One day tour from Tirana to Apollonia Archeological Park

Half day tour from Tirana to Apollonia Archeological Park

After an hour and forty-five minutes of travel from Tirana you will reach Fier. You will stop first in the city for a coffee and a quick look at the typical architecture of the communist era.

Once there, you will explore the best things to see in Apollonia, we stop to admire the urban structure of the city, located on a hilly plateau. On the hills are found remains of the sacred area surrounding the temple of Apollo, a Doric temple, warehouses, cisterns, two small shrines and the military citadel. Public buildings rise between the two hills. The agora, the square and the main social space, with its sculptures and temples, had to be accessible from several sides.

As you ascend and reach the upper part of the archaeological park, you are met with a panoramic view where you can clearly see the plain of Musacchia, with the Adriatic Sea just over 10 km away.

The sacred area of ​​the Temenos preserves remains of walkways and arcades, a theater and a monument consecrated to the nymphs of the Greek period. The Romans added many other buildings, among which the large building of the Bouleuterion stands out, the seat of the city council, whose design is inspired by that of the typical Roman temple. We also owe the Romans the odeon, the library, the triumphal arch, the Temple of Diana and Prytaneion.

Apollonia Albania guided tour: the history of the site - from Illyrians, Greeks and Romans

The archaeological park of Apollonia represents for Albania what the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento represents for Italy. It is a destination not to be missed for those who are on vacation in Albania and love nature, history, and exploring the ruins of ancient civilizations.

The archaeological park of Apollonia, located about ten kilometers from the city of Fier, develops through two hills, in an area where the atmosphere is relaxing and meditative. According to tradition, Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth founded the city, the first of over thirty Mediterranean cities named after the god Apollo. But the Illyrian tribe of the Taulantii based in Dyrrachium already lived in the area. Thus Apollonia of Illyria grew prosperous, in the coexistence between Greeks and Illyrians.

Starting from 229 BC the city was conquered by the Romans, who made it an important center along the trans-Balkan trade route. Marco Tullio Cicero himself remembers its size and importance in his Filippiche, written between 44 and 43 BC. Apollonia is also important for the contribution given to military training and school education in the local School of Philosophy of Ottaviano (the one who would become Augustus, the first emperor of Rome), who lived here in the company of Agrippa, general and statesman.

Although located a few kilometers away from the sea, Apollonia developed as a port and river. Through the river Vjosë, excellent communication was possible with the Greek coast and islands, as well as with the Illyrian hinterland.

•Due the moderate amount of walking to reach the main attraction sites could be better to wear comfortable shoes and clothes

•We suggest this tour to customers who are able to climb and descend streets and stairs.

•This tour is not suitable for customers in wheelchair. 

•In case of hot weather we suggest you to bring a cap with you.

•Reach the meeting point 15 minutes before the departure time.