Sarandë Museum of Archaeology

Sarandë’s Museum of Archaeology is a compact but fascinating gateway into the ancient history of Albania’s southern coast. Located near the waterfront, it showcases finds from the nearby city of Onhezmi—modern Sarandë—and from the wider region of Butrint, one of the most important archaeological zones in the Balkans. What makes the museum especially interesting is how it reveals the city’s layered past: Greek colonies, Roman villas, Byzantine fortifications, and early Christian communities all left their mark here. Inside, the first highlight is the collection of Hellenistic pottery, decorated with elegant black‑figure and red‑figure motifs. These pieces show how active Sarandë’s ancient port was in Mediterranean trade. Nearby, Roman-era household objects—bronze lamps, glass vessels, and finely worked bone tools—offer a glimpse into everyday life two thousand years ago. One of the most striking exhibits is the set of early Christian mosaics discovered in local basilicas. Their geometric patterns and symbolic motifs, though fragmentary, still carry a quiet beauty. The museum also preserves architectural fragments from Butrint: carved capitals, sections of marble flooring, and inscriptions that help reconstruct the city’s monumental spaces.