13. Temple BHeading north from the western

corner of the promenade on the right side of the street that starts there is the remains of a basement of a 1st-century AD temple. On the top of it there are walls that are connected with iron rods and lead, as it is still preserved in a very admirable fashion.

14. Archaic Agora After leaving behind the main

road with its stores and temples, heading north, visitors will find themselves in front of a flat wide field. Archaeologists assume that this might have been the city center (Agora) during the Archaic period. Excavations continue, but the foundations of a building with a portico with a length of 128 m are visible, very large for the time when it was constructed. Parts of this structure are open for public viewing. Certainly the next research will provide spectacular results here!

15. Acropolis The Acropolis was the most

fortified part of the city with a special surrounding wall and the last refuge for the inhabitants in case of enemy attack. The only entrance to the Acropolis is located on southern side with a wide corridor and monumental view. A part of the restored side wall gives an idea of the former fortification. If you go up to the top of the hill you are now walking on a road constructed 2500 years ago! The Acropolis did not lose its defensive function in the Roman period. In Caesar’s description of the Roman Civil War against Pompeii’s troops in Illyria in 48 BC, Caesar uses the Latin word “arx” (fortress) for the acropolis of Apollonia. The dominant location of this hill, from where you can see the whole Western Lowland, made possible its continuous fortification throughout its history. The presence of a 20th century commanding army center in this area, while today abandoned, has unfortunately caused some damage to the archaeological layers of the site.

16. Temenos The top of the hill, 104 meters high,

was where the Temple of Apollo was located, surrounded by a decorative wall, which confined the sacred area of the city, Temenos. The wall is still well-preserved on its

southern side, where is located the monumental entrance with the typical Apollonian arch. On the left side of the entrance it could be noted the earliest age of the wall dating to the 5th century BC. Made of either sandstone or limestone blocks, the wall is distinguished for its quadrate shape. Over those are quite visible two symbols, letters D (delta) and A (alpha), combined with a monogram. Those are the abbreviation of word “damosios” – which means “state”.

17. Quote 104The top of the highest hill of

Apollonia that initially was named by Leon Rey with the military term “quote 104”, and is also known as Olives Hill in various archaeological publications, was the heart of the sacred precinct. This was the exact place where the main sanctuaries of the city were located, as evidenced by archaic inscriptions dedicated to Artemisia and Gaia, and a 6th century BC) relief. Today, on the height of this hill, there can be clearly seen distinguished traces of the basement of the former temple, very close to the bar-restaurant Rey Leon, where one can also see a photographic exhibition dedicated to the archaeologist who rediscovered Apollonia from 1924 to 1938.

18. Apollo’s ObeliskIn front of the entrance of Temenos,

on the right side, perched high up on a cylindrical pedestal there is the Obelisk, the symbol of Apollo Agieus, patron of colonists. The obelisk has been often encountered in the coins of the city. Apollonian coins have been spread throughout the main Mediterranean region since the middle of the 3rd century BC (they are common archaeological findings even nowadays).

19. TheaterStarting walking from the city

center through a 300 m long path, paved especially for the tourists, one meets the theatre of the ancient city. The theater marks the westernmost point of the Agora. The slope of the hill was exploited for its construction, with an artificial bank serving to carry the northwestern side of the staircase leading up to the theater. In the Late Antiquity, the theater was abandoned and on its place a church was built. Stone blocks taken from the theater seating were employed in the building of the Church of St. Mary at the medieval Monastery.

20. NymphaeumIf you continue to walk north

from the theater, in 20 minutes you will arrive at the Nymphaeum. This great, decorative drinking fountain was fed by the underground water sources, which are still active, and is the biggest and the best preserved monument in Apollonia. The Nymphaeum lies in an area of approximately 1500 m2 on a 35° slope. On its highest part, a wall blocked the source water and sent it towards five escalating canal nozzles, 11 meters apart from each other. Through these nozzles the water was sent to the deposit.

The construction of the Nymphaeum maybe dates to the same time period of the Temenos wall, around the middle of the 3rd century BC. This monument was functional for only for one century, and was ruined because of a landslide which damaged and covered the basin with a nape of 7 meters and most of the canals.

The Nymphaeum was discovered accidentally in 1962, when a tunnel was opened for military purposes, and was excavated during seven archaeological campaigns under the supervision of Hasan Ceka.

21. Athena’s House A mass of ruins, actually located

inside an encirclement, are those that have remained from a once-imposing palace, with about 3500 m2 of surface. House D is known as “Athena’s House” by archaeologists because of the discovery of a statue of the goddess. Provided with two courtyards with peristyles, it is the largest residential building in Apollonia. The mosaic in the eastern room bears the motifs of marine Mythology in its center, and in an octangular medallion is shown a naked Nereid on a dolphin, while in half-circles on the side are swimming seahorses. On the eastern side is a room, called Achilles’ room, because the floor mosaic shows the Hero fighting the Queen of Amazons, Pentesilea. In the frame are shown two scenes from Amazonomachy. In the first one, two Amazons are striking a kneed Greek soldier, who is asking for mercy with his hands up in the air. In the second one, Achilles, with his Attic helmet is holding the mortally wounded Queen of Amazons, Pentesilea, during their fight. The building was built in the 2nd century AD, and was abandoned in the beginning of the 3rd century AD.

22. Villa with Impluvium Between the gymnasium and the monastery, quite close to modern

archaeologists house, in the first terrace just at the bottom of the hill, is a large building dating to the 2nd-3rd century AD. The building

belongs to the Roman style with an impluvium, a pool that captured rainwater from the opening in the roof. During the excavations at this site it was found a portrait of a philosopher and a headless marble statue of the goddess Athena in the Promachos style. The sculptures, one of the limestone basements showing Atlas grasping the Columns of the World, are at the National Museum in Tirana. The most stunning finds were in 2010, when the bust of a Roman aristocrat was discovered.

23. GymnasiumTo the southwest of the monastery,

crossing the Villa with impluvium, next to the road that once connected the southern gate with the city

center, is located a building which is recognized as the Gymnasium. The Italian archaeologist Sestrieri came to this conclusion after finding some roof tiles with the “gymnasium” stamp on them while he was digging. The building is thought to have been used as a gymnasium starting in the 6th century BC, but it continued to function after some reconstructions until the 3rd century AD.

24. Doric Temple A single, vertical column towards the south may be seen from the

southern gate of the city. This column, in the Doric style, is the remaining part of a temple whose rectangular frame is still visible. The temple was built in 480 BC, using stone blocks and pillars from the nearby Karaburun peninsula. It’s not known yet to which god it is dedicated, but from similar cases of ancient world, and also considering the adjacent positioning with the ancient port (hypothetically located under the hill of the temple, still remains undiscovered), it could definitely be said that the statue is related to the sea. In this case, comes into consideration Poseidon, as god of the seas, or of the sailors of Aphrodite, or of Hermes traders.

the city of the Sun

A brief historyThe famous Roman orator Cicero, astonished by the beauty of

Apollonia, called it in his Philippicae: Magna Urbs et Gravis – “a great and important city”. Established in the 7th century BC, by Greek settlers from Corinth and Corcyra in the territories of Illyrian Taulantis, the ancient city is located 12 km west of the modern city of Fier.

Archaeological excavations have revealed that Apollonia achieved its zenith in the 4th - 3rd centuries BC. In the 1st century BC, Octavian Augustus was studying philosophy there until he heard the news of Caesar’s murder in the Senate, later going on to become the first Roman Emperor.

The city had a 4-km long surrounding wall, encircling an area of 137 ha. It has been estimated that during the developed stages of the city 60,000 inhabitants lived inside its imposing walls. The most interesting monuments to visit are the Bouleterion (city council), the library, the triumphal arch, the temple of Artemis, the Odeon built in the 2nd century BC, the two-storied, 77-m long Stoa, a theater with a capacity of ca. 10,000 spectators, and the Nymphaeum (a monumental water fountain covering an area of 2000 m2), which has been visited by the Roman emperor Sulla, as ancient sources indicate.

In the 3rd-4th centuries AD, Apollonia suffered great destruction from several earthquakes, which were followed by the southwards shifting of the nearby Vjosa (Aoos) river. Being deprived by its port facilities and damaged by earthquakes and Gothic invasions, Apollonia went into a rapid decline, losing all its grandeur from the past. Today the site can be approached easily from the modern city of Fier and offers unique views over the Adriatic Sea and the hinterland.

Apollonia,

Museum and the MonasteryThe medieval monastery, most of which was built with materials recovered from the ancient monuments of the city, including the perimeter and his Church of the Virgin Mary, which dates back to XII century. Here since 1985 is the archaeological museum where you can visit a rich array of different periods of the excavations of Apollonia in Illyria.

Site descriptionApollonia is nowadays the largest archaeological park in

Albania, encompassing a surface of ca. 750 ha. The ancient city was established at the beginning of the 7th century BC by colonists arriving from Ancient Corinth and Corfu. Positioned in the lands of the Illyrian Taulantii, Apollonia became the first city of the Mediterranean world that took the name of the god Apollo. Given its position in the landscape, the preservation of its monuments and its geographical position, Apollonia today still boasts a magical atmosphere that was highly sought after by Roman aristocrats. In this city, Octavius (before becoming Rome’s emperor) conducted his studies, while the Apollonian School of Arts was well known throughout the Mediterranean.

Apart from the ancient city with its theater, monumental center, two stoas, nymphaeum and the mosaic adorned villas as well as a medieval monastery (an elaborate example of Byzantine architecture) in the perimeter of the archaeological park are also included two ancient necropolises (Hellenistic and Roman) and two ancient temples. In an attempt to increase cultural tourism in the area, the Albanian authorities have made Apollonia an Archaeological Park, giving an impetus to tourism and reaching a number of 35,000 visitors in 2010.

The management of the archaeological park Because of its large surface area and position in a rural

landscape, the management situation of Apollonia can be described as a complex one. Three inhabited villages are situated within the boundaries of the park and there are continuous problems regarding the protection of the archaeological ruins and the cultural landscape.

Since 2006 the area has been proclaimed as an archaeological park, witnessing an increase in the number of visitors, hosting 35,000 visitors to the park in 2010. For this reason, all attempts for the enlargement of the protected zone and the better presentation of the monuments need to be further supported. The potential for cultural tourism is high, as only an estimated 10% of the city has been discovered so far, and the preservation of the current monuments is of good quality.

Lately, the need to develop the region has begun to clash with the need to protect and preserve the archaeological park. After lengthy negotiations, the new highway (initially planned to dissect the archaeological park) was pushed towards the west part of the boundary line of the park. This issue has highlighted the importance of an integrated management plan. To finalize such a plan, a specialized group of experts needs to collaborate in order to bring together the most innovative methods for the administration of cultural resources, by securing the support of all the interest groups that conduct their everyday activities in the area.

Apollonia is a Greek colony founded in the territories of Illyrian Taulantis in about 620 BC. According to ancient chronicles, of the around 30 cities in the whole ancient world which were named in honor of the God Apollo, the biggest and the most important one was Apollonia City in ancient Illyria, with about 60,000 inhabitants at its zenith. This first ancient city to bear the name of Apollo was also an important cultural center where the young Octavian (in 45 BC) studied before becoming Caesar Augustus. Visiting Apollonia Archaeological Park will take about half a day to see all the monuments of this city with 1000 years of history. The monuments are scattered around the park, which makes it difficult to visit the city with a single itinerary. This is why the explanation is organized in three different itineraries.

Points of interest(see numbers on the map)

1. Monumental CenterDiscovered by the French

archaeologist Leon Rey, this set of public buildings was an important center in the life of the people of Apollonia in the Hellenistic and the Roman periods. It is composed of a two-storied portico with 17 niches, a portico with apses, Bouleuterion, Prytaneion, Diana’s Temple, Library and Odeon.

2. Stoa AThe monumental complex

of the Roman Empire Period is located along a group of ancient monuments freely built up along the Agora square in the 4th-3th centuries BC. Stoa A is the ancient avenue of the city, located on the eastern side of the Agora, partially covered by the Library of the Roman Empire Period. It lays towards the south for 20-30 meters, and inside the Monastery is found its elongation. It was built up in the second half of the 4th century BC.

3. The Triumphal Arch In front of the Bouleuterion are

preserved four pillars of a Triumphal Arch, built up and covered with white marble tiles. The monument is 14 meters long and 10 meters high, and is passable by three

gates, covered by arches. Placed at a strategic round angle, in the crossroads of the main streets, it served as an obligatory road through the square.

4. LibraryAccording to the French

archaeologist, Leon Rey, who discovered it, the building in the eastern corner of the Agora was the library of the city, but the function of this building is not entirely clear. It is a simple quadrate building, which is finished in the same technique and urbane harmony as Bouleterion. The Library is over-constructed to an earlier avenue, of which the façade is still preserved. The reason that drove Leon Rey to search the Library at this location – the Apollonian archive in the 2nd century AD – was the presence of ledges that profiled internal walls of the building, as well as some symmetrical holes in them. According to the French archaeologist, they might have served to hold shelves on the wall.

5. Bouleuterion (Monument of the Agonothets) It is the most distinguished

building in the Agora and one of the symbols of Albanian archaeology. It was the seat of the Boulea – the City Council. Over the capitals decorated with acacia leaves, one enters through a door frame profiled in three parts and engraved with a dedicated inscription in ancient Greek. It reads: “Quintus Villius Crispinus Furius Proculus, prytanis, agonothetus, archiereus for life, erected the bouleterion to the memory and in honor of Villius Valentius Furius Proculus, Prefect of the Cohort in Syria, Tribune of the Gemina Legion in Pannonia, Agonothetus. Twenty-five gladiator pairs fought at its inauguration.” Because the two brothers were Agonothetes (officers charged with parties and sportive race organization), the bouleterion built in their honor is also called “The Monument of Agonothetes”. Built in the last quarter of the 2nd century AD, and discovered by Rey’s team, the monument was restored in 1976 by Albanian specialists under the direction of Koco Zhegu.

6. Odeon Located on the northern side

of the square, across from the bouleuterion, in this monument were held cultural and musical events as well as official meetings. The interior was akin to a small

theater. There were 16 rows, sufficient to accommodate an audience of 300 persons. The combination of Greek building style and Roman construction technique makes the Odeon a particularly interesting monument, dating back to around the middle of the 2nd century AD.

7. Sanctuary by the Odeon Close to the Odeon, right next

to its western wall lies a small sanctuary measuring 5 m by 5 m. Two Ionic columns adorn its facade. To its rear, and therefore within the niche formed by the projection of the 4th century BC retaining wall, stand the plinths of three statues. The central position suggests that it was associated with the emperor’s cult. It is possible that this sanctuary was a functional part of the Odeon.

8. Diana’s templeThe Temple of Diana, located

on the western side of the bouleuterion, is the last building of this complex, was built in the last quarter of the 2nd century AD. Excavations have brought to light parts of the marble statue of Diana, based upon which the conclusion may be drawn that the Temple was devoted to this Goddess, who was especially venerated in Apollonia.

9. Prytaneion Backing on to the bouleuterion,

one alley away from Diana’s temple, is another monument whose function is not clear. Its facade, facing west, was adorned with a colonnade of marble columns surmounted by Corinthian capitals giving on to a large hall. Excavations conducted in 1960 brought to light a total of eleven sculptures dating back to the 2nd and the 3rd century AD, the majority of which seem to represent top officials. It is thus thought that this building served as the prytaneion, the seat of the city’s highest officials.

10. Stoa BIn front of the Odeon and the Sanctuary we may see the most

preserved monument of the classic period in the Agora. It is the portico with seventeen niches (Stoa B). This monument was used at least until the 2nd century AD. Thirty-six octagonal Doric columns separate the Avenue in two parallel walkways. Probably the second

story was constructed in the Ionian style. Stoa B of Apollonia is a very interesting monument, almost unique in the whole Mediterranean area, especially for the niches of the rear wall that improved the monument’s stability and at the same time made quite a suitable background for 14 sculptures, heads of the ancient philosophers. Some of them, dating back to the 2nd century AD, were discovered during the excavations of Léon Rey. This monument was particularly important to the city’s life. It was chosen to be constructed in a place with a dominant view over the whole surrounding territory with a wonderful view of the sea in the background. In the promenade were held philosophical debates and passionate discussions about important issues concerning city’s inhabitants.

11. Temple A Right after crossing the

promenade, on its western side, there is a public monument, a rectangular building. Its strategic position, with a wonderful sea view, demonstrates the importance of the monument. Its internal part was laid with mosaics and it had a basement of stone tiles. On the portico’s side archaeologists have determined that there was an exposed statue in front of this monument. Based on this, archaeologists think that it may be a sanctuary, based on a cult of a hero or an Emperor, built in the 1st century AD.

12. Storehouses & cisternThe entrance of Temenos, on the western side, is treated as a

connecting corridor between two terraces, over which there were temples. The northern terrace, created in the 3rd century BC had on its frontal view three areas, covered by archways which served as storehouses or shops. One of them, which is restored, is visible opposite the western corner of the promenade.

There is a cistern with two reservoirs situated in the northern side of the surroundings of the complex. The reservoirs are connected by a little gate with a sharp Apollonian arch. It was constructed with typical bricks plastered with Apollonian mortar for hydro isolation, similar to that of city’s Nimpheum. The water supply of the cistern came from the temple’s roof located over the terrace.

Welcome to Apollonia,the largest Archaeological Park of Albania!

LegendTrails Points of Interes

Museum’s Entrance

Park Boundary

Itinerary 1

Itinerary 2

Itinerary 3

12

This mapguide was produced in cooperation with the Min-istry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, the Apollonia Archaeo-

logical Park, and UNESCO Venice Office

within the framework of the UN Joint Programme, “Culture and Heritage for Social and Economic Development”, funded by the

Spanish Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund.

We are grateful to Albanian-French Archaeological and Epi-graphic Mission and Prof. Dr. Neritan Ceka for their help in realizing

this mapguide.

Archaeological map and aerial photo credits:Albanian-French Archaeological and Epigraphic Mission

Other photo credits: Marin Haxhimihali

The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this publication do not imply the impression of any

opinion whatsoever on the part of UNDP or UNESCO concerning the topic of this publication.

Design :

© Apollonia Archaeological Park 2011

Tel. +355 38 320 464Fax. +355 38 320 337E-mail: parku.apollonia@yahoo.frwww.apollonia.al

Apollonia Archaeological ParkThe park was legally established in 2005 and covers an area

of about 750 ha. Together with the parks of Shkodra Castle, Lezha Castle, Byllis, Amantia, Orikum, Antigonea, Finiqi and Butrint, it forms the Albanian system of archaeological parks. Since 2006 Apollonia has an administration and coordination office and employs seven staff members.

How to get thereYou can reach Apollonia Archaeological Park by car by driving about 12 km west from Fieri or 120 km south-southwest from Tirana.

Opening hours April – September: every day 8:00 – 20.00October – March: every day 9.00 – 17.00 For tours, please contact the Administration and Coordination Office at the Park.

Entrance fee Normal rate: 300 Albanian LekReduced rate: 150 Albanian Lek for schoolchildren, students and disabled persons. Free entrance every last Sunday of the month, except during June, July and August. Price for shooting films, commercials and video clips: 1000 lek / hour.

ServicesNear the archaeological museum an authorized point offers souvenirs and specialized publications. Inside the Park there also operate two bars/restaurants. “Bar Restaurant Apollonia” near the Monastery offers a wide variety of traditional culinary specialties; while on the heights of Hill 104, “Bar Restaurant Leon Rey” reveals a magnificent panorama of the Archaeological Park.

Your support is needed!Please help keep the Park in good condition. Do not litter and be prepared to take all of your waste out of the Park with you.Do not step on the ruins or lean against the columns.It is strictly forbidden to make a fire in the Park. We are making continuous efforts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.

1. Monumental Centre2. Stoa A3. The triumphal Arch 4. Library5. Bouleuterion (Agonothets) 6. Odeon 7. Sanctuary by Odeon 8. Diana’s temple9. Prytaneion 10. Stoa B11. Temple A 12. Storehouses & cistern13. Temple B14. Archaic Agora 15. Acropolis 16. Temenos 17. Quote 104

18. Apollo’s Obelisk19. Theatre20. Nymphaeum21. Athena’s House 22. Villa with Impluvium 23. Gymnasium24. Doric Temple 25. Nord-East Gate26. West Gate27. Tower of the ramparts28. Street H29. Baths30. South Gate31. Interior wall32. Villas excavated by L. Rey33. House (sector F)34. Bastion

Administration and Coordination OfficeApollonia Archaeological ParkManastiri i ApollonisePojani, P.B. 612, Fier-Albania