For centuries this sheltered inlet was a refuge for ships caught by storms on a dangerous coast, and its name comes from the Greek word for letters, after the ancient inscriptions carved into its cliffs. Sailors left them from the 3rd century BC onwards: ancient Greek texts call on the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux, protectors of seafarers, on behalf of their loved ones, followed by Latin inscriptions of the Roman imperial period and medieval Greek prayers asking the Lord to help his servant. One even records the passage of the Byzantine emperor John V Palaiologos in 1369.
Today Grama is a place for swimming and snorkelling off a pale pebble beach, exploring the cliffs and nearby caves, and searching out the carvings, some of which have been spoiled by modern graffiti. Calm summer days are best for the boat trip.
Wild, quiet and steeped in history, Grama Bay makes a memorable excursion on the Albanian coast.
