Sarandë

Sarandë or Saranda (Greek: Άγιοι Σαράντα, Agioi Saranda; Turkish: Aya Sarandi; Italian: Santi Quaranta) 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 30,000 (2001 estimate).^[2] Near Sarandë are the remains of the ancient city of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Alongside its ethnic Albanian majority, Sarandë is home to an ethnic Greek minority and is considered one of the centers of the Greek minority in Albania.

Name

Sarandë's current name derives from the name of the Byzantine monastery of the Agioi Saranda (Greek: Άγιοι Σαράντα), meaning the "Forty Saints" and honoring the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. Under Turkish rule, this became Aya Sarandi and then Sarandoz. Owing to Venetian influence in the region, it often appeared under its Italian name Santi Quaranta on western maps.^[3] This usage continued even after the establishment of the Principality of Albania, owing to the first Italian occupation of the region. During the second occupation in World War II, Benito Mussolini changed the name to Porto Edda, in honor of his eldest daughter.^[4][5] Following the restoration of Albanian independence, the city employed its Albanian name Saranda.^[6]

History

In antiquity the city was known by the ancient Greek name of Onchesmos or Anchiasmos ^[7][8][9] and was inhabited by the Greek tribe of the Chaonians.^[10] Onchesmos flourished as the port of the Chaonian capital Phoenice^[11][12] (modern-day Finiq). In AD 552, it experienced repeated attacks from the Goths.

In 1878, a Greek rebellion broke out, with revolutionaries taking control of Sarandë and Delvinë. This was suppressed by the Ottoman troops, who burned twenty villages in the region.^[13] The town was included in the newly formed Albanian state in 1913 under the terms of the Protocol of Florence.^[14]

It was occupied twice by Greece in 1913 and from 1914 to 1916, the second time by Greek insurgents from the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus. It was then occupied by Italy between 1916 and 1920 as part of the Italian Protectorate on southern Albania.^[15] Sarandë was again occupied by Italian forces in 1939 and was a strategic port during the Italian invasion of Greece. During this occupation, it was called "Porto Edda" in honor of the eldest daughter of Benito Mussolini.

As part of Northern Epirus, the city came under Greek rule on 6 December 1940 until the German invasion in Greece in the spring of 1941.

Economy

Given its coastal access and Mediterranean climate, Sarandë has become an important tourist attraction since the fall of Communism in Albania. Saranda as well as the rest of the Albanian Riviera, according to The Guardian, "is set to become the new 'undiscovered gem' of the overcrowded Med."^[16] Tourism is thus the major economic resource, while other resources include services, fisheries and construction. The unemployment rate according to the population census of 2008 was 8.32%. It has been suggested that family tourism and seasonal work during the summer period help mitigate the real unemployment rate. Recently, the town has experinced an uncontrolled construction boom which may hamper the city's future tourism potential.

Climate

Sarandë has a typical Mediterranean climate.

Demographics

In 1912, right after the Albanian Declaration of Independence, the city had only 110 inhabitants.^[17] During the 1927 census, the city had 810 inhabitants, but no city status.^[17] In the 1930s, the city had a good demographic development, and it is in this period that the first public buildings and the main roads were constructed.^[17]

In 1957, the city had 8,700 inhabitants and became the center of a district.^[17]

In 1990, the inhabitants of Sarandë numbered 15,700, with 7,500 of them belonging to the Greek minority.^[18] At present, the population of Sarandë has nearly doubled. According to municipal sources, approximately 30,000^[2] (2001 estimate) inhabitants are currently living in the city. According to a survey conducted by the Albanian Committee of Helsinki, in 2001, the Albanian population numbered about 26,500, while Greeks formed the rest with about 3,400 alongside a small number of Vlachs and Roma.^[18][19] The city, according to the Albanian Committee of Helsinki, has lost more than half of its ethnic Greeks from 1991 to 2001, because of heavy emigration to Greece.^[18] Sarandë is considered one of the two centers of the Greek minority in Albania,^[20][21] Gjirokastër being the other.

Notable people

• Lefter Agora – singer^[22][23][24]
• Vangjel Agora – actor/director^[25][26]
• Niko Kacalidha – poet, author, ex-state minister.^[27]
• Ilir Seitaj – four times National Chess Champion^[28]
• Luiza Xhuvani – actress^[29][30][31]

Additionally, Italian singers Albano and Romina Power dedicated a song to Saranda entitled Saranda Okinawa available here.

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Sarandë is twinned with:

• Corfu, Greece^[32]

Gallery

See also

• Butrint
• Port of Sarandë
• Ksamil
• List of cities in Albania
• Tourism in Albania
• List of cities in ancient Epirus
• Greeks in Albania
• Northern Epirus
• Italian Protectorate on southern Albania

References

Notes

External links

• Saranda at Wikitravel
• Saranda at In Your Pocket City Guide
• Visit Sarandë
• Cultural Treasures of Saranda District Brochure
• Saranda on AllAboutAlbania.com
• Municipality of Saranda (Albanian)
• Saranda Diving
• 2005 Saranda Guide
• Saranda Port