Saranda is the most touristic city in the country. Founded by the Kaon tribe, the city until the beginning of the 20th century was called Agii Saranda, meaning “Forty Saints”, referring to the Byzantine monastery of the same name, founded in the 16th century, today in ruins. It is a tribute to the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, a group of Christian Legionnaires tortured on a frozen lake in present-day Turkey in 320. In Antiquity, the city seems to have experienced some prosperity from the 2nd and 3rd centuries, based on archaeological excavations that have brought to light in the current city center, several buildings (villa, cemetery and various buildings) dating from the 2nd to the 4th century. You can also see some ruins of the mighty walls of the 6th century. However, few remains have been discovered in Saranda, because the modern city was built on top of the ancient city.
“BUTRINT NATIONAL PARK”
Butrint National Park is the most beautiful place to visit in Albania. A magical place that inspired Virgil, Racine and Lord Byron, where Eugène Delacroix and Edward Lear set up their easel to paint. Its antiquity and exceptional natural location made this ensemble a UNESCO World Heritage Site since the fall of the communist regime in 1992.
The ancient city of Buthrotum is located in the heart of Butrint National Park and it is a true magic where lush nature mixes with rich Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Greek and Venetian remains. For UNESCO, it is a”Microcosm of Mediterranean history”.
3000 years ago, Lake Butrint formed a wide sea bay. Today it is located 2 km from the sea and is connected to the coast by the narrow canal of Vivar, which at high tide, carries water from the sea to the lake. Sea food is a must-try, especially the local fresh mussels collected from the farms.