Excelent Plot Sarande

About Sarande

Sarande (Sarande-Sarand?), with about 30.000 inhabitants, is the most famous seaside resort of Albania, a country that was cut off from the outside world for many years during dictator Enver Hoxa. Although Sarande is not ready yet for the 'big tourism' they are fixing infra-structure with financial help from the government. Roads in the city are reconstructed, new restaurants and bars are build en the view of the town, the boulevard, is completely renewed. At this moment on many places in the town apartments are going up; as well for the local people as the yearly increasing number of tourists. Sarande is building up a place in the European tourist-industry. And why not? The hinterland of the town has many places of interest and a natural beauty you can't find in many places in Europe.Saranda is situated in an open sea gulf, opposite the island of Corfu. The sea panorama, the variety of flora, favored by the soft climate, make Saranda the preferred center for rest and recreation and an important tourist town. Most Albanian couples come to spend their honey-moon in Saranda. That's why it is known in Albania as the town of the honey-mooners. 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.