Sarande Town

The small coastal town of Sarande is the largest in south Albania, and the fourth largest in the country with 30,000 inhabitants, after Tirana, the capital, Dirachio and Argyrokastro. At present, it is one of the most popular resorts in Albania, a country that was cut off the rest of the world during the tight reign of the Dictator Enver Hotza.
Although Sarande still not presents the sight of a typical modern tourist resort, given the poverty of the locals and the country's overall poor infrastructure that is still widely evident, it is striving hard. However, it is hard for a first time visitor there not to notice the distinct differences of this forgotten world compared to the rest of the modern world..

Lekursi Castle in Sarande
Lekursi, as a fortified monastery, defended the road that lead to the interior, towards Mesopotami, Finiqi, Delvino, etc. The Ottoman offence in July 1537, found it a very strategic position, in relation to the "Corfu Channel". If they had control over the Corfu Channel, it would be easier for them to control the routes from the Southern Balkans to Italy. For that reason, Sultan Sulejman I, decided to come in person to the Albanian territory. Their inability to control Corfu and Butrinti, forced the Ottomans to rapidly build a castle in Lekursi. Only in that way would they have control of the roads to Saranda, Butrinti, Delvino. The castle was built in the place of an old church that existed on the top of the hill, which they knocked down completely apart from the south-eastern part, where one can still see the murals of "The miracle of Kana", "Evangelism" , as well as the portraits of saint Mhill, saint Vasil and saint Mitrofori. At the end of 17th century, the castle was restored by Ali pasha Tepelena.

At the end of the war in 1787, when the Ottoman army was getting weak, the Lekursi castle went out of function. During the 2nd World War, it was used by the Italian army. When the British landed in Saranda, they bombed the castle, because German forces were located there. After the liberation and until the end of ‘70s, the castle was badly abused by Albanian military units, which used it as a military fort. In 1999-200 the Albanian Institute of Monuments restored it in full, thus returning to Albania a historic "pearl", testimony of the Sultan's campaign and the Albanian resistance in 1537.

Ancient Buntrinti
The ancient town of Butrint, dating back to the 8th century BC, is built right on the shores of the salt-lake, thus allowing access from sea whilst being protected. Four major civilizations have left their mark here, from early Hellenistic times, when the city was first established, to the Romans, the Byzantines and the Venetians. We walk through the remains of the ancient city, which thanks to the Rochild Foundation, has been well restored, its glory and history preserved for the generations to come. The place is a splendid wild garden, full of trees, flowers and shrubs, protected as a botanical area by the state of Albania. Promenading here is a joy. Starting from the main entrance, we visit the Roman Bath House, the ancient 1,500 seats theatre with its altar dedicated to the God Dionysos, the Roman baths, a Roman Villa, the Baptistirion with its beautiful floor mosaics, the Gymnasium, the large 6th century Basilica (Church), the Burial Grounds, and walking along the fortified walls and through the ancient Gate of the Sun, the Nymphaion, and finally, climbing up the ancient steps, to the Acropolis, where the Venetian castle now fully restored proudly stands.

Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter)
Blue Eye is a place in the enterior of the country, just off the coast of Saranda, where the waters from seven natural fresh water springs (wells) emerge. It is the largest spring of the Mesopotamos river, which provides Albania, northern Greece and other neighboring lands with electricity supply. The area is called Blue Eye after the largest of the springs, which looks like an eye, because of the illusion created by the depth of the water and the white rock lying at the bottom of the spring. It is an area of unique natural beauty, protected by the Albanian State and Environmental Agencies.