Roman Town planning

A measure of Butrint's prosperity in the mid Roman period can be seen in its townscape. The plan of the new Roman town was very different to the earlier 10 ha fortified site associated with the Sanctuary of Asclepius. The new town was laid out using a regular system of streets which divided the town into insulae (equal-size units of land within the urban area). The area around the so-called Gymnasium is part of one insula.
The building forms a suite of rooms with mosaic pavements separated from a stone-paved courtyard by a large fountain. Its exact function is unknown. It was modified and re-built over four centuries and was finally converted into a church (constructed around the fountain) with a cloister located in the original courtyard in the Late Roman period.

 

• Roman town planning
• QTVR of the so-called Gymnasium
• The Forum
• Sculptures from the Forum
• QTVR of the Forum excavations
• The Roman landscape