Sarandë or Saranda (from Greek: Άγιοι Σαράντα, Agioi Saranda,) is the capital of the District of Sarandë, Albania, and is one of the most important tourist attractions of the Albanian Riviera. It is situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the Mediterranean, 2 nautical miles from the Greek island of Corfu. The city of Saranda has a population of about 32,000 inhabitants (2008 estimate). Near Sarandë are the remains of the ancient city of...
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Sarandë or Saranda (from Greek: Άγιοι Σαράντα, Agioi Saranda,) is the capital of the District of Sarandë, Albania, and is one of the most important tourist attractions of the Albanian Riviera. It is situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the Mediterranean, 2 nautical miles from the Greek island of Corfu. The city of Saranda has a population of about 32,000 inhabitants (2008 estimate). Near Sarandë are the remains of the ancient city of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
In antiquity the city was known by the ancient Greek name of Onchesmos (or Anchiasmos) and was inhabited by the Greek tribe of the Chaonians. Onchesmos flourished as the port of the Chaonian capital of Phoenice (modern-day Finiq). In 552 CE it experienced repeated attacks from the Goths.
Its current name comes from the name of the Byzantine monastery of the Άγιοι Σαράντα (Agioi Saranta) literally meaning "Forty Saints" in Greek, after the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, traditionally commemorated by the...
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