Vlorë Old Town

The historic core of Vlorë brings together old squares, Ottoman buildings, and streets that evoke the period before the development of the modern coastline. The central Independence Square (Sheshi i Pavarësisë) commemorates the proclamation of Albanian independence from the Ottomans (November 28, 1912) led by Ismail Qemali — an event that shaped the modern Albanian state. Around the square stand the Museum of Independence, the Muruna Mosque (the oldest in the city, 16th century), and coffee houses frequented by a local clientele. Today it represents a quieter part of the city where history and everyday life continue to intertwine — far from the noise of summer bathers on the modern riviera. Ideal for morning strolls with a coffee.