Fonte: 123rf
It is an unusual holiday destination, Albania. However, its extraordinary nature, its splendid sea and the affordable cost of living are slowly conquering people tourists, first and foremost the Italians. Whoever arrives here, in this real surprise in the heart of the Mediterranean, can enjoy sensational natural spectacles, as the "Source of the Blue Eye” (in Albanian, “Blue Eye”).
Easily reachable by car from Saranda (from which it is 18 km away, along the road that connects the city to Gjirokaster, Angirocastro), one of the liveliest seaside resorts in the country, the Blue Eye is located in the small village of Mullina. It's about a karst spring, located on the slopes of Mount Mali i Gjere, which, as its name suggests, has an incredible blue colour. With a variable flow rate and a depth still unknown (divers have explored it up to 50 meters, but recent geological studies have shown that it would be at least twice as deep), the Source has a temperature of 10%, which does not discourage the most daring from immersing themselves in its waters by diving from the wooden platform built to observe it. Although the site is not suitable for swimming, diving can - in the long run - ruin the ecosystem.
To get to the Source of the Blue Eye - and thus enjoy the wonder of its shades which, from the dark blue heart (similar to the pupil of an eye), become lighter towards the outside, reaching an aquamarine shade (reminiscent of a iris) – it is necessary to park the car at the signposted crossroads along the road and proceed from there walk for about 2 km. Immersing yourself in a nature that is already worthy of a trip in itself. Surrounded by oak trees, the spring is overlooked by butterflies and dragonflies electric blue color. And it has the ability to enchant anyone who comes near it.
Around the Blue Eye Source it is possible to improvise picnic, have lunch at the bar-restaurant which offers typical Albanian dishes, but also rent the Spartans bungalow overlooking the water, perfect for a stay in the middle of nature but also for yoga and meditation sessions with breathtaking views. Then there are numerous paths that, starting from the source, go into the vegetation, reaching other sources, with the water flowing from cracks between the rocks or small caves. For a natural paradise of peace and tranquility, a few kilometers from the chaos of the "Riviera".
