Albania: Two postcards from Saranda

We received this summer two postcards from Saranda, a coastal town in Albania. Geographically, it is situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the central Mediterranean, about 14 km east of the northern end of the island of Corfu, were Nina's mother was on vacation. She visited this town and sent us this view cards.

The city is known for its blue deep waters of the Mediterranean. Near Saranda 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 by the natural environment of Saranda and its archaeological sites. Saranda has a large Greek population and is considered one of the two centers of the Greek minority in Albania.

Both cards arrived with this stamp from set 190th Anniversary of the First Locomotive.

Thank you, Lana!

Albania: Butrinti

This is my first postcard from Albania! Buthrotum (Albanian: Butrinti) was an ancient Greek and later Roman city and bishopric in Epirus. Inhabited since prehistoric times, Buthrotum was a city of the Greek tribe of the Chaonians, later a Roman colony and a bishopric. It entered into decline in Late Antiquity, before being abandoned during the Middle Ages after a major earthquake flooded most of the city. In modern times it is an archeological site in Vlorë County, Albania, some 14 kilometres south of Sarandë and close to the Greek border. It is located on a hill overlooking the Vivari Channel and is part of the Butrint National Park. Butrint is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Stamps:
UEFA European Football Championship 2016 - France, issued on 10.06.2016.
Albanian Flora: Campanula comosiformis, issued on 27.07.2016.


Thank you Indrit!