Amantia

Our visit this afternoon was to a site rarely visited - it's not even in the guide books. Now we know why. The journey there and back is on an unmade road for an hour in each direction, climbing up a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains. Once there, it's another 15 walk round the hill to enter the city proper and then there is not a lot to see. May have had Illyrian origins but mostly Greek style buildings. There is a spectacular stadium, damaged by earthquakes and an arched gate but no monumental buildings. The stadium and temple remains are outside the city on the only flat bits of land. The top is occupied by an old lady and her animals which generated more appreciation than the ruins. On balance, probably not worth the lengthy trip which meant we only arrived at our hotel at 8.15. It's up in the llogara national park about 1000m high.Read more