Vlora

Vlora is one of the largest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durres, with a population of 79,948. It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912. The city was for a short time the capital of Albania. Founded as an ancient Greek colony in the 6th century BC by the name of Aulon and continuously inhabited for about 26 centuries, Vlora is home to the Port of Vlora and the University of Vlora as the most important economical and cultural city in southwestern Albania. Vlora remains a major seaport and commercial centre, with a significant fishing and industrial sector. The surrounding region produces petroleum, natural gas, bitumen and salt. The city is also the location of important installations of the Albanian Navy. Vlora has grown in importance as an agricultural center with very large-scale planting of olive and fruit trees, and as a center of the food processing, oil and bitumen export industries.

The surrounding district is mainly agricultural and pastoral, producing oats, maize, cotton, olive oil, cattle, sheep, sheepskin hides, and butter. These commodities are exported. Tourism has become a major industry in recent years, with many hotels, recreational centers, and vast beaches. It is a pleasant place to relax, to have a coffee and admire the beautiful view over the Bay of Vlora.

The oldest traces of civilization in the area of Vlora date back to the 6th century B.C. In ancient times the city started as a port, and was known under the name of Aulona, famous for its olive groves and vineyards. During the 4th century AD was frequently mentioned as a landing port for ships of goods from the ports of Otranto and Brindisi, as well as an important stop over between the prosperous ancient cities of Apollonia and Butrint. After the fall of Apollonia and Orichum, it became the principal port of Illyria. In the fifth century Aulona was the centre of diocese. The emigrations of barbarians damaged it badly and brought the withdrawal of the city deeper in land.

During the Middle Ages the city was fused into one with the fortress of Kanina, which is situated a few kilometres to the south-east. At the fourteenth century, Vlora became an important trading and handicraft centre noted apart from wines and salt, for its swords, its ships and its silk.

The Turks invasion took place in 1417. In 1531 Sultan Sulejmani built a fortress, which is believed to have been designed by the architect Sinani. By the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Vlora had again become an important economic centre and port it was taken by Ali Pasha Tepelena in 1812.

Although an important town throughout history its claim to fame came on November 28th, 1912, when the National Assembly of Albania declared the independence of Albania in Vlora, to end a five century Ottoman rule. The town was the first capital of independent Albania.

The Museum of Independence - In the centre of town, erected in Sheshi i Flamurit (The Square of the Flag). It reflects the stern struggle of the Albanians for freedom and independence, the events that brought about the raising of the flag on the 28th November l912, when Albania was proclaimed an independent state.

The Mosque of Muradie - was built in 1542 by the famous architect Mimar Sinani (who built the grandiose Suleymanie Mosque in Istanbul).

The Vlora Bay

Kuz Baba - Building of the Bektashi sect, perched up on the hill towering upon the town centre. This spot offers a unique view not only of the town, but also of the entire Vlora Bay.

The Vlora Bay - Is the deepest, largest and most beautiful bay on the Albanian coast, 19 km in length, with many sandy and rocky beaches which are frequented by tourists between May and October.

Triportus - This settlement lies on the coast about 3 km west of Vlora. It was founded in the 6th century BC and was enlarged into a town towards the end of the 4th century or early in the 3rd. This was probably the ancient city of Aulona mentioned by the geographer Ptolemy.

Lagoon of Narta - a worth visiting place for the nature lovers. The lagoon is rich in species of water fowls and fish. On the shore of the lagoon there are Narta and Zverneci villages, which are well known for their local wine. In the small island in front of Zverneci there is a Byzantine church of Saint Maria (XVI century). The island is covered by dense Mediterranean woods and together with the cape of Triporti makes a very nice natural place.

Apollonia - important archeological site. The famous Roman orator Cicero, astonished by the beauty of Apollonia named it in his Philippics, magna urbs et gravis - a great and important city. Established in the 7th century B.C., by Greek settlers from Corinth and Corcyra, the ancient city is located 11 km to the west of the modern city of Fier.

Bylis - has been the largest city in Southern Illyria, but despite this fact, has been mentioned relatively late by historians and ancient geographers. Its walls have a length of 2250m and over an area of 30ha. In 49-48 B.C. the city surrenders to the forces of Caesar and served as a base for his large army.

Kanina Castle - was built in the village with the same name which is about 6 km south-east of Vlora. The castle rises on the side of the Shushica Mountain, about 380 meters above the sea level. The elders of Kanina say that 5 "nations" worked on the castle: Illyrians, Romans, Venetians, Byzantinne and the Ottoman. Inhabited in antiquity since the 7th or 6th century BC and fortified since the 2nd half of the 4th century BC, it was also of great importance in late antiquity and in the Middle Ages. The defensive circuit is about 1,000 m long and encloses an area of about 3.5 ha.

Orikum - the ancient town of Orikum was established in the 7th - 6th century BC by Hellenic settlers. The settlement of about 5 ha in extent lies on a low limestone hill right at the southern end of the Bay of Vlora, about 30 km from the city of Vlora. It is close to a harbour which was mentioned by Julius Caesar as having great strategic importance. Approx. 4km from modern Orikum is located Archaeological Park of Orikum. On the outskirts of the Archaeological Park is the Marmiroi Church, dated back to the time of Byzantine Emperor Theodorus, around the 13th century AD.

Gramata - is a small bay on the west coast of the Karaburun peninsula, which since antiquity has offered shelter to shipping from storms and rough seas. On the rocks around the bay can be seen many inscriptions scratched by seafarers, including one by the Byzantine emperor Manuel II (1391-1425).

Pass of Llogara - Leaving Vlora through the scenic coastal road to Saranda you will climb up towards the Pass of Llogara, a National Park covered by dense forest of pine trees, 1027 m above sea level. There is a tourist village with wooden made villas. Llogara is an excellent place for air sports such as paragliding, delta plan etc. The mountain is very close to the beach, so you can combine the mountain climate with the warm of the sea.

Churches of Saint Stephen and Saint Mitri -in the village of Dhermi ( XII -XIV centuries)

Fortress of Porto Palermo (Ali Pasha Tepelene Castle) - this coastal fortress lies about 60 km to the south of Vlora, near Himara, and was built at the beginning of the 19th century by Ali Pasha of Tepelene for his beautiful young wife. The width of the stones is 1.6meters. This castle was designed by a French engineer and was constructed in the shape of a pentagon.

The ruins of Himara Castle - in the village of Himara

Amantia - An Illyrian town near the modern village of Plloc, about 40 km to the south-east of Vlora. Amantia was founded at the end of the 4th century BC. Archaeological excavations have revealed the defensive walls, the stadium, a temple, a basilica and many artefacts, which tell us much about the development of the settlement and its trading connections with the Mediterranean world. The defensive walls were built to encircle the acropolis in the 4th century BC. The stadium of Amantia, which is remarkably well preserved, had a capacity of 3,000 spectators and was built in the 2nd half of the 3rd century BC.

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