Saranda Town

Saranda lies on an arch-shaped bay of the Ionian Sea between the Gormarti and Berdeneshi hills, and is the seat of Sarandë Municipality, which also takes in Ksa…Saranda lies on an arch-shaped bay of the Ionian Sea between the Gormarti and Berdeneshi hills, and is the seat of Sarandë Municipality, which also takes in Ksamil. In antiquity the port was Onchesmos, a harbour of the Chaonians opposite the northwestern point of Corfu. The modern name comes from the Byzantine monastery of the Forty Saints (Agioi Saranta in Greek), whose ruined 6th century basilica overlooks the town; Venetian maps called the town Santi Quaranta.

Within the town are the excavated remains of a late antique synagogue, dug in 2003 and 2004. Its rooms had mosaic floors, one showing a menorah, and a large basilical hall was added in the 5th to 6th century before a church replaced the synagogue in the 6th century. Lëkurësi Castle, built by the Ottomans in 1537, stands on a hill southeast of the town.

Tourism is the main part of the local economy, and the port has been expanding since 2012 to take cruise ships. The waterfront promenade is one of the busiest parts of town, and Saranda is used as a base for excursions along the Albanian Riviera and to Butrint and the Blue Eye spring.