VLORA -WELCOME TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ALBANIAN COAST CITY...

WRITTEN BY ILIRJAN GJIKA ON TUESDAY, 09 OCTOBER 2012. POSTED IN ENGLISH

VLORA - THE CITY WITH TWO SEAS..

Vlora is one of the most beautiful cities of Albania and is right to be proud. Called the "City of the flag,'''City with two seas" or "southern Adriatic port''she regarded as the pearl of the Albanian tourism, with its shores, Karaburun, Sazan, Llogora, Castle of Kanina, Narta Lagoon , numerous beaches, monuments, people, land and sea. Vlora occupies a deserved place in the history of Albania,  also keeping the status of the hero city. The city where Skanderbeg was married, where Albania's independence was declared, an arena of wars for freedom and Albanian resistance, Vlora has a different status as natural parlor of painters, artists home and a bridge to connect Albania with the world. City Where Was married Skanderbeg, Albania's Independence Where Was declared, an arena of wars for freedom and New Resistance, Vlora faces a different status as natural parlor of Painters, artists and home to bridge the world of Albania

 Vlora Albania is located in SW  along the low coast of the Adriatic and the Ionian rock. With an area of ​​1609 km2 and a population of 200 000 inhabitants, Vlora district is bounded to the north by Fier, in the east with Tepelena and Mallakastra, while in south with Saranda and Gjirokastra. In west the warm of the Adriatic and Ionian drench a diverse line of coast, where lie ahead lagoons, bays, islands, peninsulas and numerous beaches.Vlora is alternated between these where all forms of relief, as the low plains, hilly and mountainous.The climate is typically Mediterranean with hot and dry summer and  mild and wet winter, where are combined in the west sea and mountain relief  at east. Average temperatures  are 16^o, where the ones in July and January figures 24 and 6 degrees centigrade.

Vlora is the district administrative center. It extends at the edge of the bayt with the same name starting from the well of Mezini north and Cold Water to the south. Githsej with a 30 km 2 surface ​​the city has a north-south length of 19 km and east-west width of 16 km.

 2 Population.

Typical dialect, culture and traditions of Vlora easily distinguish its inhabitants whom are also distinguished of  fiery temperament and moods thin and tasty. Together with the surrounding city has a population of 200 000 inhabitants, most of which resides in the four municipalities of the district of Vlora, Orikum, Selenica and Himara.People are welcoming, communicative, warm and with a pure spiritual world. Perhaps nature has created as nowhere else a balance between mountain, sea and greenery, contributing directly to the character of people.Geographical environment and society do Vlora a loved one that attracts both visitors and tourists like with magic.

 3 Transport

Being the country's second port, Vlora is located 72 km from Otranto (Italy) and 123 km from the island of Corfu (Greece). Shipping lines operating regularly in the ports of Bari and Brindisi. In order to transport goods and passengers in the port are processed 3 million tonnes of cargo per year. Also communicates with Tirana Vlora (135km) and Durres (100) highway through the artery and Albanian Railways. In internal lines performed by means as bus, taxi and van. The most important tourist routes are Vlora-Kanina, Vlora and Himara-the-trenches-Amantia-Vlora and Vlora-Zvernec. Postal Service is made by Albanian Post which performs some services, while well known companies offer postal services DHL, Visa Card, Money Gram, Western Union, etc..

 4 Culture and Heritage.

Vlora is recognized as one of the cities that has given a huge contribution to national culture. There are numerous areas where the city has issued personalities. Here was the first archaeological museum opened in 1936, in which the detected objects were exhibited in the French archaeologist Leon Apollonia from REI. Vlora is also called the city of statues and monuments which may be mentioned that the National warrior, Avni Rustemi, Monument of Independence, Marigo Posio, Jani Minga etc..Vlora is a university town today and there are numerous educational institutions, cultural and sports as Musaraj Shevqet Library, Theatre Petro Marko, Ali Demi High School, numerous museums, such as historical, ethnographic or that of independence. Every year there are developed important national events like the polyphony Mediterranean Festival, Book Fair, Festival of National Theatres of Estradas. One of the values ​​of cultural heritage that carries the region of Vlora,the Labe Polyphony is assessed as wealth of UNESCO or Vlora Civic songs.
Vlora for multiple values ​​that bears and thanks to the geographical location is visited by tourists all year round, offering several types of tourism such as cultural, historic, mountain, sports, coastal, etc..

 5 History. 

In the ancient city of Vlora was known as Aulona and sweeps at the place that today is called Treport. In anadvantageous geographical position, often Aulona was included in the territory of the state Illyrian and MacedonianEpirote. After 229 BC, when Rome broke the Illyrian queen Teuta, Aulona became part of the state. Then it andsurrounding areas referred to as''theater''of civil war developed between Caesar and Pompey the great, where citiesThronit (Kanina), Amantia and Oriku,  became the basis of its military operations of Cesar. Geography of Alexandria,Claudius Ptolemy, mentions  Aulona at century II, which emphasizes its geographical coordinates of 40o45 '. VloraEpiscopate was established during the II century and exercised his activity here Lefteri St., one of the saints of the church. The importance of Aulona grew especially in the late 5th century, when after abandoning it came as a starting point Apolonia Via Egnatia. While during the early medieval city Treporti shift from being placed where it is todayattending civic life without interruption.During World War II, Vlora region served as the main basis of anti-fascist resistance, while during the cold war Communist regime turned Vlora in the biggest naval military treaty of Warsaw in the Mediterranean Sea.City. To be visited.Olive crowns are located at the entrance to the hills of Bestrova Vlora, along the old road. There are dozens age-long olives, which give a remarkable pleasure of the human miracle. Among them we find the kinds of the type mentioned kalinjot and Vlora for fruit and oil. The Flag Square consists of some cultural facilities. At the center is the independence monument, a symbol of national resistance. Built in 1972 it is 17 m tall and considered one of the masterpieces of monumental sculpture. Among six bronze figures the one of Ismail Qemali prevails, the architect of National Independence. To the left of the monument is the flag poles, a columnar pedestal decorated withpages from the date of independence and national eagle. It was built in 1937 under the auspices of the then mayor of the municipality, lyrical poet Ali Asllani. After the flag spear, a few feet inside the garden is the tomb of Ismail Qemali. In the western corner of the Square of the Flag in 1988 archaeologists brought to light a part of the Roman fortress wall of Aulonqytetis. By digging out a long tract wall of 40 m, which can be seen by visitors today. Muradies Mosque is located downtown, at the beginning of the old historic area of town. It was built in 1537 by architect Sinan, who accompanied the sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in Vlora. Built with a mixed technique where the white building stones are combined with red bricks and mortar. The mosque is equipped with a dome covered with red tiles, which contrasts with the minares, entirely built with white stones.

KUZ-Baba is in Vlora the highest hill which is on the top of the hill in the eastern part of town. While in the last years irhas been rebuilt the mausoleum of Kuzum tyrbe-father, a cleric rolled by legend, whose monumental architecturedominated by green color, is one of the symbols of the Bektashi sect.

Museum of Independence Wharf is located in front of the seaport. Consists of a simple building with several rooms, which served as the headquarters of the Albanian Government in the years 1912-1914. Among the rooms and memorabilia on the second floor is also the studio or  the primeminister Ismail Qemali.Flamurtari Stadium falls easy on the eyes of the national colors of red and black. With a capacity of 15 000 seats it has known for years Flamurtari triumphs of 1980 and the memorable matches in historic confrontations with Barcelona.Ismail Technological University was founded on October 10, 1994. Consists of several faculties from which it can distinguish maritime navigation.Other objects of value to be visited in the city are the historical way Justin Gotard, where delegates passed the assembly of independence, the home of Vlora family, which ruled for 400 years the city, the way the Hebrews, the Clock Tower, the Municipality, built inneoclassical style, Petro Marko Theatre, etc..Kanina Castle is located in the Southeast of the city of Vlora on a hill 380m high. It used to have protective function for the Illyrians Amantia community since the ancient period. Archaeologistshave specified the walls of different historical periods that belong to different styles and techniques. Controlled by itspinnacles of the Vlora Bay, coastal areas and valleys of the bottom of Susica. There are many stories wrapped in theform of legends about this castle, which make the question ofcastle man murderous wife, the princess Rugina, ormarriage of Donika with Scanderbeg.

Bay of Vlora.

Bay of Vlora is the largest among the Albanian coast, which departed from the Cape of plaque in Treport and continuessouthward, creating the shape of a wing to open up in Bay St Jan  north of Karaburun .Adriatic waters that make up the bay reach temperatures ranging from 13oC in the winter cold season of up to 25 ° C. in the hot summer months, which enable marine baths and fishing almost all year round. The surrounding landscape bears all forms. Bay of Vlora is usedand is still used today as a country with excellent opportunities to accommodate vessels of different types. In total sixports function, all specific to the use. Port of Vlore is the largest port of southern Albania and serves the entire regionsurrounding the transportation of freight and passengers. Karaburun is the biggest peninsula in the territory of the Republic of Albania, which is situated between the Adriatic Sea (Bay of Vlora) and the Ionian Sea. With a length of 16km, Karaburuni serves as a borderline between between these two seas. His bizarre landscape offers the most variedforms as small bays, plateau, karst caves, tertiary, beaches, bare slopes, mountain peaks, etc.. Among these are bayswith whimsical names like the Bear, Laurel, Ragusa first, second Ragusa, Ravenna, St. Jacks, St. Basil, etc. Locatedvery close Karaburun is located Sasan, which is known by all as the largest island of Albania. With an area of 5.5 km2 itis located at the entrance of the bay of Vlora, Once the Greek and Roman authors called named Sason. One of them,Ptolemy gives its geographical coordinates of 44o51 '. But Pliny mentions center island as pirates. As part of the Roman Empire and later the Byzantine Sazani will not have any importance. While during the Middle Ages will fall under the rule of Venice. The interesting fact is that Sazan grow a kind of wild rabbit, which was brought to the island between the two world wars by the Italians. I called rabbit of holes, this species has been added because theren’t predatory animals onSasan. Llogara National Park lies where the Dukat’s valley begins. With an area of ​​1010 ha of this area extends from 500 m elevation, climbing to a height of 1100 m. Inside encounter a dense vegetation that starts from the Mediterranean bush, the various coniferous, broadleaf trees, pastures, etc.. Llogoraja is also mentioned for its rich fauna where one can mention the rare birds and various mammals. Brenda parkut, buzë rrugës në lartësinë 910 m ndodhet edhe monument culture shumë I veçantë, siç është pisha flamur, e quajtur kështu nga forma e degëve të përpunuara nga era. Within the park, along the road up to the monument located 910 m very particular culture, such as pine flag, so named from the shape of branches processed by the wind. Zverneci Monastery is located in one of two islands in thelagoon of Narta. The church is located on the largest island which is connected to the shore by a wooden bridge with a length of 200 m. It belongs to the XII century and served as a mausoleum because inside is the tomb of GeneralByzantine Argjiro Karanxhas, buried here in the XI th century. In the cemetery of the monastery since 1932 is the tomb ofthe girl who worked with the flag Marigo Posio. Laguna e Nartës me sipërfaqe 45 km2 është liqeni i dytë detar për nga madhësia në Shqipëri. Veçori e saj është numri i madh i shpendëve dhe peshqve që jetojnë në të. Prej disa shekujsh këtu jeton edhe një koloni pelikanësh. Edhe sot në këtë lagunë ruhet tradita e peshkimit me varka druri. Në kodrat përreth peshkatarët nartiotë kanë treguar se janë kultivues të famshëm edhe të vreshtarisë, e cila prodhon verën e njohur të Nartës. Narta lagoonwith  surface lake 45 km2 is the second-largest sea in Albania. Feature is its large number of birds and fish that live in it. For several centuries there lived a colony of pelicans. Even today in this lagoon preserved the tradition of wooden fishing boats. In the surrounding hills nartiotë fishermen have shown that growers are also famous vineyards, which produces the wine known Narta.In the inland city of Vlora is also the Illyrian Amantia, 35 km from the city. Today he is one of the most interesting archaeological parks of Albania, in which objects are unique as is the case of its stadium. Ruins of old town located on a hill with an area of ​​20 ha, which is surrounded by a perimeter wall of 2100 m. Ancient authors to provide data for Amantia are numerous. One among them Stefan Byzantium shows that the city had as founding legend of the Trojan War ABANTIA. Numerous stories Pavarëssht Amantia landmarks as the Doric temple of Aphrodite, the stadium, the surrounding walls, basilicas, etc., constitute an attractive tour for visitors.