Vlora Demo Self-Guided Audio Tour

Vlora's coastline area was one of the Illyrian places, that is thought to have pre-urban activity, during the 10th centuries BCE. Ancient Greeks populated the area. A massive fortified port-town, that was inhabited from the 6th century BCE to the 2nd century AD, is located at Triporti, northwest of present-day Vlora, and is now largely submerged. This site saw significant port activity from at least the archaic period, until the medieval period. It is assumed that the ancient city was relocated from Triporti place, to the site of contemporary Vlora. The present city's core contains archaeological remnants from late antiquity. Aulona, the contemporary city's name, first appears in historical texts dated in 2nd Century AD. It was conquered at various points in history by Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Venetians, and Ottomans. The Albanians gained both spiritual and intellectual power for national identity between the 18th and 19th centuries, resulting in the Albanian Renaissance. Vlora played an important part in Albanian independence, as a meeting place for the founders of modern Albania, who signed the Declaration of Independence at the Assembly of Vlora on November 28, 1912. Vlora is one of the most important cities in southern Albania and the Laberia area, which is known for its culture, traditions, and folklore. Vlora, is the city which splits Adriatic sea from Ionian sea.

This colorful route is created during 1700s, and allows you to observe the gloomy autumn sky, where birds fly and migrate in flocks. The roadway was previously known as "Café Street". This location is now known as "Justin Godard" Street Ensemble. Justin Godard supported the Albanian Independence, and continued to give his help until WW2. Most of these buildings are of Italian Architecture, build in 1912-1914. This is not the street's first name. The street was titled "Liria", from 1912 to 1921, which means "Freedom" in English. This road prompted the use of this name, with the arrival of the Independence delegates. Later, the street was called "Justin Godard" in 1921, by the Municipal Council of the time, in honor of the French politician of the same name, who was well-liked in Albania.

Ismail Qemali spent his final hours in the hotel Brufani in Perugia, Italy. He planned to hold a press conference in front of Italian media. Ismail Qemal Bey Vlora became ill, shortly after the conference began and had to leave. He died in that hotel at the age of 76, and his remains were transported to Vlora with the assistance of Italian institutions. He was buried in Kanina, near the Castle, in February 1919. His death is shrouded in mystery. His death was officially and suspiciously attributed to a stroke. England, Italy, France, and Russia struck a secret arrangement to eliminate Albania from the map by dividing its territories and handing them to Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, and Italy. In 1914, Ismail Qemali moved to France, and Prince Vidi became Albania's first man. France refused him a pension, making his large family's financial life more difficult. He fled France after learning that his opponent, Esat Pash Toptani, was backed by European superpowers. Esat Pasha was aware of their secret Pact and had agreed to it. Ismail Qemali attempted to travel to Switzerland, where there was a large Albanian community, that could help him continue his job. Ismail Qemal Bey Vlora settled in Barcelona and eventually traveled to Madrid, although he was still chased by European Superpowers and Albanian adversaries. They intended to prevent him from attending the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 because Qemali was a vocal opponent of the secret arrangement. After moving to Perugia, he expected Italy would back him up and assist him get a seat at the Paris Peace Conference, but this never happened.He was supposed to have a meeting with Italy's Prime Minister Vitore Emanuele Orlandi and Foreign Minister Sanino at the Brufani Hotel. He was going to travel to Paris with them. Without Ismail Qemal Bey Vlora, Albanian delegates were divided into five groupings with no common cause. Despite being chosen as a delegate from the "US Albanian National Party, " Qemali was unable to attend this Conference, and died alone in Brufani Hotel.

The Ethnographic Museum is housed in former residence of communist dictator, Enver Hoxha. The original hause where Enver Hoxha was born, in 1908, was detroyed by fire. Rebuit between 1964-1966, not as riproduction of Hoxha's house, but as model of Gjirokastra's traditional hauses. Dispite the fact that is labeled as the dictators home, there is nothing related to Enver Hoxha, his belongings, objects, or furniture from his real home, or anything regarding his past. The interiors are replicas of the greatest Gjirokastra homes from the 19th century. The rooms are set up exaclty as they would have been used. Cultural relics, domestic goods, traditional costumes, clothing and kitchenware, among other things are used as decorations.

This is a well-known tourist attraction in Gjirokastra. In reality, it is merely a street with nothing spectacular to notice at first glance. However, the story is intriguing, and it may be mentioned in Ismail Kadare's works. Albanian name of this road is "Sokaku i të Marrëve, which translated means "The Mad's Street". This street is rife with legends. One of them is quite amusing. The street is paved with irregular loose stones, and when people walk down it, the stones move and follow them. So they're creating a racket behind the folks, and it appears that they're fleeing, but stones are behind them, making noise like wild people. In additional to this story, it is known that many Mad people lived here, making noises, which strengthen the name of this road. During communist time it was called the “Street of Pioneers”, because they repaved the street with smaller stones. But after the regime collapsed, it took again the original name.