Meet the clients at port of Saranda. Departure for trip to the main interesting objects.
The tour starts with the scenic drive to Lekursi Castle where you will have opportunity to enjoy the scenery & take photos of the bay of Saranda. Lekursi Castle (Kalaja e Lëkurësit | Lëkurësi Castle) was built in the early 16th century by Sultan Suleymani and is located on the top of a hill in Lekursi looking directly over Sarande. It’s located about 3-4 km away from the center of Saranda. The castle was initially built to protect the city of Saranda from invaders accessing the coastline by boat. From the castle you have great views of Corfu and Ksamil islands .After short photo stop, the bus will take you to the one of the most famous winery Isak in the area of Saranda. Taste the traditional local brandy and you will sample a selection of wines made exclusively from local grapes. After the visit of winery, the coach will take you back to Saranda where your city tour will start.Saranda, the gateway to the southern Albania is a small town of about 33.000 inhabitants, situated on a beautiful horseshoe bay between the mountains and the Ionian Sea. The name Saranda derives from an early Christian monastery dedicated to Agioi Saranta (Forty Saints).
In antiquity, Saranda was known as Onchesmus. Located opposite the Greek island of Corfu, Saranda is characterized by a Mediterranean climate and warm sea waters. Saranda typically has over 300 sunny days a year. Due to its location and warm weather Saranda is one of the most attractive tourist town on the Albania Riviera. You will visit ruins of the ancient Illyrian city of Onchesmos, mentioned as a port in the 1st century B.C. In the 4-th century A.D. 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 5-th and 6-th centuries, containing a beautiful multicolored floor mosaic. The ruins are also preserved of an early Christian Monastery dedicated to Santi Quaranta (Forty Saints), from which the modern name of the town (Saranda) is derived.
