Fier: Day Trip to Apollonia and Bylis with Guide & Tickets – Fier County, Albania

EXPERIENCE

Departing from Fier at 09:00, we’ll reach the Archeological Park of Apollonia in less than 20 minutes.
Located 12km away from Fier city and also from the sea, Apollonia ruins are among the most visited archeological sites in Albania. Apollonia was founded near the Vjosa river in 588 BC from greek colonies of Corfu and Corinth. The area was also inhabited by the Taulantii tribe, the local Illyrian tribe that for centuries lived along with the Greek colonies. Apollonia was one of the 30 cities built in honor of Apollo goodness, the goodness of Sun, poetry, and music. Today, the ancient archeological site of Apollonia is one of the best-known sites in Albania. It is now an important destination for cultural tourism in the country, able to attract more and more visitors every year, and a potential recourse to improve the local economy.
Leaving Apollonia, we’ll head to another beautiful Archeological Site – Bylis.
Free time for lunch.
The ancient city of Bylis is located on the right side of the national road Ballsh-Tepelen, only 35 km from Fieri, 10 km from Ballshi and 1.5 km from the center of Hekal village.
The surrounding wall with a length of 2.2 km, a width of 3.5 m, and a height of up to 9 m, including an area of 30 ha within it.
Bylis is the most worthy representative of the Illyrian civilization. The city was founded in the II-I century BC. own coins intended for the Bylin community and the city, which proves Bylis as the capital of the Bylin community, which also included the cities of Nikaja (today’s village of Klos 1.5 km from Bylisi), the Illyrian cities of Margëlli? and Gurzezë and many ancient fortifications and villages.
During the Roman period and that of late antiquity, the city underwent changes in accordance with the new conditions created. During the reign of Augustus, Bylisi was transformed into a colony city of Rome. During this period, monuments were added to its architecture such as baths, the altar of Augustus, houses from the Roman period, etc.
In the period of late antiquity, Bylis became an important episcopal center, as the last bishop of Apollonia settled in Bylis. During this time, a new defensive wall was built, which limited the city to 10 ha. The most important monuments of this period are 5 basilicas, among which, one is in the framework of an episcopal complex. The Basilicas of Bylis are among the richest monuments in the Balkans not only for the mosaic floors on an area of 1000m2 but also for the rich decorative sculpture. In addition to the basilicas, the city of this period also had other monuments such as wine and oil factories, apartments, etc.
The city was destroyed by barbarian invasions in 586.
Today, the ancient city of Bylis, thanks to numerous archaeological excavations and restorations, is one of the most important ancient centers of our country with 21 monuments from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Late Antiquity periods.
Return to Fier in the afternoon.

HIGHLIGHTS

Archeological Site of Byllis
Archeological Albanian treasures
Archeological Site of Apollonia

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