Tour 1
Saranda Albania
Saranda Albania
Saranda, or “the south Albanian
seaport” is located on a
natural shelf facing the island
of Corfu. There are daily ships
that depart, connecting Saranda
with this Greek island.
Saranda’s name originates from an old Christian monastery of “the Forty Saints” (Saranda means “forty” in Greek). The ruins of the monastery lay in Qafa e Gjashtës, near the city entrance. Prior to Byzantine rule, Saranda was called by its ancient Greek name, “Onchesmos”, which was the name of the father of the Trojan prince Aeneas, who was born at the Mount Ida by the Greek Goddess Aphrodite.
The city lies at the southern tip of Albania’s Ionian coastline and has a very pleasant avenue, full of palms and pebbled beaches. In the center of the city stands the ruins of the ancient city of Onhezmi, destroyed in the fifth century A.D. by barbarian invasions. In 2002, a synagogue was uncovered in the same area. Just 2 km south of Saranda, on the top of a dominating hill, is the Castle of Lëkurs. The castle was built by the Sultan Suleiman during his military campaign against Corfu.
Today a restaurant sits in the fortress, offering a rich cuisine and breathtaking views of the deep blue of the Ionian Sea. Heading south, the coastline changes its appearance. Four small islands emerge in the Ksamili area, covered by Mediterranean vegetation and surrounded by wonderful marine flora and fauna. A salt lake, which is a lagoon of tectonic origin near Butrint lies inland. In antiquity it was known by name Pelodes and it connects with the sea through the channel of Vivar, 3.6 km in length. A large number of sea birds nest there.
Saranda’s name originates from an old Christian monastery of “the Forty Saints” (Saranda means “forty” in Greek). The ruins of the monastery lay in Qafa e Gjashtës, near the city entrance. Prior to Byzantine rule, Saranda was called by its ancient Greek name, “Onchesmos”, which was the name of the father of the Trojan prince Aeneas, who was born at the Mount Ida by the Greek Goddess Aphrodite.
The city lies at the southern tip of Albania’s Ionian coastline and has a very pleasant avenue, full of palms and pebbled beaches. In the center of the city stands the ruins of the ancient city of Onhezmi, destroyed in the fifth century A.D. by barbarian invasions. In 2002, a synagogue was uncovered in the same area. Just 2 km south of Saranda, on the top of a dominating hill, is the Castle of Lëkurs. The castle was built by the Sultan Suleiman during his military campaign against Corfu.
Today a restaurant sits in the fortress, offering a rich cuisine and breathtaking views of the deep blue of the Ionian Sea. Heading south, the coastline changes its appearance. Four small islands emerge in the Ksamili area, covered by Mediterranean vegetation and surrounded by wonderful marine flora and fauna. A salt lake, which is a lagoon of tectonic origin near Butrint lies inland. In antiquity it was known by name Pelodes and it connects with the sea through the channel of Vivar, 3.6 km in length. A large number of sea birds nest there.
Saranda
