venetians ruled. The Roman townhouse known as the Triconch Palace is among the highlights. You will also delve into the past while walking through the ruins of the synagogue complex in Sarande’s city center. Jewish symbols including menorahs and rams’ horns adorn the mosaic floors. You will also get a glimpse of contemporary life in Sarande by strolling the seaside promenade and browsing the many shops that line it.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore an archaeological site with ruins from several different time periods.
• Learn why UNESCO deemed the ruins at Butrint a World Heritage site.
• Meander through an excavated synagogue complex in downtown Sarande.
• Walk along Sarande’s seaside promenade and stop along the way to shop.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.