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Sarandë
City
CIty of Saranda Albania 2016.jpg
Amphitheatre of Butrint 2009.jpg Kalaja e Lekursit 01.JPG
Saranda streets albania 2016.jpg Saranda by night 2016.jpg
Saranda Albania Promenade 2016.jpg Harbour of Saranda, Albania 2016.jpg
Butrint Saranda Panorama.jpg
Clockwise from top: The Promenade of Saranda, Ancient City of Butrint, Lëkurësi Castle, Streets of Saranda, city by night, Coastline of Saranda, Harbour of Saranda and the Butrint National Park
Stema e Bashkisë Sarandë.svg
Seal
Sarandë is located in Albania
Sarandë
Sarandë
Coordinates: 39°52.5′N 20°0.6′E / 39.8750°N 20.0100°E / 39.8750; 20.0100Coordinates: 39°52.5′N 20°0.6′E / 39.8750°N 20.0100°E / 39.8750; 20.0100
Country Albania Albania
County Vlorë
Government
 • Mayor Florjana Koka (SP)
Area
 • Municipality 58.96 km2 (22.76 sq mi)
Elevation 0.8 m (2.6 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Municipality 20,227
 • Municipality density 340/km2 (890/sq mi)
 • Administrative Unit 17,233
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal Code 9701–9703
Area Code (0)85
Vehicle registration AL
Website Official Website

Saranda or Sarandë (Greek: Άγιοι Σαράντα, Agioi Saranda, Italian: Santiquaranta) is a coastal town in Vlorë County, southern of Albania. Geographically, it is situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the central Mediterranean, about 14 km (8.7 mi) east of the north end of the Greek island of Corfu. Saranda typically has over 300 sunny days a year.

The city is known for its blue deep waters of the Mediterranean. Near Sarandë are the remains of the ancient city of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In recent years, Saranda has seen a steady increase in tourists, many of them coming by cruise ship. Visitors are attracted both by the natural beauty of Saranda and its archaeological attractions. Sarandë has a Greek minority and is considered one of the two centers of the Greek community in Albania.

Saranda is from the name of the Byzantine monastery of the Agioi Saranda (Greek: Άγιοι Σαράντα), meaning the "Forty Saints" and honoring the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. Under Turkish rule, this became Aya Sarandi and then Sarandoz. Owing to Venetian influence in the region, it often appeared under its Italian name Santi Quaranta on Western maps. This usage continued even after the establishment of the Principality of Albania, owing to the first Italian occupation of the region. During the second occupation in World War II, Benito Mussolini changed the name to Porto Edda, in honor of his eldest daughter. Following the restoration of Albanian independence, the city employed its Albanian name Saranda.


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