Museum of Apollonia

The Archaeological Museum of Apollonia (Albanian: Muzeu Arkeologjik Apoloni) is an archaeological museum located approximately 8 km west of Fier in Fier County, Albania, within the village of Pojan at the ancient site of Apollonia. Established in 1958, the museum houses artifacts excavated from the nearby archaeological site of Apollonia, one of the most significant ancient Greek colonies in Illyria. After two decades of closure following looting in 1991, the museum reopened in 2011 and is recognized as one of the richest archaeological museums in Albania, with a collection of over 688 important objects and numerous ancient coins.

The path toward establishing a museum at Apollonia began with the first archaeological excavations during World War I, when Austrian archaeologists unearthed and explored the walls encircling the ancient city. Systematic excavations commenced in 1924 under a French archaeological mission directed by Leon Rey, who brought to light a complex of monuments at the center of the city. During the late 1920s and 1930s, Rey advocated for an archaeological museum to house the team's discoveries, but lack of funding delayed the project. On October 8, 1936, the collection of archaeological finds was temporarily exhibited in the government building in Vlorë, which suffered bombardment and looting during World War II. After the war, Albanian archaeologists S. Anamali and H. Ceka successfully raised the necessary funds, and the 1,000 square meter museum opened in Pojan in 1958. During the communist period, the museum flourished, displaying results from Albanian excavations over a 40-year period. However, in 1991 it was looted and closed. Following 20 years of closure, the museum reopened on December 7, 2011, after a restoration project launched in 2008 with $140,000 in UNESCO funding. Prior to reopening, the collection had been stored at the Institute of Cultural Monuments in Tirana.

The museum's collection derives primarily from excavations at the ancient site of Apollonia and ranks among the richest in Albania. It comprises over 688 important objects supplemented by a large number of ancient coins. The collection is organized across seven pavilions, a gallery, and two porticos, with the bulk of materials housed in six rooms on the ground floor. The displays follow a chronological path, presenting artifacts spanning from the ancient Greek colonial period through later historical phases. The numismatic holdings represent a particular strength, contributing significantly to the museum's scholarly importance. Medieval materials, including mosaics and frescoes preserved from the building's earlier life as a monastery, add a second dimension to the collection beyond its classical archaeological core.

The museum's most prominent holdings include an impressive collection of statues displayed in the east portico, inscriptions, and sarcophagi. Medieval frescoes of historical importance remain in the building, primarily housed in the refectory. The walls throughout the complex preserve fragments of inscriptions and other spolia. The museum also maintains a collection of medieval mosaics. These varied materials document both the ancient Greek colonial presence at Apollonia and the later medieval reuse of the site, offering visitors and researchers a layered view of the region's long history.

The museum occupies a 14th-century building that previously served as the Monastery of St. Mary (Albanian: Manastiri Lindja e Hyjlindëses Mari), located near the Ardenica Monastery and overlooking the Greek ruins of Apollonia and the Myzeqe plains on the right bank of the Vjosa River. The structure is accessed via a double wooden door with a grand entrance on the west side. The architectural complex includes seven pavilions, a gallery, and two porticos. The six ground-floor rooms to the north and west contain the main exhibition spaces. The building's transformation from a medieval monastery to an archaeological museum has preserved significant architectural and decorative elements, including historically important medieval frescoes in the refectory and fragments of inscriptions and spolia incorporated into the walls.

The Archaeological Museum of Apollonia is situated in the village of Pojan, approximately 8 km west of Fier, within the Apollonia National Archaeological Park. The museum is accessible through the park's official website at apolloniaarchaeologicalpark.al. Following its reopening in 2011 after two decades of closure, the museum has resumed its role as a key cultural institution in Albania, serving both as a repository for one of the country's most significant archaeological collections and as a point of access to the broader ancient site of Apollonia. The museum's location near the Ardenica Monastery allows visitors to combine exploration of both ancient and medieval heritage in a single excursion through this historically dense landscape.