Saranda

The beautiful city of Saranda (Albania), offers a unique atmosphere and style that steels the heart of all its visitors.

Saranda is situated in an open sea gulf, opposite the Island of Corfu (Greece). Saranda is an animated town between the mountains and the Ionian Sea, 61km South-West of Gjirokastra.

There are today, daily Ferry services to and from Corfu. Saranda is rapidly developing into the Southern gateway for tourism into Albania.

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.

Saranda is spread out around a bay. Most tourist accommodation and eating places are in the centre of the city.

Dhërmi

Dhërmi ( Albania) is a large and beautiful village with about 30 old churches picturesquely placed on the rough mountainside.

 Older inhabitants call this village Drimades which comes from the Greek Drymades (Oak Forest). The village was built in the seventh century on a number of hills. Dhërmi is a large and beautiful village with about 30 old churches picturesquely placed on the rough mountainside. A typical village of the Ionian coast, this is also one of its oldest settlements. Well-known for its lovely beaches, the Gjipe Beach is one of the finest, formed by a creak streaming down the mountain close to the national road.

The Ionian Coast with its bays, sandy and rocky beaches, presents a coastal and underwater environment that is of great interest to the admirers of underwater experiences, both for swimming or diving.

It is a beautiful experience as it enables you to get to know algae and fish, list the parts of the sea bottom, observe the colors at different times of the day and in different weather conditions.