The Acropolis

The acropolis of Butrint has seen many construction activities since the 8th century BC onwards. In Late Antiquity, a church was built at the eastern end of the acropolis, as well as a two or three story tower house.

The first constructions at the acropolis date from the 8th century BC, when a sanctuary was built on the hill. Between the mid-1st and 3rd centuries AD, a large house was constructed on the southern edge of the acropolis. After this period the acropolis seems to have been abandoned for about two centuries.

In Late Antiquity the Acropolis Basilica was built here. The church was altered multiple times, partly due to the instability of the structure. Another significant building was a tower house that featured two or three levels. In the 6th century AD, the acropolis seems to have been abandoned. This situation continued until the late-10th century onwards, when several large building projects took place. These included the construction of a castle and an entirely new circuit wall around the acropolis. In the 14th-15th century, a house was constructed on top of the remains of the basilica.