Nicopolis

Nicopolis (City of Victory) was founded by Emperor Augustus after his victory at the Battle of Actium.

Nicopolis is located next to the modern city of Preveza, which lies on the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf. Preveza replaced Nicopolis in importance in the Middle Ages.

This hoard of coins found in the sea near Nicopolis would have been used to pay Roman soldiers.

Derpy lion

The ruins at Nicopolis are extensive, but still being unearthed.

This archeological team is actively unearthing Nicopolis' odeum.

On the way to the ferry we drove past Ioannina Island, next to the capital of Epirus, Ioannina, where the infamous Ali Pasha died in 1822. We would have liked to see more in Epirus, but you can only go so many places on one trip.

We took the overnight ferry from Igoumenitsa, Greece to Brindisi, Italy. It wasn't a pleasure cruise, but it got us back to Italy.

Corfu

Corfu Town is a short ferry ride from Igoumenitsa, Greece. Pictured is the Venetian Old Fortress.

And the New Fortress

Coming into the harbor on the ferry at night is a pleasant experience.

The Venetians bought Corfu from the Angevins in 1386 and ruled it until Napoleon took Venice in 1797. The Byzantines originally built the Old Fortress, and the Venetians improved upon it to stave off four Ottoman sieges of Corfu.

The Venetian 1000 pound mortar was made in 1684 and had a 500 meter max range.

The Archaeological Museum of Corfu has some excellent pieces, like this statue of Hercules.

Corinth settled colonies on Corfu in the 700s B.C., but over time Greek residents of Corfu wanted independence. Athens assisted Corfu in the naval Battle of Sybota in 433 B.C.; Thucydides, pictured, considered this one of the main causes of the Peloponnesian War.

Dionysus at a symposium from the 500s B.C.

Corfu housed a terracotta figuring worship that primarily made figurines of female deities.

Gorgon crowned the Temple of Artemis built in the 6th century B.C.

The Serbian Museum of Corfu documents the Serbian Army's stay during World War 1. After Austria took over Serbia, the government refused to surrender, and the 400,000 Serbian soldiers and civilians marched through Albania to be evacuated via the Ionian Sea. Only 120,000 made the long trip to Corfu.

You have to eat octopus on Corfu!

The Venetians built the New Fortress after the first Ottoman siege of Corfu in the 1500s.

Saint Spyridon Church is a Greek Orthodox Church that has housed the relics of its eponymous saint since being transported from Constantinople after the fall of the Byzantine Empire.

The Museum of Asian Art of Corfu, housed in a palace built during the British occupation of Corfu after the Napoleonic Wars, has an impressive collection of artifacts.

Octopi and Monkeys

Sword coins?

Cultural synthesis isn't always a good thing.

Corfu was part of the United States of the Ionian Islands, a protectorate of the British, until joined with Greece after the Greek War of Independence. Those that served the British and Corfu well were awarded the Order of St. Michael and St. George.

Butrint

Butrint is a large ancient ruin located on the end of a peninsula a short drive south of Sarande. Legend states it was founded by Trojan exiles after the fall of that city; the first proof of habitation is from the 12th century B.C., soon after that.

Butrint also borders a strait from the Ionian Sea into Lake Butrint. There is no bridge, only a strange concrete platform that takes cars across. The Venetians built the castle pictured to control the strait.

The Venetian Tower lies at the entrance of Butrint. The Venetians bought Butrint and Corfu from Angevins in 1386; by this time Butrint was sparsely inhabited.

Wars in the 16th century between the Ottomans and Venetians further devastated the area. I wouldn't want to have to attack anyone up that staircase. The Venetians primarily used the area to fish until the fall of their empire in 1797, when the French gained the territory, and in 1799 the Ottomans finally conquered it.

Ruins in Butrint (ancient Bouthroton) are mostly from ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine times.

The 5th century baptistery contains a famous mosaic, but it is covered with sand to preserve it.

Butrint entered decline in the 13th century when Normans, Byzantines, the Despotate of Epirus, Angevins, and Venetians all fought over the strategic city.

I'm pretty sure Indiana Jones is around here somewhere.

Lake Butrint is a peaceful lagoon. An aqueduct was built across it in Roman times to connect Butrint to mainland freshwater.

A hill lies in the center of Butrint, and the Venetians built a castle there.

A rare bust of Antinous, lover of Emperor Hadrian

The 4th century B.C. Greek theater

An inscription on the seating banks of the theater stating it was built thanks to donations to the Sanctuary of Asclepius next to it.

There are also inscriptions on the wall recording the freeing of slaves in honor of Asclepius.

Who knows what other ruins lie unearthed here?

Butrint is definitely worth a deliberate visit, and one of my favorite ancient ruins.

Sarande

Sarande is southern Albania's main port and a beach resort. It is crowned by Lekuresi Castle, built by Suliman the Magnificent in 1537 to conquer Corfu and control Butrint.

Enver Hoxha had numerous bunkers built here.

Everywhere!

The country surrounding Lekuresi

Communist Albania had some crazy weaponry.

The city of Sarande

The sun shining on Corfu

Some old frescoes in the castle

One of the many packs of goats being herded across Albania

Sarande had a great fireworks display on New Years, but no place in the entire city was open that evening, even to buy food. The ferry to Corfu rarely runs during the winter as well, so its better to visit Corfu using ferries from the Greek mainland.