The Great Basilica

[caption id="attachment_2158" align="alignnone" width="660"] The Great Basilica[/caption]

A great structure, still standing after so many centuries. Always people take photos from within the church but I really liked this one. More info on this church can be found here.

Baptistery

[caption id="attachment_2155" align="alignnone" width="660"] Baptistery[/caption]

This is the baptistery, the second largest one in the Eastern Roman Empire, the largest being that of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. It is round and there are columns in circles but some are missing. There is a large mosaic on the floor but they have covered it to preserve it from the elements. Further info can be found on the official source.

Cobbled Path

[caption id="attachment_2152" align="alignnone" width="660"] Cobbled Path[/caption]

Buthrotum is quite easy to walk around. As long as you follow the cobbled path and read the signs, you can't miss important sightseeing. The mother with the baby see in the distance is my wife and son :) while the other people were tourists like us.

The medieval pizza oven

[caption id="attachment_2149" align="alignnone" width="660"] The medieval pizza oven[/caption]

Since the main sight, the ancient theater of Buthrotum is covered in my previous post with a photosphere, I'm moving to other sights. The vegetation is unbelievable, I wonder how it looks during winter. It's like a small jungle. Walking the paths I came across this structure. Reminds me of a pizza oven, although there is no tunnel inside. Just some sort of tub, not deep.

Welcome

[caption id="attachment_2146" align="alignnone" width="660"] Welcome[/caption]

This is the entrance to Buthrotum, after the ticket box of course. First, when you try to park, there is a guy in uniform trying to get a tip. I don't know the way he approaches to foreigners but you don't have to pay for parking if you are visiting Buthrotum. Actually, if you park there, you will see there is nothing else to do beside visiting Buthrotum. There is a raft to cross the Vivari channel (the one you see on the background) and a restaurant some 100m from the entrance.

As soon as you enter, there is a medieval tower from Venetian times. It is well preserved but strangely enough, I never had the curiosity to check if you can enter. I suppose not, since I've never seen anyone go near it.

Some general info from Wikipedia: Buthrotum was an ancient Greek and later Roman city in Epirus. In modern times it is an archeological site in Sarandë District, Albania, some 14 kilometres south of Sarandë and close to the Greek border.

The interesting thing is that most of the city that you will see if you get the chance to visit it, was covered in dirt and bushes until 1928 when an Italian archaeologist, Ugolini, uncovered it. A great example is the ancient theater where I created a Google Photo Sphere.

I guess I can talk for hours and hours about it but let's save some info for the next photos in the following days. :)

Also, last but not least, since 1992 Buthrotum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

No Name Island

[caption id="attachment_2143" align="alignnone" width="660"] No Name Island[/caption]

While it looks like some tropical island, it is actually located in Ksamil, Sarande, opposite Corfu, Greece. I have mentioned it  in my previous posts as well (there are actually 3 islands). The construction that can be seen on the photo is a demolished beach bar. The island it self is a bushy one, you can't walk through it as far as I know. Although the beach here is sandy and white, the island is surrounded by rocks. I think the sand here is brought from somewhere else, you don't find it in the nearby beaches. Also, while the morning feels like paradise, it is quite windy after midday. There are plenty of restaurants though, you can enjoy sea food while the wind caresses your face :D

The best part is that this place is minutes away from the ancient city of Buthrotum. Plenty of photos coming in the next days. :)

Lonely Tree (sort of)

[caption id="attachment_2139" align="alignnone" width="660"] Lonely Tree[/caption]

This tree is found on one of the three islands of Ksamil. The island is quite small and covered in bushes but this tree sort of tried to get away. To reach the island you can swim, it's like 50m from the shore. There used to be a bar there but the local government demolished it (and it was a great decision).