Albania’s Ancient Greek Ghost island, from secret Soviet base to tourist hotspot (photos + video)

Sazan Island is a half-hour boat ride from mainland Albania and is shrouded in a ghostly legacy. The island, where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet between Italy and Albania was once home to a Soviet military base and chemical weapons facility. The island once outfitted to withstand a nuclear attack will now be inundated with tourists who will arrive to explore the tunnels, trenches, thousands of bunkers dotting the hills as well as crumbling ghost buildings. Brimming with lush biodiversity, the island has both history and natural beauty to offer visitors.

The island has a rich history dating back to the time of ancient Greece, however it became an enigma after the Italians lost ownership after the 1910s. Used by Italy as a base until communists docked there, the Soviet Union later took over and canceled Albania’s debt in exchange for the use of the island until 1947. Once described as the “Soviet’s Gibraltar”, the island that was once home to 3,000 troops was declared a protected park in 2010 and is now manned by two sailors charged with watching contraband trade between Italy and Albania.

Albania’s National Coastal Agency revealed plans to open the former base as a tourist attraction this summer.