Forty Saints Monastery

Klasztor 40 świętych meczenników is a Byzantine monastery ruin situated on a hilltop near Sarandë, with fragments of its original basilica walls still visible. The site commands views toward the Ionian Sea from its elevated position.

The monastery was built during the 6th century under Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and housed forty chapels dedicated to the Martyrs of Sebaste. This period established it as a major religious center in the region.

The monastery's name shaped the modern city of Sarandë, derived from the Greek "Agioi Saranta" meaning Forty Saints. This linguistic connection remains visible throughout the city's identity today.

The monastery sits several kilometers from Sarandë's center and requires an uphill walk or transportation by car or taxi to reach. Visiting during daylight hours makes navigation easier and helps you avoid the strongest midday heat.

The monastery contained forty underground chambers that functioned as individual chapels and housed sacred water springs for pilgrims. These subterranean spaces represented a distinctive feature that set the site apart from other religious centers.