The back story
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The back story
Vlorë: where Albania declared independence, the back story
Albania’s third city, on a great bay where the Adriatic meets the Ionian, and the place where independence was declared in 1912.
Coast guide · about 2½ hours from Tirana
Vlorë & the Narta Lagoon: Our Favourites
Albania’s city of independence: the Muradie Mosque, Kaninë Castle, the flamingos of the Narta Lagoon, the island monastery of Zvërnec and the Karaburun-Sazan marine park.
What's onThis week in Tirana
What to see
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Attributed to Mimar Sinan
Muradie Mosque
A 16th-century mosque in central Vlorë, built in 1537–1542 and attributed to the Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.
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Over a wooden footbridge
Zvërnec Monastery
The 13th-century monastery of St Mary on Zvërnec island in the Narta Lagoon, reached by a wooden footbridge.
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Thousands of flamingos
Narta Lagoon
A shallow coastal lagoon north of Vlorë in the Vjosa Wild River National Park, home to flamingos and tens of thousands of wintering birds.
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The view over the bay
Kaninë Castle
A castle on the hill above Vlorë at the village of Kaninë, with views over the city, the bay and the Narta Lagoon.
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Albania’s only marine park
Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park
A national marine park covering the Karaburun peninsula and Sazan island, with caves, cliffs and clear water, reached by boat from Vlorë or Orikum.
The waterfront
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The new waterfront
Vlora Marina promenade
Vlorë’s new seafront promenade and marina development, with apartments, hotels and a walk along the bay.
Vlorë seafrontExplore View on map
Getting there
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About two and a half hours
Getting to Vlorë
How to reach Vlorë from Tirana by bus or car, and how to continue south to the Riviera.
Share your Vlorë & the Narta Lagoon tips
Been there? Share your experience and tips with other visitors.
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