Saranda weekend break from Corfu

Arrival at the port of Saranda, meet with our guide and departure towards the UNESCO town of Gjirokastra.

Visit the church of Labovë e Kryqit, which is devoted to Saint Mary. It is one of the oldest in Albania and once contained a holy relic believed to be a fragment of the true cross. It was from this relic that the village took its name. The building is typically Byzantine with a high central cupola with nave and aisles arranged in a cruciform plan.

After the visit enjoy traditional lunch in one of the local houses on Labove.

Then proceed to Gjirokastra for visits and overnight.

Gjirokastra is part of the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE list, known also as “The Stone City”. It is the birth place of the dictator Enver Hoxha and the world famous writer Ismail Kadare.

In Gjirokastra we will visit the Castle, one of the biggest in the Balkans and is definitely worth the steep walk up from the Old Town. The castle remains somewhat infamous due to its use as a prison under the communists. National Folk Festival has taken place in this castle during the years.

The visit will then continue to Skendulaj house where will also enjoy a Turkish coffee. It is unique in having both an internal and external staircase. It used to have 46 chimneys, indicating the wealth of the Skënduli family. The main guest room (oda), in particular, is distinguished by its decorated ceiling and wooden poles, just as the many other wooden decorations throughout this house give it an unrepeatable value.

Breakfast at the hotel and free time to wander the old bazzar in Gjirokastra. Then proceed to Blue Eye Spring (Syri I Kalter), a unique natural water spring. It has got deep blue waters and has the same of an eye (that’s where the name came from). It has the shape of a pool and the water is pretty cold also in summer, but for the swim lovers a nice place to swim.

Afterwards continue to Butrinti National Park, UNESCO protected site, where will be spent the rest of the day.

By the V century BC Butrint got the full form of an ancient city. During the VI century the city was equipped with new buildings such as the theatre, the agora, the small, temple and the stoa. The complex of the sanctuary of Asclepius forms the most magnificent part of the city. The main importance and magnificence of the Site was in the Roman period when the City was proclaimed a Roman Colony and used by the roman aristocracy as a holiday destination.

For those fond of nature walking the wetlands around the lake are shelter for different animals and aquatic species. The Park is of great importance for the conservation of global biodiversity as it is the site of 16 endangered species of flora and 14 globally endangered species of fauna.

Dinner and overnight in Butrint.