Saranda is a "tiny" (only 37,000 people) Albanian resort town. Its sandy beaches wash the waters of the Ionian Sea, and opposite is the Greek island of Corfu. The city of Sarando is one of the best places for a quiet and peaceful holiday. Such shortcomings of the resorts of Albania, as the noise and crowds of the people, are simply unfamiliar to him.

A paragraph of history

Initially, the city was called "Onchesmus" and was a Greek colony .In 1939, the city was captured by the Italian army .The invaders gave the settlement a new name - Porto-Edda, in honor of the daughter of the dictator Mussolini .Already in 1940, the Italians left the city in disgrace under the pressure of Greece, which since ancient times considered the Northern Epirus (region) part of Greater Greece .True, by that the Greeks brought upon themselves trouble, and they called the misfortune of the "Axis country" .Soon Greece was occupied by the troops of Bulgaria, Germany and Italy .Only in 1944 the Nazis and Fascists were expelled from the Albanian land with a filthy broom, and Saranda became the center of the Albanian prefecture of Vlora .

How to get

In fact, transport accessibility is a big problem in Saranda. Despite the fact that the capital of Albania, Tirana and Saranda are only 200 kilometers apart, it will take at least six hours to get there. What can you do, such roads. And public transport does not go to the city, which means you have to rent a car or take a taxi.

Saranda hotels

Hospitable Saranda is always happy to welcome tourists. In the city there are several comfortable hotels.

Brilant is a three-star hotel located on the first sea line. Comfortable rooms with all conveniences and a minibar, a beach with chaise lounges, breakfasts and a restaurant are available to the guests.

Butrinti is a five-star hotel in the center of the city. Here everything is in full: excellent numbers, excellent food, excellent service.

California is a nice three-star hotel. This is a very cozy place, which has everything you need for a comfortable stay. There is a restaurant, a bar and a cafe. The room has air conditioning and a safe. There is also a souvenir shop on site. There is an opportunity to rent a car.

Conte Di Monte Cristo is a comfortable four star hotel. The rooms have satellite TV, wireless internet and a minibar. The hotel has a jacuzzi, a swimming pool, a sauna and a gym. There is a pizzeria, a bar and a restaurant.

First Andon Lapa is a beautiful three-star hotel, spread out on the seashore not far from the center. The beach is only 10 meters from the hotel. In the restaurant you can taste delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

Kaonia is another small but nice hotel located on the beach. Three stars of the Kaonia hotel are justified: a good restaurant, comfortable rooms with everything you need, a stone's throw to the sea. In other words, the hotel is able to give tourists everything they expect from a holiday in Albania.

Restaurants

There are enough places in Sarande where you can have a hearty snack. For example, TAVERNA BEQO offers all guests of the city to taste authentic Albanian cuisine. The restaurant is private, which means that the owners take care of their reputation and really appreciate every customer. Cook here is simply amazing, and the meal is inexpensive.

Bar Restaurant Limani. It serves an incredibly delicious fish, which a few hours ago splashed in the Ionian Sea. Still here make a delicious pizza.

Other Sardana restaurants: Tulipana, Castle Restaurant, taverna Viljani, Bar Restaurant Aragosta and others. They can taste seafood, pasta, pizza, grilled meats, and other dishes.

Entertainment, excursions and sights of Saranda

As such, there are only one significant sights in the city, but what is the ruins of the ancient city. If you want to somehow diversify beach leisure, it's worthwhile to go to the nearby ancient town of Foinike.

Ruins of the ancient town of Butrinti

The remains of the once-majestic city of Butrinti are an archaeological museum-preserve. Once Virgil himself called the city a new Troy, and Plutarch claimed that it was there that Pan died, the son of the god of Hermes.

In the twenties and thirties of the twentieth century, Italian archaeologists, led by Luigi Ugolini, dug up the gates, city walls, baths and theater in Butrinti. Beyond the walls of the city are in almost untouched condition the Roman aqueduct, fortresses, villas and churches. Butrinti is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ancient city of Foinike

It is located not far from Saranda. On its territory - the largest acropolis ever created. Its dimensions exceed the dimensions of the Athenian acropolis by about 7 times.

Among other sights of the city is the ethnographic museum, which amazes tourists with a huge number of exhibits revealing the history of Albania from an unexpected side, the ancient temple, the famous Jewish synagogues, and the fortress of "Ali Pash Tepelena" .Also worthy of the visit is the ancient church that is located in the town of Shen Kol, as well as the source of the Blue Eye in eighteen kilometers from the city .In the center there is an Orthodox temple .In addition, it is in Saranda that there is a huge number of natural monuments, for example, Konipol caves .

Byzantine fortress Lecursi, erected at the end of the fifteenth century, is located on a high hill, towering over Saranda. The fortress is open for visiting. From its observation tower there is a wonderful view of the city and the sea. There is a restaurant with a veranda on the territory of the church.

Photos of Saranda (8)