Phoenice Archaeological Site

Address: Phu Phra Bat Historical Park, Udon Thani Province, Thailand

Hours: Daily 8am-5pm (may vary by season)

Phoenice (Phoinike) is an ancient city in southwestern Albania, in Vlorë County, that served as a principal settlement and political center of the Chaonian people in antiquity.

The archaeological site contains visible remains of public buildings, fortifications, and a Hellenistic-era theatre, with material spanning Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine phases. Interpretive information at the site highlights its role in regional politics and urban life in antiquity.

Founded in the Hellenistic period, Phoenice became an important center for the Chaonians and later entered Roman and Byzantine administrative structures; the site shows layers of occupation and rebuilding across several centuries. Archaeological work in the 20th and 21st centuries has documented its public architecture and defensive works.

Located near the modern village of Finiq in Vlorë County in southern Albania, the site sits on the coastal plain of southern Albania and is accessible from nearby regional towns.

• Continuity of occupation: Archaeological remains span Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods, reflecting the site’s long-term regional importance in Epirus.
• Major archaeological features: Excavated archaeological features include a theatre and public buildings that document the city’s role as the ancient capital of Chaonia.

What to See#

• Theatre: Hellenistic-Roman theatre whose remains are visible within the archaeological site and used to illustrate the city’s civic layout.
• City walls and urban remains: Fortified city walls and street traces that show continuous occupation from Hellenistic through Roman and Byzantine periods.

Phu Phra Bat is approximately 70-80 km from Udon Thani city. The park is reached by road; private car or organized day tours from Udon Thani are typical. Local buses serve nearby towns, but the final leg usually requires a taxi or hired vehicle.

• Time a visit to the park early in the morning to see the rock formations before tour buses arrive.
• Bring a torch if exploring any of the darker crevices-sandstone caverns can be much cooler than outside.
• Look for petroglyphs and Buddhist shrines hidden in recessed shelters; local guides know the most interesting panels.