Apolonia

Apolonia is one of three cities founded by the Greeks on the Adriatic coast north of Corfu, the other two being Durrës near Tirana and Butrint near Sarandë. Over the years, Apollonia became a kind of independent city-state—one of the two most important entities on the Albanian coastal plain (the other being Durrës)—a competitor and sometimes an ally of the Illyrians, and later even an important Roman city.

Apollonia is located on a mound rising above a green valley. In Greek and Roman times, a river ran at the foot of the mound, and from there it was possible to reach the sea, which was not far away. It was an ideal anchorage point for ships. However, the river has long since disappeared, as have the Greeks and Romans, and what remains is a large mound with the ruins of impressive temples, public buildings, an agora (a public gathering place), a stoa (a colonnaded corridor alongside the agora), and other antiquities that evoke the grandeur of the past.

What makes Apollonia special is the stoa in the Agora square, where students would walk back and forth, discussing philosophy. In Roman times, Apollonia was an important center of learning, renowned throughout the world. Emperors came to study and be educated here, the most famous among them being the divine Augustus.

During the time of Enver Hoxha, huge bunkers and warehouses were built near Apollonia as part of the concept of a fortress state. Today, these are also part of the site’s landscape.