Description of the attraction
Apollonia is an ancient city located in present-day Albania, was one of the largest Greek ports on the Adriatic coast in ancient times. It is located at a distance of about 14 km from the town of Fier, on the way to the sea.
Apollonia was founded at the beginning of the 4th century BC, and its ruins were discovered at the beginning of the 19th century. The earliest archaeological excavations have unearthed a few metal objects characteristic of the Illyrian culture, as well as fragments of an archaic temple dedicated to Artemis.
Apollonia, after Durrsit, was the most important city in the Adriatic basin and was located on the banks of the Viose River, which flows into the sea. The total area of the city was about 140 hectares, and the fortress wall surrounding the city was about 4 km long.
Apollonia was a major center for trade and industry. The region in the floodplain was one of the most fertile regions, and the favorable geographical position in the west of the Egnatius trade route made this city very rich. It was a separate state with a population of about 60 thousand people and its own currency, with an oligarchic system of government. At the dawn of Christianity, Apollonia was the seat of the diocese. But the city was abandoned due to the flooding of the area with swamps.
To date, archaeologists have excavated the remains of the city hall, the baths and a well, which still has water, a small obelisk of Apollo, the church of St. Mary. Back in the 40s of the 20th century, 4 statues, a library (from which the walls around the perimeter remained), Roman-style villas with mosaics on the floors and a water storage were found.
Some of the artifacts and statues were expropriated by other countries. The rest are placed in a museum located in a monastery at the Byzantine Church of St. Mary of the XIV century. To date, work on the search for artifacts is ongoing, but weak forces due to lack of funding.
The entrance to the historical complex is paid; there are two restaurants for visitors.
