archaeological site is a UNESCO Tentative List Site
Apollonia was an ancient Greek city located in the Fier County, in modern-day Albania. The Museum of Apollonia (also called Fier Archaeological Museum) contains artifacts unearthed from the ancient Apollonia. Apollonia flourished in the Roman period and was home to a renowned school of philosophy, but began to decline in the 3rd century AD when its harbor started silting up as a result of an earthquake. It was abandoned by the end of Late Antiquity. Apollonia is UNESCO Tentative List site.
Apollonia, Albania Monterrasol private car tours to
Apollonia, Albania Monterrasol private car tours to
Apollonia, Albania Monterrasol private car tours to
Berat - Known for architecture, bridge, byzantine empire, castle, historical center, medieval old town, museum, river, venetian empire; historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Durrës (Durres) - Known for archaeological site, architecture, beach, marina, venetian empire; ancient theatre is a UNESCO Tentative List Site
Gjirokastër (Gjirokaster) - Known for fortress, historical center, medieval old town, museum, viewpoint; historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Krujë (Kruje) - Known for castle, historical center, museum
The town of Apollonia was founded in 588 BC by Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth on a site where native Illyrian tribes lived, and was perhaps the most important of the several classical towns known as Apollonia.
The site of Apollonia lay on the territory of the Taulantii, a cluster of Illyrian tribes that remained closely involved with the settlement for centuries and lived alongside the Greek colonists. The city was originally been named Gylakeia after its founder, Gylax, but the name was later changed to honor the god Apollo. This wasn't the only city named for the god Apollo. There were 24 other cities named Apollonia, but Illyria's Apollonia was the most important and played a major role as a trading intermediary between the Hellenists and the Illyrians. It is estimated that the city had about 60,000 inhabitants.
Aristotle considered Apollonia an important example of an oligarchic system, as the descendants of the Greek colonists controlled the city and helped Illyrians to learn how to govern.
Apollonia was an important port on the Illyrian coast as the most convenient link between Brundusium and northern Greece, and as one of the western starting points of the Via Egnatia leading east to Thessaloniki and Byzantium in Thrace. It had its own mint, stamping coins showing a cow suckling her calf on the obverse and a double stellate pattern on the reverse, which have been found as far away as the basin of the Danube.
The city was for a time included among the dominions of Pyrrhus of Epirus. In 229 BC, it came under the control of the Roman Republic, to which it was firmly loyal; it was rewarded in 168 BC with booty seized from Gentius, the defeated king of Illyria. In 148 BC, Apollonia became part of the Roman province of Macedonia, specifically of Epirus Nova. In the Roman Civil War between Pompey and Julius Caesar, it supported the latter, but fell to Marcus Junius Brutus in 48 BC. The later Roman emperor Augustus studied in Apollonia in 44 BC under the tutelage of Athenodorus of Tarsus; it was there that he received news of Caesar's murder.
Apollonia flourished under Roman rule and was noted by Cicero in his Philippicae as magna urbs et gravis, a great and important city. Christianity was established in the city at an early stage, and bishops from Apollonia were present during the First Council of Ephesus (431) and the Council of Chalcedon (451).
Apollonia decline began in the 3rd century AD, when an earthquake changed the path of the Aoös river, causing the harbour to silt up and the inland area to become a malaria-ridden swamp. The city became increasingly uninhabitable as the inland swamp expanded, and the nearby settlement of Avlona (modern-day Vlorë) became dominant.
By the end of antiquity, the city was largely depopulated, hosting only a small Christian community. This community, which probably is part of the site of the old city, built on a nearby hill the church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, now part of the Ardenica Monastery.
The Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Ardenica, or simply Ardenica Monastery, is an Eastern Orthodox monastery, built by Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos in 1282, after the victory against the Angevins in the Siege of Berat. The Ardenica monastery is famous as the place where, in 1451, was celebrated the marriage of Skanderbeg, the national hero of Albania, with Andronika Arianiti, Albanian noblewoman. Her sister Angelina married Serbian ruler Stefan Branković and she is venerated as a saint in the Serbian Orthodox Church. Andronika had a close friendship with the second wife of King Ferdinand I of Naples, Joanna of Aragon who is also the sister of Ferdinand of Aragon.
Apollonia related tours
We at Monterrasol Travel welcome you to see Apollonia during multi-day private car tour. Contact us if you would like to customize your tour to Apollonia.
We have developed several tours that visiting this beautiful place. But, if you have a special conditions or any from these tours fit you, please do not hesitate to contact us, we can organize a tour exactly as you would like. And remember, we have no problems to take you from almost any place where you stay, hotel or private accommodation.
Let's come together to 15 days all seasons tour to explore 3 countries: Montenegro, Albania, Greece.
In Montenegro, we will visit town Kotor (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period. In coastal town Budva we will walk its narrow streets of historical center and surrounding walls. We also will visit Old Bar, the settlement known from Byzantine Empire ages. On the way to Albania we will visit cave monastery Dajbabe with unique frescoes.
In Albania, we need to see historical center of town Krije and its museum, admire ancient theater in Durres, wonder on beautiful sea on Divjaka beach, and come to sleep in town Berat (UNESCO World Heritage Site), called as town of thousand windows. After Berat, we will visit archaeological site Apollonia (UNESCO Tentative List site), and come to see historical center of town Gjirokaster (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Here in Gjirokaster we will walk in Ottoman fortress and see local museum.
In Greece, we will stay in mainland, and see fortress of Ioannina, together with historical town and Silversmithing museum. We will admire huge amphitheater at Dodoni archaeological site (UNESCO Tentative List site), and cute small coastal town Parga with small fortress and gorgeous beach. Next day we will visit Nekromanteio Acheron, a Greek temple of necromancy, walk over famous bridge in Arta and see local museum.
We will visit archaeological site Oeniadae (UNESCO Tentative List site), known for its shipyard and small amphitheater. On the way to Nafpaktos we need to see a Messolonghi lagoon, unique biodiversity area. In Nafpaktos, we will walk inside a fortress, and will see why in the port there is the statue of Cervantes.
Next place we will see if famous Delphi (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the place of Delphian Oracle, now it's large archaeological site and museum with extended collection. Next, on the way to Athens, we will see hidden in mountains monastery Hosios Loukas (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and walk along of river in historical center of Livadeia. The sane day evening we will arrive to Athens.
This 18 days tour will allow you to meet amazing south Balkans countries: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, and of course beautiful Greece. We will pass through medieval fortified towns, old venetian coastal towns, old castles and fortresses, Orthodox monasteries, archaeological sites, and amazing Balkans coastal line. Each country we going to visit will show must-see attraction; many sites we going to will visit are UNESCO Heritage sites. At season time we will stop on beaches to take a rest, to refresh and enjoy the crystal clear water.
This off-season 19 days (18 nights) tour covers several important UNESCO World Heritage sites located in Greece mainland and south Albania. Together with that will also visited numerous UNESCO Tentative List sites. Come to see beautiful Mediterranean land and visit stunning sites in the off-peak months!
During the tour here is plenty of things to do: from fascinating museums to imposing archaeological sites, and from mouthwatering gastronomy to perfect- picture villages and towns. Both Greece and Albania is the ideal destination if you enjoy nature and dramatic landscapes, regardless the time of the year you plan to visit it.
Explore 5 Balkans countries Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece in 21 days cultural tour from Zagreb to Athens. Discover Adriatic coast of Croatia; venetian towns of Dalmatian rivier; medieval towns of Montenegro; famous Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia, Montenegro and Greece; archaeological places in Albania and Greece; medieval fortresses of Croatia, Albania and Greece; UNESCO sites of Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece.
This off-season 22 days (21 nights) tour covers the most important UNESCO World Heritage sites located in Greece mainland and all UNESCO World Heritage sites of Albania. Thw tour is also allow to visit many UNESCO Tentative List sites. Come to see beautiful Mediterranean land and visit stunning sites in the off-peak months!
During the tour here is plenty of things to do: from fascinating museums to imposing archaeological sites, and from mouthwatering gastronomy to perfect- picture villages and towns. Both Greece and Albania is the ideal destination if you enjoy nature and dramatic landscapes, regardless the time of the year you plan to visit it.
This extended 24 days cultural and panoramic tour from Dubrovnik to Athens will allow you to explore amazing South Balkans countries: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, and of course beautiful Greece. We will pass through medieval fortified towns in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Greece, old venetian coastal towns in Montenegro, Albania and Greece, old castles and fortresses om each country, Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Greece, famous archaeological sites in Greece, and amazing Balkans coastal line with beaches and crystal clear sea.
Each country we going to visit will show must-see attraction; many sites we going to will visit are UNESCO Heritage sites. At season time we will stop on beaches to take a rest, to refresh and enjoy the unbelievable clear water.
The off-season tour 26 days tour started in Athens cover most of UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites in 2 countries, Greece and Albania. Additionally, the tour cover several places in Greece that submitted to the UNESCO tentative list.
Visiting UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites in Greece.
This off-season tour will allow you to visit not only some of Greece's eighteen UNESCO World Heritage sites but also some of the country's fourteen sites in the UNESCO tentative list, together with other top destinations across this beautiful Mediterranean land. Come and visit this stunning country in the off-peak months! You will quickly understand why Greece is much more than just a perfect summer destination. Greece is a truly year-round destination!
It boasts plenty of things to do: from fascinating museums to imposing archaeological sites, and from mouthwatering gastronomy to perfect- picture villages and towns. Greece is the ideal destination if you enjoy nature and dramatic landscapes, regardless the time of the year you plan to visit it.
Explore 5 Balkans countries Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece in 32 days cultural tour from Zagreb to Athens. Discover Adriatic coast of Croatia; venetian towns of Dalmatian riviera; medieval towns of Montenegro; famous Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia, Montenegro and Greece; archaeological places in Albania and Greece; medieval fortresses of Croatia, Albania and Greece; UNESCO sites of Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece.
June 27, 2021 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tuzla is the third-largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the administrative center of Tuzla Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tuzla is a modern multicultural city with rich history goes back to the 9th century, in touristic meaning the most known for salt lake.
June 2, 2021 Červená Lhota (Cervena Lhota), Czech Republic. Červená Lhota is a picturesque Renaissance castle in south Bohemia, Czech Republic. The castle stands at the middle of a lake on a rocky island. The name Červená Lhota meaning "red lhota" can be explained by the colour of the castle's bright-red roof tiles. There is also a park, where the Chapel of the Holy Trinity is located.
May 17, 2021 Gjirokastër (Gjirokaster), Albania. Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania, in a valley between mountains, at 300 metres above sea level. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, described as "a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town, built by farmers of large estate". The city is overlooked by Gjirokastër Fortress.
March 28, 2021 Stobi, Macedonia. Stobi, the biggest city from the antique period in this part of Macedonia, only 80km south from the the capital Skopje, is a place that links the Mediterranean to the continental Balkan hinterlands, shrouded by the mythical rivers of Axios and Erigon, along which countless Roman legions, Crusading cavalries, Ottoman conquerors and World War armies had marched. Today, this region represents the midpoint where the Old and the New World of wine meet.
February 13, 2021 Kraljeva Sutjeska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kraljeva Sutjeska is a village in the municipality of Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, almost at the middle of Bosnia and Herzegovina territory.
The village hosts a number of important historical sites: 14th century Catholic Franciscan monastery, ruins of the medieval Bosnian Court, an old Bosnian house with the original architecture from the 18th century, and mosque from 15th century, claimed to be the oldest in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also, very close to the village is located Bobovac, a fortified city of medieval Bosnia and Herzegovina.
