Vlorë is located in southern Albania on the Bay of Vlorë, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea. It was founded in the 6th century BC by ancient Greeks and served as an important port in the Roman Empire. Originally named Aulon, the city has been inhabited by various peoples and powers throughout its history. Today, Vlorë retains architectural influences from different historical periods and contains several museums exploring its cultural heritage. It remains a strategic port city and the administrative center of Vlorë County.

2. History
Due to its strategic position on the Adriatic Sea, especially
the Bay of Vlorë, which forms a natural harbor, Vlorë occupied a
significant place in classical antiquity as a base for trade by many
peoples. Vlorë is considered as one of the oldest cities
in Albania and the region. The city was founded by the ancient
Greeks in the 6th century BC and named Aulōn. It is also one of
several colonies on the Illyrian coast, mentioned for the first time
by Ptolemy (Geographia III xii, 2). Other geographical documents,
such as the Tabula Peutingeriana and Hierocles' Synecdemus,
also mention it. The city served as an important port of the Roman
Empire, when it was part of Epirus Nova.

3. Etymology
The modern name for the city in Albanian is Vlorë (indefinite Form)
and Vlora (definite Form), pronounced as [ˈvlɔɾə] and [ˈvlɔra].
In Albanian it is known as Vlonë and Vlona, pronounced
as [ˈvlɔnə] and [ˈvlɔna]. Vlorë was created in antiquity as a Greek
colony in the territory of Illyria. Its first name was Aulón (Greek: Αυλών,
also the name in modern Katharevousa), meaning "channel, glen" and
possibly a translation of another indigenous name.The medieval and
modern Greek name is Avlonas(Αυλώνας Aulōnas [avˈlonas], accusative
Αυλώνα Aulōna [avˈlona]), and is the source of
the Latin Aulona, Italian name Valona(also used in other languages) and
of the obsolete English Avlona.During the Ottoman era the city of Vlorë
was known in Turkish as Avlonya.

4. Geography
 Vlorë is located in southern Albania and the administrative center
of the homonymous municipality seat of Vlorë County. It is situated
on the Bay of Vlorë, an inlet on the Adriatic Sea, almost surrounded
by the Ceraunian Mountains. The Port of Vlorë is closer in
proximity than any other to the port of Bari, Apulia in
southeastern Italy, and is just 70 nautical miles (130 km)
from Salento's coasts. Sazan Island is nearby, strategically located
at the entrance to the Bay of Vlorë.
 The town is surrounded by gardens and olive groves. Valonia oak
(Quercus macrolepis), the mass name for acorn cups obtained in
the neighboring oak forests and (because of its chemical
derivatives) used by tanners, derives its name from Valona, the
ancient name of Vlorë.
 A motorway is being constructed linking the city with Fier and
Albania as a whole. One of the most panoramic routes of
the Albanian Riviera starts to the south of town stretching up
to Sarandë in southernmost Albania.

5. Culture
In Vlorë there are three functioning museums: the
Independence Museum, the Historic Museum and the
Ethnographic Museum of Vlorë. Each museum discovers
different characteristics of the Vloran history. Vlora host also
the Shevqet Musaraj Library. Vlorë is home to different
architectural styles that represent influential periods in its
history. The architecture is influenced by Illyrian, Greek,
Roman, Italian and Communist architecture. In the 21st
century, Vlorë has turned into a modern city, with modern
new buildings and many green spaces. The Lungomare
Vlora Waterfront Project is currently under construction.

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