Guided visit of The Archeological Sites of Apollonia and Bylis

Located just 12 km from Fier and the Adriatic Sea, Apollonia is one of Albania’s most visited archaeological sites. Founded in 588 BC by Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth, it coexisted with the native Illyrian Taulantii tribe. Apollonia flourished as one of 30 cities dedicated to Apollo, the god of the Sun, poetry, and music. Its strategic location near the Vjosa River turned it into a vibrant commercial port capable of hosting 100 ships. The city thrived until a devastating earthquake led to its gradual abandonment. Today, it stands as a cultural tourism hub with striking ruins including a Hellenistic theater, triumphal arch, agora, gymnasium, Odeon, and the Bouleuterion. Cicero once praised its grandeur, noting 60,000 inhabitants. Apollonia also played a role in Roman history, as it was where Augustus studied in 47 BC.

Following Apollonia, the tour continues to Bylis, another remarkable archaeological treasure located 35 km from Fier, near Hekal village. Founded in the early 4th century BC, Bylis was enclosed by a massive wall measuring 2.2 km long, 3.5 m wide, and up to 9 m high, encompassing 30 hectares. It served as the capital of the Bylin Illyrian community, minting its own coins and uniting nearby cities like Nikaja, Margëlliç, and Gurzezë. During the Roman period, Bylis became a colony and saw the addition of structures like Roman baths and the altar of Augustus. In late antiquity, it rose to ecclesiastical prominence with the relocation of Apollonia’s last bishop. Five basilicas with intricate mosaic floors and sculpture stand out among the many Roman and early Christian monuments. Despite being destroyed in 586 AD by barbarian invasions, Bylis remains a key archaeological site with 21 significant monuments from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Late Antique eras.