APOLLONIA
Apollonia was an ancient town in Illyria, situated on the right bank of the river Aous (today's Vjosë). The ruins are located in the Fier region, near the village of Pojani. Apollonia was founded in 588 BC by Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth. Apollonia flourished during Roman rule in the area and was home to a prestigious school of philosophy. The decline of the city began in the 3rd century A. D. when the harbour was sanded down.
Cicero, the famous Roman speaker, was fascinated by the beauty of Apollonia. In his Philippians he described the city as "magna urbs et gravis" or "large and important city". Archaeological excavations have shown that Apollonia reached its zenith during the Roman period. Apollonia, like Dyrrachium further north, was an important port on the Illyrian coast with the most convenient connection between Brundusium and northern Greece. At the same time, Appolonia was one of the western starting points of the Via Egnatia, which led eastwards towards Thessaloniki and Byzantium in Thrace. Appolonia had its own coin coinage. The coins were found all the way into the Danube basin.
The city has a 4 km long wall which covers an area of 137 hectares. It was estimated that during the height of civilization in Apollonia, up to 70,000 inhabitants lived within the city walls. The most interesting sights include the town hall with its preserved façade, the library, the Triumphal Arch and the Artemis Temple. Also remarkable are the Odeon, which dates from the 2nd century B. C. and once accommodated about 10,000 spectators, and the two-storey 77-metre-long covered footpath "stoa".
An earthquake in the 3rd century AD changed the course of the Vjosë river and caused serious damage to the infrastructure. The harbour of the city was silted up and the trade ended. The once proud city perished until it was almost uninhabited. In the 1900s of the 20th century Apollonia was "rediscovered". Archaeological excavations continued during the 20th century.
BERAT
Berat is located in the south-central part of Albania. The city consists of three distinctive districts that make up the Old Town, which were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2008. The unique Ottoman architecture has given it the name "the city of a thousand windows". Berat is one of the oldest towns in Albania with the earliest traces of settlement from 2,600-1,800 B. C. The people who are living in Berat are descendants of the Illyrians. In ancient times Berat was known as Antipatreia, a fortified centre that resisted the Roman legions for a while. The town is mentioned by the historians Polybius and Livy and is on a list of fortifications built by Emperor Justinian. During the Byzantine period, in 533 AD, Berat was called Pulcheriopolis, named after the Byzantine emperor Pulcheriopolis. In the Middle Ages the city was under Bulgarian rule (860-1018) and grew in importance. The name Berat was first mentioned in 1018. Since the time of the Crusaders (13th century) Berat had various occupants, including the Angevins and the Serbs before it became a Muzakaj principality. In the 13th century, a large part of the fortification system was rebuilt and thus took on its current form.
Three important churches were built in the 13th and 14th centuries: the Church of St. Mary Vllaherna, the Church of the Holy Trinity and the Church of St. Michael. At that time the town also had a remarkable cistern complex. At the beginning of the 15th century, the Ottomans were occupying Berat. For a long time, the city remained part of the Ottoman Empire, a period of peace and prosperity. The town districts took on their present form: Kala (the castle), Mangalem and Gorica on the opposite riverbank. The inhabitants built numerous mosques. Some of these mosques have outstanding architectural qualities, including the Plumb Mosque and the "Teqeja Helvetive Mosque". This period was marked by their remarkable religious tolerance which, despite the large Muslim population, preserved the city's Christian Orthodox heritage. Christian arts such as illumination and iconography developed (school of Onufri, 16th century) and the Orthodox cathedral was restored (18th century). After the rebellion against the Turks in 1834, the castle of Berat was damaged and lost its defensive function. Nevertheless, the city has preserved most of its historical elements.
The visit to the Kala includes a steep walk along a paved path. Those who make it to the summit will be rewarded with a wonderful view of the surrounding area. Another highlight is the walk along the paths of the old town with its narrow alleys, which are enlivened with unique decor and friendly locals.
Course of the day:
08:30 Meeting and greeting with your local guide.
08:45 Drive to Apollonia.
11:15 Arrival in Apollonia and short break from the trip
11:45 Visit of Apollonia (Buletherion, Odeon, Agora, Portiko, Obelisk, St. Mary's Church, Monastery, Archaeological Museum)
14:00 Lunch in a traditional restaurant.
15:00 Continuation to Berat
16:30 Arrival and start of the sightseeing tour of the castle (castle, Onufri Icon Museum, viewpoints and visit of the churches from outside)
18:30 Panoramic stop at the Mangalemi neighborhood 1000 windows.
19:00 Return to Tirana
21:00 Arrival at the hotel and farewell.