Onhezmi is the ancient name of the present-day city of Saranda and represents a settlement of ancient origin, which developed as an important port on the shores of the Ionian Sea. Mentioned since the Illyrian-Roman period, Onhezmi served as a strategic point for trade and maritime communication between Epirus and other areas of the Mediterranean. Its position opposite the island of Corfu made it a favorable hub for economic and cultural exchanges, while archaeological traces testify to an organized urban life since antiquity.
During the Byzantine period, Onhezmi experienced further development and was fortified to protect itself from various attacks, while maintaining its role as an important coastal center. Over the centuries, the name of the city changed to Saranda, associated with the Monastery of the Forty Saints, but the legacy of Onhezmi remains an essential part of the city's history. This ancient settlement today constitutes an important basis for understanding the historical and cultural development of Saranda over the centuries.
