The ancient city of Bylis, the arcological treasure of Albania, unknown to tourists

2024-04-28 20:38:00, Kulturë CNA

The ancient city of Bylis, the arcological treasure of Albania, unknown to

Byllis

Bylisi is one of the most important archaeological centers of Albania, but little known by local and foreign tourists. The city that was once the center of southern Illyria has the largest area of ??mosaics in the Balkans, which this year began to be revealed to visitors. The construction of a new road is expected to turn this archaeological center into an important tourist route.

On a gentle hill above the stream of Vjosa, in the heart of Mallakastra, from where you can see from the Adriatic to the state borders of Albania and Greece, lie the ruins of the ancient city of Bylis.

The city that lived for nearly ten centuries has a harmony of different historical periods starting from the middle of the 4th century BC, when it is thought to have been founded, serving as the capital of southern Illyria, and until the end of the 6th century AD .

Magnificent surrounding walls on an area of ??more than 2 km and defensive towers that speak of unreached stone masters, the ruins of a theater with about 7500 seats, a promenade of almost 4 hectares and a stadium, but also temples and residential buildings testify to an early period when Bylysi was the capital of this region, as it controlled the passage of time in the Vjosa valley.

Ardit Shehu, the spokesman for this park, tells the Voice of America that "the area of ??the Bylys Archaeological Park is 32 hectares. Bylisi represents a large number of monuments dating from the fourth century BC. The first monuments of the city are related to the theater, the gymnasium, the stadium, the promenade and other monuments that were erected later."

This year, Bylisi Park is connected to the national road Levan - Tepelena with a new segment of almost 7 kilometers that has begun to increase the visibility of this archaeological treasure of Albania, almost unseen before, both for local and foreign tourists.

"This year there has been an increase in the number of visitors, compared to last year we have double the income. We are pleased with the road infrastructure that now makes it easy for us to communicate in the park. This year we have an increase in the number of guides", says the manager of the Bylis Ardit Shehu Park.

According to researchers, the construction of churches in the 5th century AD marks a high point for Bylys.

The cathedral is one of the largest in the entire region and is the largest paleo-Christian basilica in Albania.

"Bylysi, says Ardit Shehu, has the largest area of ??mosaics, about one thousand square meters, which have begun to be discovered for visitors".

"In Bylys there are about a thousand square meters of mosaics and this makes it a special ancient city in Albania and beyond. We have thought that starting from April, we will gradually open the mosaics so that they can be visited by both foreign and local tourists. The mosaics are in very good condition and their motifs are very diverse."

The mosaics mainly feature bird figures and biblical motifs ranging from the good shepherd who took care of the laws or a fishing scene.

While few visitors walk through the ruins of the five churches, Albana Shala, who lives in the Netherlands, says she loves coming to this extraordinary park.

"I now live in the Netherlands. Every time I come to Albania, I come to Bylis with different friends, not only from Holland. It is one of the most well-preserved archaeological parks and the most undiscovered so far," she says.

Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Bylis have revealed some of its most important monuments, but researchers say that only about 10% of the city has been discovered so far.

Bylis has a lot to offer and still a lot to discover and as it is said in one of the ancient inscriptions found "O foreigner, do not avert your gaze from the beauty of Bylis."/ Voa