The Archaeological Park of Orikum is located near the Pashaliman lagoon, at the entrance to the Gulf of Vlora, and represents one of the most important centers of archaeological heritage in Southern Albania. The ancient city of Orikum (Orikos), founded around the 6th century BC, served as a strategic port and trade hub between Illyria and Greece, thanks to its favorable geographical position on the Ionian coast.
During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, Oriku developed as an urban center with an organized structure, with cobblestone streets, monumental defensive walls and public buildings. One of the most important monuments of the park is the ancient theater, with a capacity of about 500–600 spectators, which testifies to the cultural life of the city in antiquity. The ruins of temples, dwellings and a paleochristian church have also been found in the area, which indicate the continuity of civic life even in the later Byzantine periods.
The park lies in a rare natural landscape, between the sea and the mountains of Karaburun, creating a special harmony between history and nature. Oriku remains a destination that invites you to travel back in time and experience up close the traces of the civilizations that have shaped the history of the Albanian Mediterranean coast.
