Sarandë

Overview

Saranda is a city in southern Albania on the coast of the Ionian. It can be reached easily from the Greek island of Corfu by ferry. The town is a good base for exploring the most beautiful part of the Albanian coast - a strip also known as the Albanian riviera. Also, the coastal road to Vlore is wonderful.

Not far from the resort of Saranda lie the impressive ruins of Butrint . Ignored for many years, rambling creepers hid ancient masonry and buildings so effectively that a Roman Theatre and Baptistery have only recently been discovered. You can also visit the museum city, Gjirokaster . It is about 1.5 hours by bus. The city center of Saranda has been scarred by communist architecture but since the fall of communism many small shops and bars have sprung up which give the city a very nice Mediterranean feel.

History

Near Saranda stood the ancient Illyrian city of Onchesmos, mentioned as a port in the 1st century B.C. In the 4th century A.C.. the town was fortified with walls. Inside the walls have been excavated the remains of dwellings, water cisterns and an early Christian Basilica of the 5th and 6th century, containing a beautiful multicolored floor mosaic. Other mosaics are to be found in the district museum. The ruins are also preserved of an early Christian Monastery, of the 40 Saints, from which the modern name of the town (Saranda) is derived.