Venetian Tower

Venetian Tower

The Venetian Tower, locally known as Kulla Veneciane, stands south of the town of Ksamil, in the county of Vlorë in Albania.

The tower 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.

In 1386 Butrint was bought by the Venetians from the Angevins of Italy, together with the island of Corfu. A series of wars between the Ottoman and Venetian empires during the 15th and 16th centuries 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 site of the old town altogether and moved their administration to the triangular castle.

The tower dates back to the 16th century and was used to store fishing materials. Apparently it was also used as a fortification, as evidenced by the gun slits and the entrance door being at an upper floor level, only reachable over a small removable bridge. It stands near the bank of the channel, directly opposite the triangular castle.

As the Venetian Tower is on the grounds of an archaeological park, it can only be visited as a paying visitor of the park. The interior of the tower 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 Acropolis Castle. 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 Tower

Venetian Tower

The Venetian Tower, locally known as Kulla Veneciane, stands south of the town of Ksamil, in the county of Vlorë in Albania.

The tower 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.

In 1386 Butrint was bought by the Venetians from the Angevins of Italy, together with the island of Corfu. A series of wars between the Ottoman and Venetian empires during the 15th and 16th centuries 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 site of the old town altogether and moved their administration to the triangular castle.

The tower dates back to the 16th century and was used to store fishing materials. Apparently it was also used as a fortification, as evidenced by the gun slits and the entrance door being at an upper floor level, only reachable over a small removable bridge. It stands near the bank of the channel, directly opposite the triangular castle.

As the Venetian Tower is on the grounds of an archaeological park, it can only be visited as a paying visitor of the park. The interior of the tower 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 Acropolis Castle. 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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Details
Hits: 204