Fier Travel Guide

 JLBG Says:  Along the small road that leads from Appolonia to Dërmenas (and after to Fier)we saw several flocks of geese grazing (photo 1) and crossing the road (photo 2). The flocks or geese were mixed with flocks of sheeps of several colors, ranging from whitish to brown and even... 

 JLBG Says:  Leaving the site of Appolonia, the industrial outskirts of Vier appear after only a couple of kilometers. There is obviously a power station with its characteristics spool shaped chimney, a water tank on top of a tower (extreme right). The power station does not seem to be... 

 JLBG Says:  I do not know if it is the main entrance into the monastery but the wooden door seems very old with its wrought iron nails. On the sides of the entrance, I have notice two carvings.The carving on the second photo is not easy to decipher. It shows several figures that seem to... 

 JLBG Says:  The monastery is surrounded by high walls and it was not open for visits. The bell tower stands out of the walls but was closed too. Several lion’s head have been unearthed from the site. The one on photo 4 has been included in the wall of the monastery. 

 JLBG Says:  This photo shows the landscape in the direction of the sea. The shore is about 10 km away. The land between Apollonia and the sea is absolutely flat and the ancient city stands on the first hill available when coming from the sea. This is what made the place so important :... 

 JLBG Says:  Olive trees have been grown around Appolonia since the ancient Greeks. There is a lot of old olive trees on the Apollonia hills. Obviously, they were not planted by the ancient Greeks, but from the look of the trunk, I bet that they are several centuries old (especially on... 

 JLBG Says:  Eastwards, Apollonia has a series of small hills with rich agricultural lands. It is at the same time a strategically situated location. This is why the ancient Greek built the city here but in modern times, Enver Hoxha took advantage of this situation to build a series of... 

 JLBG Says:  The acropolis has not been yet dug but according from what I have read, it is supposed to be on the flat area shown on this photo, on top of a small hill. There has not been any complete digging of the place. When we were there, a group of feral dogs felt at home ! 

 JLBG Says:  I suppose that this is what is described as a quadrangular structure built around an inner covered yard 11,98 x 11,20 m with a white mosaic on the ground (hidden by sand). The stones used for the outer walls are of good size. I have read that the basement stones came from... 

 JLBG Says:  When we visited, Apollonia, I was amazed by this vault standing in perfect condition (photo 1). On the side (photo 2), it appeared that it was something that had just been built and may be not yet finished with a few old stones and mostly new ones. Once home, I found that... 

 JLBG Says:  In ancient Greece, a stoa was a promenade covered by vaults held by columns. In Apollonia, 17 niches line the stoa on the hillside. The bases of the columns on the other side are clearly visible. It was built in the IVth and IIIrd century BC. 

 JLBG Says:  The "temenos" was in ancient Greece, the inner room in a temple, the sacred room reserved for dreams, visions and reflection. In Apollonia, there remains the base of the walls of the Temenos (from the IVth-IIIrd BC), not seen on the photo and in the center a strange phallic... 

 JLBG Says:  Close to the bouleuterion, an Odeon. It was build by the Romans. It is a small structure with steep steps. It had not the usual fan shape of Roman theaters but it is restricted in the middle (better seen on photo 2). The steps are made of stone but the outside wall is made... 

 JLBG Says:  Just by the side of the bouleuterion, the base of the walls of a small structure with two tiny columns. Its meaning is certainly available in the archeological literature but I have been unable to reach it (I keep searching). The guidebooks say nothing about it and I have... 

 JLBG Says:  I have never enough of these brightly colored new house and buildings that now dot Albania instead of the grayish hosing of the Enver Hoxha period!Photo 1 is a discreet pistachio green house.Photo 2 has added a bright red to a darker grenPhoto 3 shows that even a plain... 

 JLBG Says:  In 2007, I had noticed too late this strange building along the road from Fier to Poshnje and I could not stop for a photo. In 2009, it was almost finished and as I was warned, I could make a stop in time and take a few pictures.I suppose that the owner has always been... 

 JLBG Says:  When driving from Vlora to Rroskovec and Berat, a few kilometers east to Fier, you will be amazed by a strong smell of fuel. At the same time, the landscape is dotted with dozens of steel structures. In 1988, it was easy to identify derricks as the old petrol pumping devices...