Discovering The Ruins Within Albania’s Butrint National Park

As my Finikas cruise from Corfu docks up at the Albanian city of Sarandë, I am immediately welcomed by the wave of heat swarming the air. I step onto Albania’s soil for the first time and then stroll through Sarandë’s arrivals port. I head towards a group of coaches, loading passengers for their adventure to Butrint National Park.

The port of Sarandë, where the Finikas cruise arrived

The coaches are divided into those who speak different languages for the sake of ease of communication. I am half-tempted to sneak onto the coach with the French tourists to brush up on this language a bit more. Modesty, however, forbids me to do this as I head towards and board the coach for English speakers. Taking my seat on the coach for English speakers, the coach eventually departs the port and heads for the Mediterrane Hotel, our first stop.

Upon arriving, I disembark from the coach and am immediately greeted by an exotic bird. It looks out from within its cage, which seems to be a little too small for a bird of its size. Other passengers on the coach head to the bar area for a coffee and croissant to energise for the next few hours of exploring some of southern Albania’s true beauty. I treat myself to a vanilla latte and a chocolate croissant, both for the sugar boost and the caffeine, which will refuel me for the day.

The vanilla latte and chocolate croissant at Hotel Mediterrane

After consuming this in a relaxing lounge area, the other coach passengers and I mooch around the hotel’s swimming pool. This marks the first stop of the trip, where the views looking back towards Corfu are immediately apparent. After admiring these, I retire to the coach, which then transports us to Butrint National Park.

The town of Sarandë is then left behind as we are transported through the picturesque countryside of Albania to reach Butrint National Park. Views of Corfu make themselves known on this journey, as the feeling of fulfilment takes hold of me, knowing I have covered two countries in one trip.

The coach then pulls up after passing through tight spots with other coaches going the opposite direction. After manoeuvring cautiously past the entrance, it pulls into a space where all passengers can exit safely. I exit the coach to bask in the Albanian heat once again before, and wander towards Butrint National Park’s entrance.

I also notice a ferry crossing for drivers wishing to enter this National Park by ferry over Lake Ksamil. With a ticket in hand, I proceed to enter the national park, ready for a journey that includes Venetian and Roman history.

After entering, I am greeted by an old Venetian tower (Kulla Veneciane, as addressed in Albanian). All passengers, including myself, are then guided towards the first set of Roman ruins. It is explained that this was once a village with known origins dating back to the 4^th century BC. This is explained further as we slowly walk through these ruins with great interest. Small streams are dotted around these ruins, and contain baby sea turtles swimming around while hoping for a tanned shell.

A segment of the Roman ruins of Butrint

We then approach the amphitheatre, which has also been confirmed to have 4^th-century BC origins. Some of the passengers I am with take their seats while being given further facts regarding its previous use. I also sit for a few minutes to imagine watching a show here around the time when this amphitheatre was created. I then feel the need for more shade and proceed with exploring further areas of these ruins.

I encounter the Roman Forum, where references to Julius Caesar’s 1^st century designations are made known. Other areas I come across include the baptistery, which is described as one of the early Byzantine monuments of the Central Mediterranean. I then embark on a walk with my fellow coach passengers alongside Lake Ksamil, where a couple of mussel farmers are working hard to locate the best mussels in the scorching sun.

A pair of mussel farmers in Lake Ksamil

Boards explaining the early fortifications of Butrint’s circuit wall and the Lion’s Gate are located and provide further historical lessons on these areas of the ruins. Lake Ksamil is then left behind as I begin a climb up steep steps to reach the main fortress of Butrint. Taking a few breaths, I continue my explorations around this fortress, where further steps lead me up to a viewpoint overlooking the land before me. I once again put myself in the shoes of a civilian who used to live in Butrint and has all of the land in front of me to view at my leisure.

The view from the fortress overlooking the lake below

Calling time on admiring this view, I begin to clamber down more steps, which eventually guide me back to the beginning of Butrint. Several stalls selling local goods and delicacies are found to the left of me, and I pause to admire the hard work put in by the locals. Necklaces, jams and other ornaments are on sale for anyone to purchase should they wish to do so.

After admiring the display of products, I then return to the well air-conditioned coach with my fellow passengers to escape the heat once more. The coach then departs Butrint, and I admire the views, leaving this national park with a head filled with beautiful views and newfound knowledge of Albania’s Butrint ruins.

The Travelling Foodie's Facts and Figures

• My trip to this UNESCO Heritage site was included in a day trip excursion, which was £66 in total. Click here for more details of this experience, as advertised by Tui Musement.

• I used the cruise company Finikas Lines to get from Corfu to Sarandë. You can click here to view their website and view the prices available for their ferries.