SARANDA

Welcome to Saranda, the ancient, charming fishing village and a popular tourist resort for Albanians, especially newlyweds! With its excellent climate and stunning location overlooking the Ionian Sea, its definitely one of the loveliest settings in Albania.

The town of Saranda is built in amphitheatre style rising up a hill, with stone steps linking the top of the hill, right down to the sea promenade.

With lashings of fresh fish to whet your appetite, after a days wallowing in the crystal clear waters! Rounded off with a relaxing stroll through this charming town, visiting the few museums and the remains of the 6th century Synagogue.

 The perfect location to relax and attune into the local pace of reality!

Saranda is an ideal base for exploring the many attractions of the southwest of the country, especially the amazing archaeological site of Butrint.

Tourism quickly became one of the major sectors of the Albanian economy and a record number of visitors are expected to visit the country this year, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said, cited by the MIA information agency.

Tourism to Albania only began to develop after the fall of the communist regime, during which Albania was largely isolated from the region and Europe.

The revenue from tourism in 2009 and this year, according to Berisha, has increased by 60 per cent. “In 2004, Albania received 300,000 foreign visitors, in 2009 – by 3 million, and this year is expected to be a record one. During the first week of this month, 35 per cent more tourists entered the country than in the same period of 2004,”

Syri i Kalter (Blue Eye)

Syri i Kaltër (the name is in Albanian, in English means "blue eye") is a karst spring located on the western slopes of Mount Mali Gjerë in Albania. It has a capacity of 6 m³/s, making it the richest source of the country. The water flows at a temperature of 12.75 °C, the depth of the source has not yet been established. Against the background of the clear rocks, the spring assumes a dark blue color which gives the name.

The blue eye is another wonder of southern Albania, it lies on the road between the towns of Saranda and Gjirokastra, further inland. The water in the inner source is a very dark blue, like the pupil of an eye, and a lighter color of blue as an outer ring - the iris, which gives the impression of a blue eye. It is said that the source of the blue eye was prohibited to the population in the days of communism, only to be totally available to members of the government party in Albania.

Although it is possible, in theory, swimming and diving, the water maintains an average temperature of 10 degrees centigrade, which actually makes it difficult to bath more than a foot. Some visitors even like to throw stones in the center of the source blue eye, just to see the rock coming back to the surface after a while. Another pleasant, and perhaps more satisfying, site activity, is the lunch at the restaurant, located near the source of the blue eye. The restaurant is built on a balustrade above a river flowing fresh spring water, creating a cool breeze. The restaurant serves traditional Albanian food, such as roast lamb and grilled fish. Another option is to have a picnic in the designated area near the source of the eye blue. There are some tables in a wooded area, providing a pleasant shade.

Getting there: There is no public transport to the source of the blue eye. Located on the main road between Saranda and Gjirokastra, about 3 km from the place indicated by a sign that says 'Tourist Attraction'. The short road that leads to the source is quite scenic as it runs along a beautiful lake. There is a parking just to get close to the source of the blue eye.