Vlorë

Vlorë is the third most populous city in Albania, functioning as the administrative seat of both Vlorë County and Vlorë Municipality. Situated at coordinates 40.4696 latitude and 19.48379 longitude, the municipality operates under the Europe/Tirane timezone and counts a total population of 115,261 residents.

Positioned in the southwestern portion of the country, the city sprawls along the Bay of Vlorë, bounded by the Adriatic and Ionian Sea Coasts as well as the foothills of the Ceraunian Mountains. This geographic setting subjects the area to a Mediterranean climate shaped by both maritime proximity and nearby mountain topography. Transportation infrastructure serving the locality includes the Port of Vlorë, the SH 8 highway, and the A2 motorway, which form components of the Adriatic–Ionian Corridor and Pan-European Corridor VIII.

The urban center occupies a region with deep historical roots dating back to Illyrian pre-urban activity from the 11th and 10th centuries BC, followed by Ancient Greek colonization. Originally known in historical records as Aulon beginning in the 2nd century AD, the city experienced successive periods of Roman, Byzantine, Norman, Venetian, and Ottoman rule. Vlorë later emerged as a critical crucible for national identity during the Albanian Renaissance, serving as the physical location where the Declaration of Independence was signed on 28 November 1912 at the Assembly of Vlorë.