Shëndre


Shëndre is a small village in Vlorë County, southern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality of Finiq. It is inhabited solely by Greeks. The name of the village in both languages means "Saint Andrew".

History

The village has been inhabiting since antiquity, known then as "Μαιανδρία", romanized as "Maiandría". Maiandria got destroyed in 168 BC by Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus. In the late 19th century, the village belonged to the kaza of Delvinë. The village in modern times had one school, but it closed after lots of families migrated.

Demographics

According to Ottoman statistics, the village had 263 inhabitants in 1895. The village had 446 inhabitants in 1993, all ethnically Greeks. The village today has a decreased permanent population of roughly 150-175 inhabitants, notably due to migration to Greece or other countries. Despite this, the population doubles in Easter, Summer and Christmas, as most people return to their village to celebrate or have holidays with their families.