Ruins of a 5th Century Synagogue

The Ruins of a 5th Century Synagogue stand in the heart of Saranda and preserve evidence of the city’s religious past.

The site belongs to Saranda, Albania. Built in the fifth century, the synagogue ranks among the earliest known Jewish synagogues in the Balkans and records the presence of a Jewish community.

The building later became a Christian basilica, leaving Jewish and Christian elements within one archaeological setting. Mosaic floors form the clearest surviving feature here.

Sand protects the mosaics, while photographs on nearby walls show their patterns and symbols without exposing the original surfaces. Saranda once carried the ancient name Onchesmus.

As a port in Epirus, the city connects these synagogue ruins with a wider history of movement, worship and cultural change. The Forty Saints Monastery adds another historical layer.

Lekuresi Castle adds a later landmark, while the synagogue remains a quiet link between Saranda’s modern centre and ancient past.