Albania Albania - Saranda
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| Albania - Saranda |
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Saranda is a city in southern Albania on the coast of the Caspian sea resorts. Saranda can be reached easily from the Greek island of Corfu by ferry. The town is a good base for exploring the most beautiful part of the Albanian coast - a strip also known as the Albanian riviera. Butrint is also a
good excursion. You can visit the museum city,Gjirokaster. It
is about 2 hours by bus. The city center of Saranda has been scarred by
communist architecture but since the fall of communism many small shops and bars
have sprung up which give the city a very nice Mediterranean feel.Not far from
the resort of Saranda lie the impressive ruins of Butrint. Ignored for
many years, rambling creepers hid ancient masonry and buildings so effectively
that a Roman Theatre and Baptistery have only recently been discovered. Sights: With its small hotels, cafes and palm trees that line the colonnade along the sea, Saranda has always been popular with Albanian newlyweds. The city is also becoming popular with Greeks thanks daily ferry service from Corfu. The ferries also provide an excellent access point into the sights of Southern Albania Day Trips: From Saranda you can easily reach Ksamil, Butrint, Gjirokaster, Vlora and Corfu. Eating Out: There are a lot of bars and restaurants on the city. History: Near Saranda stood the ancient Illyrian city of Onchesmos, mentioned as a port in the 1st century B.C. In the 4th century A.C.. the town was fortified with walls. Inside the walls have been excavated the remains of dwellings, water cisterns and an early Christian Basilica of the 5th and 6th century, containing a beautiful multicolored floor mosaic. Other mosaics are to be found in the district museum. The ruins are also preserved of an early Christian Monastery, of the 40 Saints, from which the modern name of the town (Saranda) is derived. |
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