Vlora

Vlorë or Vlora is the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës.

The city is located in Albania, in the District of Vlorë and County of Vlorë at 40°28'N 19°29'E.

Vlorë occupies an eminence near the Bay of Vlorë, an inlet of the facing the Adriatic Sea, almost surrounded by mountains. The port of Vlorë is the closest in proximity to the port of Bari, Italy and is just 70 nautical miles from Salento's coasts. The island of Sazan is in close proximity to the city, strategically located at the entrance to the Bay of Vlorë.

The town has rather a pleasant appearance, surrounded with gardens and olive groves. Valonia, a material largely used by tanners, is the pericarp of an acorn obtained in the neighboring oak forests, and derives its name from Valona, the ancient name of Vlorë.

Vlorë is one of the oldest cities of Albania. It was founded by Greeks in the 6th century BC and named Aulon, one of three such colonies on the Illyrian coast, mentioned for the first time by Ptolemy. Other geographical documents, such as Peutinger's "Tabula" and the "Synecdemus" of Hierocles, also mention it. The city was an important port of the Roman Empire, when it was part of Epirus Nova.

Serbia captured Vlorë, or Valona, as it was also called, in 1345 and it was captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1417; and after being in Venetian possession in 1690, was restored to the Turks in 1691, becoming a caza of the sandjak of Berat in the vilayet (province) of Janina. The city had about 10,000 inhabitants; there was a Catholic parish, which belonged to the Archdiocese of Durrës; it persisted nominally as a Titular see, suffragan of Durrës.

Ismail Qemali declared Albania's independence in Vlorë on November 28, 1912, during the First Balkan War. The city became Albania's first capital but was invaded by Italy in 1914 and occupied until 1920. Italy again invaded Vlorë in 1939, following which Nazi Germany occupied the city until 1944.

During World War II, the island of Sazan in Bay of Vlorë became the site of a German and Italian submarine base and naval installations; these were heavily bombed by the Allies.

In 1997, Vlorë was the center of popular riots after the collapse of several fraudulent investment schemes that led to the downfall of the Sali Berisha administration, and almost precipitated the country into a civil war.

Popular People in Vlorë:

* Kristaq Mitro - film director
* Ibrahim Muçaj - film director
* Haxhi Dalipi - musician, composer, conductor.
* Shao Agaj-king
* Skënder Kamberi - painter
* Nestor Jonuzi - painter
* Josif Gjipali - tenor
* Agim Sulaj - painter
* Aurela Gaçe - singer
* PONI - singer
* Ibrahim Sulejman Vogli- boxer
* Selam Musai- national hero (against the Italians 1920)
* Perlat Musta- goalkeeper (Partizani, national team)
* Kadri Hazbiu- Minister of Defence (1974-1981)
* Bejto Isufi- military general (Led the military parade 1974)
* Hysni Kapo - Secretary of the Central Committee of PLA
* Sabaudin Xhaferi - painter, art director, cartoonist
* Laert Aleksi Xhaferi - painter, Sabaudin Xhaferi' son