Saranda, is a coastal town in Albania. Geographically, it is situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the central Mediterranean, about 14 km (8.7 mi) east of the northern end of the island of Corfu. Stretching along the Albanian Ionian Sea Coast, Saranda typically has over 300 sunny days a year.
The city is known for its blue deep waters of the Mediterranean. Near Sarandë are the remains of the ancient city of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In recent years, Saranda has seen a steady increase in tourists, many of them coming by cruise ship. Visitors are attracted by the natural environment of Saranda and its archaeological sites. Sarandë has a large Greek population and is considered one of the two centers of the Greek minority in Albania.
Climate
Sarandë has a typical Mediterranean climate and has over 300 sunny days a year. During the summer, temperatures may rise as high as 30 degrees Celsius. However, a refreshing sea breeze constantly blows. Winters are mild and subzero temperatures are uncommon. The wettest months of the year are November and December. Summers are very dry.
The Forty Saints Monastery
The 40 Saints Monastery refers to the same story where modern “Saranda” got it’s name from (Saranda means “40” in Greek). This monastery was built in the 6th century, then was modified over a period of several hundred years. It is comprised of two levels, but the upper one was destroyed in WWII. The monastery was built in honor of 40 Christian martyrs who were sent to their death in Siberia when they wouldn’t renounce their religion. Visitors can enter the crypt with permission from the town hall in Sarande.
Lekuresi Castle
Saranda is hemmed into the coast by tall hills, and atop one of these is a rambling old structure that goes back to Albania’s early Ottoman times. Lekuresi Castle was once a citadel that enclosed an entire village, but today lies in semi-ruin. What remains are portions of the walls and a crumbling watchtower looking out over the bay. Most people will make the steep walk to admire panoramic views that reach all the way out to Corfu and the Greek border.
Butrint
Just 14 kilometres south of Saranda, this UNESCO site is an opportunity that you can’t pass up. It’s the largest collection of ancient ruins in Albania at a location that has been occupied since the Stone Age. The ruins date back as far as 800BC when Butrint was settled by the Chaonians who occupied the coastal regions around western Greece and Albania. Much later it became a Roman colony, then a Byzantine city and in medieval times was trading hub for the Venetians before being abandoned. What remains are some excellent ruins, including an early-Christian basilica, a Roman theatre, a Roman temple and a Greek central square or agora with columns. Butrint’s museum is even housed by a medieval Venetian tower.
Vivari Castle (Ali Pasha Castle)
The Triangular Castel of Vivari is located at the front of the Butrint entrance. The castle’s famous triangular shape is surrounded by round towers in all corners of the castle. Thought to have been build during the 13th century, this castle has been reconstructed various times in the following centuries, most famously by the Venetians and Ali Pashe Tepelena. Though one of the smaller of the Tepelena’s famous castles scattered throughout the south, this fortress holds a certain Venetian charm that is worth witnessing
The Blue Eye (Syri Kalter)
The Blue Eye in English, Syri Kalter is a natural spring and a mesmerizing natural phenomenon in Saranda’s hilly hinterland. What enthralls people about Syri Kalter is the way the sunlight catches the spring on a clear day, creating a deep shade of blue that glistens like an eye. This effect is caused by oxygen bubbles rising up from the bottom of the spring, which is at least 50 metres beneath the surface but may be much deeper. The location is also gorgeous, with oak and sycamore trees around the water, and a wooden viewing platform positioned directly above the “Eye”.
Ksamil
This village inside the Butrint National Park sits between the Ionian Sea and Lake Butrint. Ksamil is just a few minutes in the car south of Saranda, and it’s a good idea to set off early in the morning to spend the whole day here. The sea next to Ksamil is as calm as anywhere on the Riviera, and you can hire a motor boat for a small adventure exploring the little islands found a few hundred meters of the coast. You could weigh anchor in a hidden cove and spend an afternoon sunbathing and swimming in perfect solitude.