Apolonia National Archaeological Park is an ancient city in Albania, among the largest in the Adriatic basin and the most mentioned among the other 30 ancient cities. It was founded around the beginning of the 4th century BC, while the ruins of Apollonia were discovered at the beginning of the 19th century. The earliest archaeological traces are some objects of the Iron Age, typical of the Illyrian culture. From the first centuries of the city’s life, there are some ruins of the defensive wall and an archaic temple dedicated to Artemis, the most worshiped goddess of the Apollonians.
Among the 24 cities throughout the Mediterranean world that bore this name in Antiquity, Apollonia of Illyria was the most important and played a major role as a commercial intermediary between the Hellenes and the Illyrians. Apollonia was at that time a large and important city near the Vjosa river.
Apolonia is located 12 kilometers from the city of Fier, southern of Albania. Archaeologists call Apolonia the “Pompeii of Albania”, since only 10% of the territory of the former city has been discovered until today. The large territory covered with monuments, the wonderful panoramas and landscapes over the Myzeqe plain and the Adriatic Sea on the one hand, as well as the favorable geographical position near the big cities and the southern beaches on the other hand, make the Archaeological Park of Apollonia easily accessible for the visitor and a privileged destination for cultural tourism in Albania.
Of great interest to visitors to Apollonia are the monument of the Agonotetes, the Odeon, the Library, the Wall, the Portico, the Villa with the impluvium, the Roman Villa with mosaics, the Archaeological Museum and the Church of Saint Mary.
In 1925 the French archaeologist Leon Rei discovered the group of public buildings that make up the Monumental Center of Apollonia. Forgotten by time but not destroyed by it, the ruins and monuments of the city, which at the height of its prosperity had 60,000 inhabitants and was written about by orator Cicero, are one of the most important tourist attractions in Albania.
The Monumental Center includes the Buleterion, one of the most imposing objects of the Agora that dates back to the 2nd century BC, and which today is one of the emblems of Albania’s antiquity. This building served as the headquarters of the City Council, and is known as the ‘Monument of the Agonotetes’, in honor of the two brothers mentioned in the inscription on the architrave. This monument, together with the ruins of the Arc de Triomphe, the Library, the Sanctuary or the staircases of the Odeon that are found around, immediately catapult you into another era, which you have just begun to explore.
A series of important ruins and monuments such as Promenade B with the Doric columns of the 4th century BC, the magnificent fountain of Nymphaeum which is the largest preserved monument of the Park, the Temenos Gate with the Obelisk and other objects and ruins. Within the walls of the archaeological park there is also the Monastery and the Church of Saint Mary, which, together with the Archaeological Museum located inside the monastery, show more about the history and architecture of the city.
