Hidden among the green hills near the city of Fier, Albania, lies the ancient city of Apollonia of Illyria, one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the Balkans.
It was founded around 600 BC by Greek settlers from Corinth and Corcyra and quickly became a thriving trade center between the Adriatic and the ancient world.
Apollonia was so important that it was called “the city of philosophers”, and even the future Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus studied there before becoming ruler of Rome.
At its peak, the city had over 60,000 inhabitants, magnificent temples, theaters, and a library that rivaled those of Greece.
However, around the 4th century AD, a massive earthquake and the silting of the nearby river caused the city to be gradually abandoned.
For centuries, it slept under layers of earth — until archaeologists rediscovered it in the 19th century.
Today, visitors can still walk among ancient columns, Roman mosaics, and a silent monastery that seems untouched by time.
Apollonia is not just a site — it’s a window into the forgotten world of Illyria.
