Journey towards Saranda, where the sun warms ...

Where joins Southern dielltë summer antiquity where there are hundreds of visitors, foreign and Albanian, in Saranda wonderful ...Journey towards Saranda, where the sun warms ...

 Southwards from every corner of the country, through a curiosity that something has changed in the spring season of summer eve, to the place warm, Saranda Bay. After arriving in Tirana from urban air lines, public utility map shows the possibility of route bus line through contacts with service agencies, fixed to fixed fee schedules 1300 ALL tickets at Coast path or Gjirokastra, a choice this trip return, at the meeting point of the Albanian Riviera.

 

 Spring days are warm in the south. Along the Coast sees the Ionian coast blue line and can stop by in the Riviera numerous tourist places in popular culture facilities in the area, from the Palace of Dhermiu in Himara through Butrint Konispol.Once the car leaves behind Himara glorious history that followed in the air on the walls of the old castle, which never finds guides, and where extensive walls of houses and yards are made one with historical objects. These walls were originally built as a stronghold of the tribe epiriot Kaonia in IV century BC until the sixteenth century, where the memory comes the verses of Byron, the poet who described the residents of the area:"Himara children who s' forgive or friend / How to keep alive the enemyS'marrkan dot loyal rifles blood / There are more beautiful sign that the heart of the enemy? "Below the castle lies the sea and the new city known Bay of Himara.Less driven by locals, mostly men in the city center with outdoor cafes on the shore of the sea from where you can contemplate Bay up next in a startling blue Ionian Sea. Quick service pizza or traditional seafood dishes, to the fast-food-et stun erëndjellëse. The tourists are few, mostly bystanders who stopped in Himara for a little break. Few kilometers from Himara, on the right side of the road appear Porto Palermo, among the famous castle of Ali Pasha. Ionian Riviera beauty with the multitude of colors and the unique landscape, where the sea touches the mountain and the sky, the eye of the visitor to marveling submarine bay leaves pesëcepëshe fortress of Ali Pasha. As a giant sea star, the walls of the castle up on the hill surrounded by the sea that connects to a strip of land with the national road 200 meters away.Once the car stopped in the road sheshpushimin, displayed an affectionate portrait to look like famous old welcome to wishes. Is Klearko Koci, guide and kudjestari Pasha castle. Klearko shows this spring continues to be quite a lot of visitors to the castle. There are hundreds of foreigners who stop here. And Klearko knows better air and walls of the castle, where he was born, even though his mother left was born in Himara. "She was born here on the road from the castle looks, we are early residents Qeparoit. Thus, these walls fiksova children when zhyteshim with pina shells "shows Klearko, the father of two children serving 6 years in this area, in the interest of the Institute of Cultural Monuments.

Foreigners come here and are very curious about nature, the story of Ali Pasha and his wife - beauty Vasiliqi, for the time nearly 200 years before the castle and the fate of hundreds of people who flow brought life to enjoy or suffer under the walls of stone. The researchers write that where the castle was built two centuries ago stood a monastery, the monastery of St. Nicholas, which is evidenced by the inscription of the year 1800 in the bone box "lipsanave" his holy box, which is preserved in the Church of the Monastery of Saint Mitri in Qeparo.From the entry courtyard of the castle, under the stone gate missing tiles marked early reading by 1996.From there the eye sees Peninsula Bay and picturesque Panormës (Panormus - harbor deep waters). By sea and land can easily distinguish 4000-year-old castle walls on the hill of Kukumi and tens of cultural and historical tourism objects. Closest I indicated that it was built for 48 hours by order of the Pasha for his wife Vasiliqinë, whose strength Pasha proved by firing cannon and walls s'pësuan nothing but a stone that preserves the shape of gjyles and today. I had not suffered any change until 1970, when it was decided some gray tiles in storage sequence generated in those three wards Italian time.Talking about the structure, the central corridor bordered by columns of stone arches. From one end of the corridor begins Stepping up to the pinnacles. Of pinnacles that fall directly on the sea, opens a view of the endless blue of the sea and mountain sites, where the spirit runs with sherebelit fragrance that wanders in the air.Just after passing gate entry humidity and darkness of the castle back in time after light beam turrets high walls to create the possibility of observation by notes on the walls: from those Italians who turned the castle into military warehouse of oil and grease, to prisoners' names at times.The worst time, dark bitter memories is that of communist dictatorship, when hunger and bad conditions instilled in the memory of suffering Pasha castle for hundreds of men, women and children. Last summer the castle came and sisters Kaballa from Puka, their names are written on the inner wall, Dila and Lala Kaballa came from America to seek the baby's bones buried in the bush outside the castle. He had died of starvation when they were interned, that baby's daddy had crossed the border from Kosovo Puka. And Calvary pain risolli there again looking for a diaper with bones.Further, Klearko confesses that contacts with foreign visitors are followed by the exchange of information. Klearko read all the books on Ali Pasha Tepelena and believes he will finish his book on the castle. His second daughter, Polikseni, studying architecture so something inherited between generations to keep up with the best in the memories of youth.But in the premises of the castle has no explanatory tool except Klearkos, who repeats what voice heard and read, repeat as for Albanians and foreigners in English and Greek. In addition to tour guides, visitors are affiliate groups that make information. While Klearko says that in addition to a partial restoration, nothing is done to maintain the castle. He dreams of a promenade around the castle hill with the light of the sewerage network, removing magazine subunits between Vasiliqisë church and castle of Pasha, while waves caress the shore and hidden bay where not going to walk, but only with the boat and known as Pasha daughter sucking, sucking Vasiliqisë. A same bay with dozens of bays on the Ionian coast.***After visiting the castle can relax a bit in one of the premises of the area, and drekosh on the right side of the road traditional foods predominantly seafood.Have gone so without feeling the hours of the day and in the afternoon can kundrosh sunset by Borsh coast, was introduced so a 6 kilometer long coastline, where you can choose to relax in one of the hotels, or homes rent multiple rooms along the way, or near the sea.Borsh Castle, another picturesque center with the pleasure of contemplation of the mountains and the coast to Corfu.The road is good, is the new way of the Coast, houses gates loaded with citrus flowers. Cascading water early royal sources to convey freshness and is këndhsëm journey towards Saranda Bay. On the road, Coast villages as Piqerasi that descends into the sea, Buneci open bay, Lukovë, St Basil of Nivica pass, and if you stop in every country visited early cult objects and hardworking people who have experience of immigration and trade with the neighboring country. Coast villages known history of resistance and collective development in recent years, and new buildings with architecture influenced by long migration.From the balcony of the plane of Nivice can contemplate Delvina field, hill Finiqi, Kaonisë center, a little way and arriving in Saranda.Saranda is quiet, with little movement and many palaces, where the eye catches a bit of light glowing from the center. It's still too early for summer tearing flow. Saranda recovery from vacationers begins only with the rise of temperature in May weekends from high school and then throughout the summer by vacationers. Now with free movement can spend a few hours on the island of Corfu, in the neighboring country through cruise ferries in the port city.Saranda can taste the coffee shops of seaside hotels, peace and friendship of the fishermen Gulf ports. Hotels now have slightly lower prices than in the summer, it shows a good strategy to attract visitors family. Saranda, once an opportunity over the honeymoon, now provides the sound of a city dominated by high-rise concrete construction construction on the mountain up near the monastery of 40 saints. Attractive I visit the monastery, as well as on the other side Castle Lëkurës, are grishje to program the movement. As Butrint singles. Butrint, this city of Kaon, asset UNESCO.To ButrintWhere joins Southern dielltë summer antiquity has hundreds of visitors, foreign and Albanian tourist groups who have chosen to Butrint tourism package, or visitors who can sit without back into the streams of time, between the waters of Lake and the Ionian Sea.Saranda national road already Ksamil-Butrint has been completed and a few minutes from Saranda are located in Butrint. After going through Ksamil peninsula, in the southeastern corner of his lies Butrint Park, surrounded on the south by the waters of Vivari channel, which connects Lake Butrint with the Ionian Sea.Voices of people paliten once the threshold of the gate of Butrint. On the first point of contact with the employee, provided tickets of visiting the Park and Archaeological Museum, as well as guides in English.Rrugicën paved with pebbles, amongst ancient columns, lies the city with udhëkalimet each faced with attractive elements of the visit, on a surprise trip, which combined times between admiration for the past and thirst for the present, where the waters of Lake and flying seagulls. This location is populated in the second half of the second millennium BC. The name of the city, Butrint received by Helenus, the son of Primait, king of Troy. On a trip from Troy to Dodona, Helenus landed on an island where Epirus decided to sacrifice a bull. The animal escaped, walked along the sea shore and died. Heleneus took this as a sign and founded here the city of Butrint.Journey through udhëkalimeve heard voices in different languages, visitors photographing constantly at the highest in the Acropolis, the ancient theater stairs takes the magic voice of the gods and the stone stage play diellta figures curious people. Agora porch temples, theaters were built in half of III century BC Among the I century BC it was conquered by the Romans, who chose not to destroy as they had done with other cities of Epirus. During the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey, Butrint was important naval base and Caesar's military. In the Roman period the city experienced a range of construction, gymnasium, public baths, the Temple of Eskulapit, residential homes etc.. From the Byzantine period have inherited a number of cult constructions, where stands a baptizer, two basilicas and four churches. Citizen Residence pandërpreje continued his life during the Middle Ages, often referred to as the episcopal center. Mid XI century and early nineteenth centuries, the city passed into the hands of rulers pushtuesish different from Normans Robert Guiskardit, Crusaders, Byzantines Michael Komnenit, SUEVIA of Manfredi Siqelisë, anzhuinët of Charles I. In 1306 came under the possession vendikas who held over until 1797 and left behind a large number of fortifications visible until today. With the departure of Butrint Venetians briefly fell into the hands of francezve Napoleon Bonaparte and a year later was occupied by Ali Pasha Tepelena, who built nearby a castle. The first archaeological excavations were carried out during the years 1928-1941 by the Italian archaeologist Luigi Ugolini. After World War II Albanian archaeologists discovered the important parts and items with more value.Butrint another host area, Konispol and naturally return to Ksamil town known islands, the nearest point to the island of Corfu.These wonderful places relate to each other through lundrës or road. Everything is quiet and always choice Ney directed by road signs.And on the way back from Saranda, can be solved Qaf direction Muzinës to Gjirokastra, another city known as World Cultural Heritage Assets.