Byllis

An hour and a half from Apollonia is another hilltop site at Byllis. This was the home of an Illyrian tribe called the Byllines an it was never colonised by the Greeks but was invaded by the Romans. It is a very large site with massive walls around the hill and the remains of many buildings - Illyrian stoa, houses, agora, Roman theatre, stadium, and several basilica and Christian churches. The views down to the river below are spectacular. We had a lovely lunch in a cafe onsite where locals were celebrating a birthday with polyphonic singing and dancing.
Tonight we are in Berat - a UNESCO protected site of traditional Ottoman houses. Our hotel is in one of the houses and we have a beautiful room with carved wooden ceiling.Read more