Apollonia Archaeological Site
Apollonia is archaeological site situated 30 km away from Vlora, 12km away from the city of Fier, near Pojan village, about 10 km away from the Adriatic coast. The archaeological site of Apollonia includes the associated group of structures with original remains from various civilizations, such as Illyrian, Greek, Roman and Medieval period. Illyrian Apollonia was founded at the beginning of the 7th century BC by the Greek colonists coming from Corinth and Corcyra /Corfu/, but the first records of their presence date from 588 BC. The city of Apollonia took its name from the God Apollo. During its first years of existence Apollonia kept close contacts with Corcyra and Corinth and played a part of a trade negotiator between Hellenians and Illyrians. In 148 BC, Apollonia became part of the Roman Province of Macedonia to succeed in maintaining its status of a large and flourishing city near Aous river (today Vjosa). Apollonia was an important port on the Illyrian coast as the most convenient link between Brundusium and northern Greece, and as one of the western starting points of the Via Egnatia leading east to Thessaloniki and Byzantium /nowadays Istanbul/ in Thrace. Apollonia had its own mint, stamping coins that have beed found as far away as the Danube basin. The city of Apollonia grew rich and prosperous on the slave trade and local agriculture, to which also largely contributed its vast harbour, said to have been able to hold a hundred ships at a time. Of Apollonia great interest to be visited are: The Encircling Wall, the Terraced Wall with arched gates, the monument of Agonothetes, the Library, the Odeon, the Portico, the House with mosaics, the Museum of Apollonia, the Church of St. Mary. Entering the site through the small iron gate, you walk towards the central group of ancient religious and mercantile buildings. In spring, this part of the Apollonia site is particulary beautiful thanks to profusion of wild flowers here. Passing the foundations of Roman houses to the left of the path you see an elegant and compact building from the Hellenism period whose facade with six marble Corinthian columns was restored in the 1960s. Archeologists uncovered numerous statues along this colonnade that leads to the center of the Apollonia. Unfortunately, some of the statues and objects were appropriated before 1946 by other countries. Those remaining are displayed in the museum, which is housed in a 13th century monastery. The monastery courtyard encloses a Byzantine church dating back to the 14th century. Visitors who are interested in archaeological researches need much more time to explore the earliest traces of inhabitation in Albanian territory, which have been discovered in Xara (Saranda) and Gajtan (Shkoder) which date back to Palaeolithic Age, 100.000 years ago; Neolithic Age, 7000-3000 years B.C. include discoveries in Dunavec and Maliq (Korce); Iron Age, 3rd millennium B.C. Piskova (Permet), Barce (Korce), Pazhok (Elbasan). By the end of 2nd millenium and the first half of the 1st millenium BC Illyrians set up their settlements on hills encircling them with strong walls in the areas of Gajtan (Shkoder), Kalivo (Sarande), Tren (Korce). Apollonia flourished in the Roman period and was home to a renowned school of philosophy, but began to decline in the 3rd century AD when its harbor started silting up as a result of an earthquake. The St Mary Church which is the part of Ardenica Monastery and fresco decorated by Zografi Brothers was built on the nearby hill. Apollonia was abandoned by the end of Late Antiquity.
