The Monastery of the Forty Saints is an Orthodox monastery on a hillside just east of Saranda, one of the oldest Christian sites in the area. The current buildings are a reconstruction — the original monastery was destroyed during Enver Hoxha's 1967 anti-religion campaign, which closed every place of worship in Albania and declared the country the world's first officially atheist state. The monastery has been partially restored since the 1990s.
The site offers good views over Saranda and the bay, and the hillside setting — above the town's sea-level bustle — gives it a genuinely contemplative atmosphere. Combined with a visit to Lekursi Castle above, it makes for a rewarding couple of hours exploring the ridge above town.