August, 2014
Discover Albania
I’ts August The hottest month of the year! No other country can match the beauty of Albania in this month! Sandy and rocky beaches; hidden bays and the already known resort areas; all of these very much visited! It looks like there are no places that have “escaped” from international and domestic tourists! This time we:
Will go in the splendid city of Saranda; Will embark on a memorable journey from Vlora to Saranda; Will relish the mussels as they are cooked in Saranda; Visit the small bay of Kallmi; Will not forget to watch in Tirana the “e-mages” exhibition of artist Helidon Gjergji 1
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Saranda Not only Albanians, but also internationals tourists “have fallen in love” with Saranda. Situated in the blue gulf of the Ionian Sea, Saranda stands opposite to Corfu, like a nymph from the antique mythology who wants to woo it all the time. Graced by olive tops and citrus terraces, Saranda combines the white colour of the land with the blue of the sea and the green of the vegetation. On the road to Saranda, you can find the Butrint of Enea and Virgil, Ksamil with its rare islands, the unique “Blue Eye”, the Phoenice of Epirus, the Queen Mussel of the lake, and above all the sea which lures us all.
Geographical position Saranda is a city in Southern Albania, located on a mountainside on the Ionian seacoast. It is the biggest sea port of the southern region of Albania. Its southernmost point is in the city of Konispol with a geographical a latitude 39o 38’. In general, the terrain in Saranda is flat and hilly. It starts from the sea level and reaches an elevation of 1883 metres. The Rivers of Kalasa, Bistrica and Pavlla flow through the city and after passing through the Delvina depression empty into the Ionian Sea. The beauties of the nature, its resources, and the tradition of welcoming guests and the educated level of the inhabitants enable Saranda to develop sand and eco tourism. Saranda is 300 km from the city of Tirana, the capital of Albania and is part of Vlora region. Sea transport connects the city with the cities of Corfu and Igumenica. Under the jurisdiction of the Municipality there are five neighbourhoods and three villages: The Villages of Gjashta, Metoqi and Shelegari. The average life expectancy is above 72 years old. The city has a diverse ethnic and regional composition. Saranda has a typical Mediterranean climate. It has a high number of sunny days even in Europe, over 270 days. The typical feast of the city is “The Mussel Feast”, which the Municipality organises to open every tourism season.
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Gusht, 2014 Economy Saranda is an important tourism centre in Albania. Its source of incomes is tourism and emigration. There are a high number of hotels and apartments that are offered to tourists. Its geographic location favours agriculture and animal farming.
It has diverse vegetation which is typical Mediterranean. The area is known for producing citruses and olives, while fruit trees cover about 30 % of the territory. Saranda has a rich fauna. Beside its rich vegetation, Saranda is also home to the water, vegetation of the Ionian Sea.
Corals are not missing in the depths of the Ionian Sea. Sea waters are extremely clear and bluish.The entire area is home to precious fish habitats and other types of sea animals. The Ionian coast is virgin in many places and extremely beautiful. It includes the typical Mediterranean Butrint Lagoon, about 1600 hectares. The lagoon is rich in vegetation and feeds numerous types of fish. The lagoon is also a stopover site for thousands of water, winter and migratory birds.
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HISTORY Saranda is a city with more than 2000 years of history, established in the southern coastline of Albania, rich with rare Albanian and even European cultural heritage and archaeological values. This rich archaeological heritage, combined with the beauties of the nature and its natural port, is the basis for developing the image of Saranda as a world class tourism destination.The city was mentioned for the first time under the name of ONHEZEM.
It was used as a port for the city of Phoinice (Albanian: Finiqi). During the Medieval Age the city is not mentioned in the written documents. The surrounding wall from the Byzantine Era on the western side of the city today, the ruins of a paleochristian monastery under the name of Ajiu Saranda (Forty Saints) rising on the mountainside above Saranda and the construction of the Lekursi Castle at the end of the XVI century-beginning of the XVII century on
In the Ist century B.C, the city was used as a harbour for sailing from Epirus to the Italic peninsula. The city saw its greatest development in the II-III centuries Before Christ. Some ruins next to the sea date back from this time. In the IV century the city was regenerated again around its first nucleus and was fortified with 2 metre thick protective walls, covering an area of 5 hectares. Inside the semicircular citadel, fortified with towers, archaeological excavation has found ruins of buildings, cisterns, and a paleochristian basilica from the V-VI century whose floor is covered with beautiful multicoloured mosaics A series of ecclesiastical acts from 414-516 refer to Saranda as an Episcopal seat and as a city. In the VI century guidebook of Hieroclites, the city is mentioned under the name of Anhiazmi, as one of the 12 cities of the old Epirus province.
the south-eastern part of the city, show that Onhezmi is ancient. The name “Saranda” started to be used at the end of the 1920s. In 1930 the inhabitants called the city simply “The port”. In 1876 Naim Frasheri was a customs officer. In 1878 the city was destroyed and burned down by Greek hooligans coming from Corfu. Under the Ottoman rule, a decree from the Sublime Porte made Saranda a private property of Sultan Abdyl Hamit. Then, 200 years later, Ahmet Zogu “took” this seacoast pearl as a “gift” from the parliament of the time which was controlled by him. Under the rule of Benito Mussolini, the city of Saranda was named “Porto Eda”, for the sake of his daughter. After World War II, some high officials from the communist regime had in the city their tourism resorts and haunting shelters.
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Gusht, 2014 DEVELOPMENT Every year the International Festival of Theatre “Butrint 2000” is organised in the amphitheatre of the antique city of Butrint, with the participation of many European theatre troupes. Numerous shows are put in the movie house of Saranda.
In 1927, Saranda had about 800 inhabitants, while almost ten years later it had 1800 inhabitants. During these years, it underwent a rapid urban development. The port and the promenade along the coast were built along with the first houses and a series of storehouses and shops. In 1957 the city became an administrative centre. During 19601980, Saranda was promoted as “a tourism offer of Albania” not only for the Albanian visitors, but also for those few foreign visitors who could be counted on the fingers of one hand and who ventured to come in the country fenced with barbed wires in the middle of Europe. During this same period the first investments were carried out, especially on the green crown of the Riviera. Thousands of young people volunteered to build olive, orange and lemon terraces. From 1960 to 1982, the population of Saranda grew by an annual average of 2.7 percent. At the time, the city of Saranda had 15 thousands inhabitants and development was limited. During 19902004, the city developed rapidly, and the population grew as a result of many families coming from different areas of Albania.
During summer months, the burlesque troupes of Saranda as well as other troupes from the country and beyond come to put on different shows in the city “flooded” by visitors. In the city of Saranda there two local TV stations and there is a signal for all of the other national TVs. “Saranda” newspaper is published during the tourism seasons. Some of its pages are in English The fruit and vegetable market, where it is possible to find organic food from the farmers in the region, is in the city centre. Saranda has a long tradition in agricultural productions and during summer the prices in the market are very favourable.
The construction industry has boomed in recent years. This has changed the image of the city, from a quiet coastal resort to an area with mass constructions, some of them illegal.
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Small and medium markets run also well and they are rich with articles for wider uses. Groceries are open almost all day. The souvenir shops are in the centre of the city, very close to the movie house. The shops usually open at 7.308.00 in the morning and close at 00.00 PM. In Saranda, sea food is mostly grilled. In general, food is roasted well, and steaming is also commonly used for cooking. The meat in the main course is mostly veal or lamb. In Saranda, sea food is mostly grilled. In general, food is roasted well, and steaming is also commonly used for cooking. The meat in the main course is mostly veal or lamb. Raki and wine are the most common drinks during the meal. The typical Mediterranean cuisine of Saranda, including mostly seafood such calamari, octopus, cuttlefish, mussels and fish of all types, is very much preferred. Not less preferred are the salads with bio products and other traditional dishes.
The Theatre of Butrint The theatre had a capacity of 1500 seats. It was built in the IV-III centuries before Christ. It is on the southern side of the city’s acropolis. It consists of the seats, the scenes and the orchestra. The first 13 steps have been preserved. The ground of the scene was paved with flagstones during the Ottoman period. The Scene and the Orchestra were
rebuilt in the II century Before Christ. The scene consists of two spaces: the front stage and the backstage. In the backstage are the narrow corridors which allowed the actors to move and enter the scene. Here there are some inscriptions on freeing slaves. It is thought that many slaves were freed here and a part of them were women.
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Gusht, 2014 The Baptistery It has a circular shape. It is a monument with great values and dates back to the Paleochristian period, built in the IV century Before Christ.
It consists of two rooms: the baptismal room and another room in the northern part. In the centre of the Baptismal Room is the Baptismal Font which is cross-shaped. On the floor of the baptistery there are many decorations and a variety of mosaics of different shapes. The figures are inside 69 medallions and seven circles. The medallions with figures of animals and fowls are very special. The mosaics of the Butrint Baptistery have great values.
. The temples There are two temples; one is underneath the theatre and the other above. The theatre above dates back to the III century before Christ and it was built in the same time as the Theatre. Inside is the basement of the altar. Lion paws support the leg of the altar.
This floor was paved with black and white mosaics.The temple below is thought to be the oldest. On its back there is a cave where water used to flow. This water is thought to have had curative values. The rectangular temple was built during the IV-II centuries. Some statutes have been found inside this temple.
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The Basilica of Butrint It was built at the end of the VI century before Christ. Its walls are made with stones, while the tile windows are covered by an arched-shape wooden roof. The surrounding walls and the stone-paved floor are preserved to this day.
This monument dates back from the Byzantine period and is in north-eastern of the city. The central part was rebuilt during the IX century. It is thought to have been paved with mosaics.
The Spring of the Nymphs In Butrint there are three springs. One of them is the Spring of the Nymphs built during VI-I centuries Before Christ. . This spring is near the Lions’ Gate and is 5 metres deep. There are inscriptions on its edges.
The castle of Ali Pasha Tepelena It was built during 1807-1808. The reason why it was built was to prevent French armies attacking Butrint from the island of Corfu. This citadel is rectangular and it has four towers on its corners. The citadel has an impressive protective system. The purpose was to create protection from the sea and this was accomplished by two towers, 2.80 metre thick and 5 metres tall, with loopholes for cannons. The citadel has two gates; one of them leads to the Vivari canal
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Gusht, 2014 . The Islands of Ksamil Near the town of Ksamil there are four islands covering a surface area of 9 hectares. The islands are covered with evergreen shrubs and vegetation. The most beautiful beaches of the Riviera are in the rocky islands of Ksamil.
They are distinguished for their exotic nature with crystal clean waters and small pebbles. The islands of Ksamil are very much visited during summer by numerous domestic and international tourists.
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The Blue Eye It is the biggest and most interesting water spring among the 18 springs bubbling near the base of Mali i GjerĂŤ. It is a monument of nature; its shape is oval, similar to the shape of an eye. Water springs from the ground with a darkish colour in the middle and light blue colour on the sides. Its depth is considerable, up to 45 metres. It is opposite to Krongj village, 45 metres below the level of
Drinos valley. The waters of Mali i Gjere mainly empty here. It is a wide reservoir of karst waters. It is also a spring with fresh waters, surrounded by dense and evergreen vegetation. Waters from all springs flow into the artificial lake where they have formed the Bistrica dam. The lake covers a surface area of 9 ha and it has a great number of fish.
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The Monastery of Mesopotamia It is in the southern part of the Mesopotam village, very close to Phoenice. In the beginning, it was a pagan temple. Later on, the Church of Saint Nicolas was built over its ruins. It is thought to have been built during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos. The Church of Saint Nicolas has special Byzantine style architecture. It is one of the biggest and oldest churches from the Byzantine period, preserving special values. It stands out because of its mosaics decorated with animal motifs and its tile decorations on the outer walls. The mural figures have different shapes, such as: an eagle, two dragons and a lion on one side; while a lion is on the other side. The mosaic in the naps features a dragon with open wings. The church underwent two reconstructions in 1793 and 1845 which altered the appearance of the church, but also could have made it to lose some of its values.
The Castle of LĂŤkurs The castle of LĂŤkurs was reconstructed in the XVI century. Historians think that it might have been built in 1537, at the time when Sultan Suleyman attacked Corfu and found it necessary to control the Port of Saranda and the SarandaButrint road. The castle is among the ruins of Lekurs village, on a high hilltop rising over the city of Saranda.
It has a special strategic position, dominating the entire city of Saranda and the road leading to Butrint. Here, you can also enjoy sceneries from Ksamil Islands. It has a square shape, with two circular towers, one in the northwest and the other in the southeast. It is obvious that the main purpose for this location was to observe the sea.
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Gusht, 2014 Phoenice It is an ancient settlement known by the name of Phoenice. It was the capital of Chaonia. It is thought to have become a city in the V century B.C.
A journey from Vlora to Saranda
known especially for the “sun and sand” tourism. While descending Llogara beach, the first is Dhraleo beach, near Palasa. Dhërmi is known for its crystal clean waters and its beaches with pebbles. A few kilometres south of Dhërmi , is Vunoi village, famous for the preservation of its cultural traditions. From here the journey continues to the wellknown beach of Jala. Next is Himara. It is the main administrative centre of the upper Ionian coastline. After Porto Palermo is Qeparo village with its bunkers, objects remaining from the period of communism in Albania, painted with numerous colours. A few kilometres further, is the beautiful Saranda.
A distance of about 124 kilometres and a little more than two travelling hours, divides the cities from one another. As soon as you leave Vlora, rocky small villages and the crystal clear waters of Radhima coastline will show. The beaches of the area have beautiful colours, with contrasts between the blue waters of the sea and the green hills with Mediterranean vegetation. As distance grows, 40 km south of the city of Vlora, the National Park of Llogara shows in all its splendour. This natural pearl lies 1025 metres above sea level. After crossing the Llogara Pass a descent leads towards the beaches of the Albanian Riviera. It is one of the most beautiful tourism areas of Albania,
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The mussels dish as they are cooked in Saranda Preparation: 2 bunches of parsley 4 garlic slices 1/2 coffee cups of cognac 2 cups of olive oil A little salt A pinch of chilli pepper
Preparation: First wash the mussels and then boil them for 10 minutes. At the same time, in another dish (saucepan) pour two cups of olive oil and the garlic slices which should be well crushed. Then add finely chopped parsley, pepper and the salt. Then cook the ingredients until the water starts to boil. After removing the mussels from the cooker, pour them in the preparation with olive oil and leave them inside for
5-10 minutes with a closed lid. They should not stay inside for more than 10 minutes. Before taking them out, add cognac for a good flavour. Mussels release a very tasty and nutritious liquid which can be best eaten with a toast. The food can then be served in wide bows and accompanied by different salads, while for a drink, we recommend white wine.
Kallmi, this small Riviera Somewhere, after Currila, south of the city of Durres, behind a narrow unpaved road, hides one of the most beautiful Riviera of Albania. The road winds down a pine forest which for every tourist and citizen hides mysteries and fosters curiosity. During the second half of the XX century, Kallmi was an entirely blocked territory used only by the military. It started to be rediscovered after 2000. In order to quench your curiosity, you have to suffer a bit, driving through a few kilometres of road in the midst of a fabulous, intact nature. Trails of dust rise behind the car, but after passing the military regimen a rare and enchanting panorama opens up and the air is full of flower fragrances
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The hills of Kallmi are a great and outstanding treasure which nature bestowed generously on the city of Durrës.The travel continues up a steep road, on foot, while below is the crystal clear sea. Some improvised bars welcome the few tourists. In contrast to the great beach or to Currila beach, Kallmi consists of small sea bays and rocky beaches. It is one of the few places along the Durres coastline that reminds us of the beaches in the Ionian Riviera. The natural beauty which characterises this area makes it very attractive for tourists, even though it is still unknown.
In Tirana, in the “e-mages” exhibition of artist Helidon Gjergji
The “E-mages” exhibition of artist Helidon Gjergji is opened in the National Gallery of Arts. This is the first exhibition the artist has had in the NGA. The project of the artists consists of “a video projection of images published by Ketevan Geladze, Stalin’s mother” who selected some photos from her family photo albums (with due sensitivity for the social networks). The artist combined them elegantly and accompanied them with a waltz from
Shostakovich (orchestrated by Andrea Rieu. matrioska”, is first projected on a broken mirror and then reflected on the wall in a fragmented form. Helidon Gjergji was born in 1970 and was graduated in the Academy of Arts in Tirana in 1994 and in the Naples Academy of Fine Arts in 1996. He has a Master of Visual Arts from the North-western University of Chicago, USA. Since 2004 he lives and works in New York. The exhibition will remain open until 24 August 2014.
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