Sarandë is the southern pearl of Albania

This small town is located between a high mountain and the Ionian Sea. The name comes from the Byzantine monastery of Agioi Saranda (Greek Άγιοι Σα ράντ α), which when translated to Czech means forty saints.

In ancient times, the city was known by the Greek name of Onchesmos .

A daily ferry connects Saranda with the nearby Greek island of Corfu.

Climate

Saranda has a warm Mediterranean climate. The number of sunny days is around 300 per year.

Thanks to its location and warm weather, Sarandë is the most attractive tourist town on the Albanian Riviera.

The warmest month in Saranda is August, when the average maximum temperature is 32° and the average minimum temperature is 21°. The coldest month is January with an average maximum temperature of 14° and an average minimum temperature of 6°.

Monuments

In the city itself there is the Church of St. Nicholas of Bari which is Byzantine in style. It serves the local Orthodox community.

Here you will also find the remains of a local synagogue which indicates the presence of a Jewish community. It is one of the oldest synagogues in Europe.

Parts of the walls and remains of the early Christian basilica have been preserved from ancient times. The only monument from the time of the Ottoman Empire is the old mosque which has not been in use since 1967 .

Butrint

17 km up the coast from Saranda is the archaeological site of Butrint ,which is an Albanian monument on the UNESCO list.

Due to its strategic location in the Mediterranean, the city witnessed military operations starting with the Peloponnesian War in the 5th century BC and continuing to the Napoleonic Wars in the 19th century.

You will find a unique mix of monuments from different eras, from Greek to Roman and Byzantine to Venetian.