Venetian Acropolis Castle

Venetian Acropolis Castle

Venetian Acropolis Castle, locally known as Kalaja Venedikase e Akropolit, lies south of the town of Ksamil, in the county of Vlorë in Albania.

The castle is situated inside an archaeological park of the ancient Greek-Roman city of Buthrotum, which itself is part of the larger Butrint National Park. The archaeological park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Buthrotum/Butrint is a very ancient settlement, dating back to the period between the 10th and 8th century BC. It is situated on a small peninsula surrounded by the waters of Lake Butrint and a natural channel that connects the lake to the Ionian Sea. The location of the present castle, the highest point of the hill on the peninsula, originally was the site of the ancient acropolis.

In 1386 Butrint was bought by the Venetians from the Angevins of Italy, together with the island of Corfu. To protect their acquisition, they then built the Venetian Acropolis Castle. The castle they built however was probably larger than the present castle. But as the Venetians were more interested in Corfu, Butrint fell into decline.

A series of wars between the Ottoman and Venetian empires during the 15th and 16th centuries damaged the castle and led to the gradual abandonment of the town. To better protect the fishing industry in the lake and channel, the Venetians had already constructed a new castle next to the channel in the late 15th century; the Venetian Triangular Castle. In 1572, they finally abandoned the Acropolis Castle altogether and moved their administration to the triangular castle.

Between 1931 and 1940 the present castle was built by the Italian Archaeological Mission as an imitation of the Venetian Acropolis Castle, on the ruins of the former residence of the Venetian governor. A museum opened in the basement and inner courtyard of the castle in 2005.

As the Venetian Acropolis Castle is on the grounds of an archaeological park, it can only be visited as a paying visitor of the park. The interior of the keep can not be visited, sadly enough. This area however is really a must-see. For the archaeological park of Butrint, which is great in itself, also holds another fortification; the Venetian Tower. Directly across the channel there is also the Venetian Triangular Castle. And at the mouth of the Butrint Channel there is yet another castle on a small islet; Ali Pasha Castle.

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Venetian Acropolis Castle

Venetian Acropolis Castle

Venetian Acropolis Castle, locally known as Kalaja Venedikase e Akropolit, lies south of the town of Ksamil, in the county of Vlorë in Albania.

The castle is situated inside an archaeological park of the ancient Greek-Roman city of Buthrotum, which itself is part of the larger Butrint National Park. The archaeological park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Buthrotum/Butrint is a very ancient settlement, dating back to the period between the 10th and 8th century BC. It is situated on a small peninsula surrounded by the waters of Lake Butrint and a natural channel that connects the lake to the Ionian Sea. The location of the present castle, the highest point of the hill on the peninsula, originally was the site of the ancient acropolis.

In 1386 Butrint was bought by the Venetians from the Angevins of Italy, together with the island of Corfu. To protect their acquisition, they then built the Venetian Acropolis Castle. The castle they built however was probably larger than the present castle. But as the Venetians were more interested in Corfu, Butrint fell into decline.

A series of wars between the Ottoman and Venetian empires during the 15th and 16th centuries damaged the castle and led to the gradual abandonment of the town. To better protect the fishing industry in the lake and channel, the Venetians had already constructed a new castle next to the channel in the late 15th century; the Venetian Triangular Castle. In 1572, they finally abandoned the Acropolis Castle altogether and moved their administration to the triangular castle.

Between 1931 and 1940 the present castle was built by the Italian Archaeological Mission as an imitation of the Venetian Acropolis Castle, on the ruins of the former residence of the Venetian governor. A museum opened in the basement and inner courtyard of the castle in 2005.

As the Venetian Acropolis Castle is on the grounds of an archaeological park, it can only be visited as a paying visitor of the park. The interior of the keep can not be visited, sadly enough. This area however is really a must-see. For the archaeological park of Butrint, which is great in itself, also holds another fortification; the Venetian Tower. Directly across the channel there is also the Venetian Triangular Castle. And at the mouth of the Butrint Channel there is yet another castle on a small islet; Ali Pasha Castle.

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Hits: 172