Excursion to Butrint and Saranda
Shore excursion from port of Sarande, Albania
- Duration 5h
- Activity level medium
What you'll do
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Upon arrival of your cruise, pick-up at the port by our guide who will be waiting for you, identified with the Shore2Shore sign.
Departure towards the city of Butrint, along the way we will enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the Corfu channel and its numerous coves.
Butrint is located on the southern Albanian coast, on a peninsula between a lagoon (Lake Butrint) and the Ionian Sea, opposite the island of Corfu and very close to the city of Sarande. Inhabited since prehistoric times, it was a Greek colony, a Roman city, and after the Venetian occupation, it was abandoned until 1928, when it was "rediscovered" through numerous excavations that uncovered one fifth of the city.
We will begin our walking tour through a city that is currently considered one of the most important archaeological and monumental sites in Albania. The earliest evidence of occupation dates back to the 8th to 10th centuries BC, and its population was linked to the nearby Greek colony of Corfu. Originally, Butrint was a rural settlement dedicated to supplying Corfu.
From the 4th century BC, during the Hellenistic period, it gained greater commercial importance as a colony. From this era, some of the best remains of the city stand out, such as the Greek Theater and the Acropolis, where a temple dedicated to Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, was erected. The Lion Gate from the same 4th century BC is striking; it was one of the six entrances to the city. After the city was conquered by the Romans in the 2nd century BC, Butrint underwent a process of Romanization, which included the construction of its own port. From this period, a small Roman bath and a palace located next to the ancient port stand out; the temple of a water Nymph, the forum, and the early Christian baptistery, from the 5th century AD, built over an ancient Roman bath and arranged in a circular form.
In the center of the ancient hall is the baptismal font, surrounded by a concentric colonnade that supported the roof of the enclosure. The floor around the font was decorated with a beautiful mosaic of symbols and animal representations, which are still partially preserved. The baptistery is one of the best and most beautiful examples of early Christian art preserved in Europe. The oldest remains of the site are the cyclopean stone walls that protected the city. The fortifications date back to the pre-Hellenistic period, approximately the 8th century BC.
In 1992, UNESCO declared the ruins of the city and its surrounding area a World Heritage Site. The Albanian government established in 2000 the Butrint National Park, which protects 29 square kilometers of territory of great historical, archaeological, and ecological value around the Butrint archaeological site and was added to the original UNESCO designation.
Transfer to the city of Sarande where we will enjoy free time.
At the end of the excursion, we will return to the port for the farewell.
Details
GENERAL INFORMATION
- DURATION: BUS AND GUIDE AVAILABLE FOR UP TO 5 HOURS
- THE SERVICE INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 30-45 MINUTES OF FREE TIME THAT CAN BE ENJOYED AT THE END OF THE EXCURSION.
SUPPLEMENT TO BE PAID ON SITE
- ENTRANCE TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE: 0 to 12 years old FREE, from 12 to 18 years old €3, from 18 years old €10.00. Prices are approximate and may vary without prior notice.
REMARKS
- Medium Level/Panoramic/Cultural
- During the excursion, you need to climb/descend 184 steps.
- This excursion is not recommended for people with reduced mobility, those who require the use of a wheelchair, or those traveling with baby strollers, due to the uneven terrain.
- It is advisable to wear comfortable footwear.
- The disembarkation will be done by boats and it is very important to start disembarking well in advance to arrive on time for the excursion.
Meeting point
DISEMBARKATION INFORMATION:
- Disembarkation will be carried out by tender boats. It is very important to start disembarking early enough to arrive on time for the excursion.
- Our guide will be waiting for you at the tender landing point and will be clearly identified.