Albania
Butrint
Butrint is a relict cultural landscape representing an example of Mediterranean history from the time of the Greek colony until the Middle Ages.
The site, which was inhabited from prehistoric til Ottoman times, has a fine natural setting. Major remains include the well-preserved ancient Greek theatre and the paleo-Christian basilica with beautiful mosaics.
Community Perspective: easy to reach by boat from Corfu (or the Albanian mainland), this is a vast site spanning a large time span. The mosaics unfortunately are generally not visible to the public. Nan has provided tips for visiting on public transport.
Site Info
Official Information
- Full Name
- Butrint (ID: 570)
- Country
- Albania
- Status
-
Inscribed 1992
Site history
History of Butrint
- 2005: Removed from Danger list
- 1999: Extended
- To include a range of hills to the north, the Butrint plain, Lake Bufit, and part of Lake Butrint
- 1997: In Danger
- Site of Butrinti and its museum were looted during the civil disturbances in Albania
- 1992: Inscribed
- Inscribed
- 1991: Referred
- Info on protection etc required
- WHS Type
- Cultural
- Criteria
- iii
Links
All Links
UNESCO.org
- whc.unesco.org — whc.unesco.org/
Related Resources
- butrint.al — Butrint
- news.bbc.co.uk — Albania dusts off ancient treasures
- archaeology.org — Link
- butrintfoundation.co.uk — Link
News Article
- Dec. 16, 2022 architectsjournal.co.uk — Stirling Prize finalist shortlisted for Albanian national park visitor centre
- April 28, 2022 balkaninsight.com — Secrecy Surrounds Albanian Plan to Lease Butrint World Heritage Site
- March 8, 2014 worldbulletin.net — Albania 'sold' land in Butrint protected area
Community Information
- Community Category
- Archaeological site: Ancient Greece
Travel Information
No travel information
Recent Connections
-
Reclaimed land
"In 44 BC Butrint became a Roman colony… -
Acropolis
"The acropolis was erected on a hill on… -
Extended
1999: To include a range of hills to th…
Connections of Butrint
- Geography
- History
-
-
Ancient Roman colonies
After the arrival of the Romans in 44BC, Butrint became a Roman colony in the province of Illyria and expanded considerably, on reclaimed marshland. It was equipped with the usual appurtenances of a Roman city. (AB Ev) -
Republic of Venice
The triangular fortress (Angevin and Venetian period) and a Venetian defensive tower -
Byzantine Empire and Civilization
After a period of abandonment, Butrint was reconstructed under Byzantine control in the 9th century. (OUV) -
Bronze Age
There are several Bronze Age (2000-500BC) sites in the nominated area, including those at Kalivo, the acropolis of Butrint, and Shën Dimitri. (AB Ev) -
Archaic Greece
"Bouthroton (modern day Butrint) was originally one of the major centres of the Epirote tribe of the Chaonians, part of the northwestern Greek group of tribes... The earliest archaeological evidence of settled occupation dates to between 10th and 8th centuries BC...The acropolis was erected on a hill on the bank of a lake Butrint (or lake Bouthrotum). The first extension of the 7th century BC acropolis occurred during the 5th century BC (wiki)
-
- Ecology
-
-
Lagoons
Lake Butrint is a saltwater lagoon
-
- Architecture
-
-
Mosaic art
Baptistery
-
- Damaged
-
-
Destroyed or damaged by Earthquake
3rd Century
-
- World Heritage Process
-
-
First inscriptions
Albania 1992 -
Extended
1999: To include a range of hills to the north, the Butrint plain, Lake Bufit, and part of Lake Butrint -
Cultural landscape not recognized
Clearly described as a CL in 1997 extension. Relict. -
Former In Danger List sites
1997-2005
-
Inscribed on a single criterion only
iii. to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared
-
- Religion and Belief
-
-
Goddesses
Goddess of Butrint -
Cathedrals
Byzantine (former) -
Nymphaeum
-
Founded after Animal Miracle
Legend tells us about an ox that was meant to be sacrificed but escaped, struggled wounded ashore and died on the beach. Of course this was taken as a good sign and so Butrint was founded. It connects nicely with the namecalling too because originally the place was known as Buthrotum meaning "wounded ox".
-
- Human Activity
-
-
Reclaimed land
"In 44 BC Butrint became a Roman colony and expanded considerably on reclaimed marshland, primarily to the south across the Vivari Channel, where an aqueduct was built" (OUV Brief synthesis)
-
- Constructions
-
-
Acropolis
"The acropolis was erected on a hill on the bank of a lake Butrint (or lake Bouthrotum). The first extension of the 7th century BC acropolis occurred during the 5th century BC. (...) The acropolis of Bouthrotum was protected by three circuit walls." (wiki) -
Aqueduct
Ruins of the Roman aqueduct -
Baths
Roman Baths -
Gates depicting Lions
Lion Gate -
Theatres and Opera Houses
Ancient Greek theatre -
Asklepieion
"By the 4th century BC it had grown in importance and included a theatre, a sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius" (Wiki). "Butrint owes its growth and early fame to a sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine. The sanctuary was located on the south slope of the acropolis. Worshippers came to the sanctuary in order to be healed, leaving symbolic objects and money to the god and his attendant priests. The sanctuary was the making of Butrint and the sacred power of Butrint’s water was revered as long as the town lasted."See landways.eu
-
- WHS on Other Lists
-
-
Ramsar Wetlands
Butrint, 2003 -
World Monuments Watch (past)
(2000, 1998, 1996)
-
- Timeline
-
-
Built in the 4th century BC
By the 4th century BC it had grown in importance and included a theatre, a sanctuary to Asclepius and an agora. Around 380 BC, the settlement was fortified with a new 870 metres long wall (wiki) -
Built in the 6th century
In the early 6th century AD, Buthrotum became the seat of a bishop and new construction included a large baptistry, one of the largest such Paleochristian buildings of its type, and a basilica. (wiki)
-
News
- architectsjournal.co.uk 12/16/2022
- Stirling Prize finalist shortliste…
- balkaninsight.com 04/28/2022
- Secrecy Surrounds Albanian Plan to…
- worldbulletin.net 03/08/2014
- Albania 'sold' land in Butrint pro…
Recent Visitors
View all (184)
Visitors of Butrint
- 4lex
- Adam Hancock
- Airpunk
- Alberto Rodriguez Gutierrez
- Alessandro Votta
- alex
- Alexander Barabanov
- Alexander Lehmann
- Alexander Parsons
- Alfons and Riki Verstraeten
- Allison Vies
- A. Mehmet Haksever
- Ana
- Ana Lozano
- Argo
- Ask Gudmundsen
- Astraftis
- Atila Ege
- Aurora Petan
- Bill Maurmann
- Bin
- Bram de Bruin
- Brendan Carroll
- CampbellME
- Can SARICA
- Cezar Grozavu
- Cheryl
- Christer Sundberg
- Christian Wagner
- Clyde
- Corinne Vail
- CugelVance
- dachangjin3
- Dagmara
- Daniel Chazad
- Daniel Gabi
- Dan Pettigrew
- David Berlanda
- David Marton
- Dimitar Krastev
- Dolemite92
- Dorejd
- Dutchnick
- Echwel
- edstar500
- Els Slots
- Erik Jelinek
- Errol Neo
- Ertai
- Eva Kisgyorgy
- Evgenii
- Fan Yibo
- Fernweh
- Frank Britton
- Frederik Dawson
- FS
- George Gdanski
- GeorgeIng61
- GerhardM
- Gernot
- Hadrianus
- Hammeel
- Harry Mitsidis
- History Fangirl
- hotpickle
- hyoga
- Iain Jackson
- Ivan Rucek
- Jacob Otten
- Jana and Matt
- Jarek Pokrzywnicki
- Jezza
- João Aender
- john booth
- John Smaranda
- _johsch_
- Jonas Kremer
- Jonas Martinsson
- Joshuakirbens
- Joyce van Soest
- J. Stevens
- Juha Sjoeblom
- Junwang111
- jxrocky
- Kambokanonen
- KarenBMoore
- Kasper
- Kbecq
- KeithBailey
- KentishTownRocks
- Knut
- La Concy
- Lisu Marian
- Little Lauren Travels
- liverpool1023
- Longdutch
- Lucas Del Puppo
- Maciej Gil
- Maciej Gowin
- Maja
- Malgorzata Kopczynska
- Małgosia Łupicka
- Manon R
- Martin
- Martina Rúčková
- Mateusz
- Max
- MaYumin
- merveil
- Michael Novins
- Michal Marciniak
- Mikko
- Milan Jirasek
- Milena Tzoneva
- Miloš Tašković
- MoPython
- nan
- Niall Sclater
- Nihal Ege
- ninifishes
- PabloNorte
- Paczeterson
- paolosan82
- Pascal Cauliez
- Patrik
- Patrik_globe
- petar
- Peter Lööv
- Petteri
- Philipp Leu
- Philipp Peterer
- Pieter Dijkshoorn
- Pincze
- pressdm
- Rafał Kałczuga
- Rahelka
- Randi Thomsen
- Reza
- Riccardo Quaranta
- Roccobot
- Rodinia
- Roger Ourset
- Roman Bruehwiler
- Roman Raab
- Rvieira
- Sascha Grabow
- Sclowitz
- Sebasfhb
- SHIHE HUANG
- Slavi
- Solivagant
- Sophie
- Stanislaw Warwas
- StaziG
- Stijn
- Sutul
- Svein Elias
- Szabolcs Mosonyi
- Szabo Viktoria
- Szucs Tamas
- Tamara Ratz
- Tarquinio_Superbo
- Tatiana Nikulnikova
- Thomas Buechler
- tingmelvin
- Tony H.
- Travel Addicts
- triath
- Tsunami
- ValiaVeweth
- Vanessa Buechler
- Vernon Prieto
- voyager
- WalGra
- Walter
- wendy007
- Werner Huber
- WILLIAM RICH
- YaroMir
- Yevhen Ivanovych
- Zach
- zfish
- Zizmondka
- Zoë Sheng
Reserved for members.
Community Reviews
Show previews
First published: 01/07/25.
First published: 09/01/23.
First published: 19/10/21.
First published: 08/06/19.
First published: 25/05/15.
First published: 08/01/14.
First published: 23/08/08.
First published: 19/08/05.
First published: 01/05/05.