Delvinë

Municipality

Seal

Delvinë

Coordinates: 39°57′N 20°6′E / 39.950°N 20.100°ECoordinates: 39°57′N 20°6′E / 39.950°N 20.100°E

Country

Albania

County

Vlorë

Government

• Mayor

Rigels Balili (SMI)

Area

• Municipality

182.90 km² (70.62 sq mi)

Elevation

207 m (679 ft)

Population (2011)

• Municipality

7,598

• Municipality density

42/km² (110/sq mi)

• Administrative Unit

5,754

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

• Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

Postal Code

9704

Area Code

(0)815

Vehicle registration

Delvinë (Albanian: Delvinë or Delvina, Greek: Δέλβινο, Delvino) is a town and a municipality in Vlorë County, southern Albania, 16 kilometres (10 miles) northeast of Saranda. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Delvinë and Vergo, that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Delvinë. The total population is 7,598 (2011 census), in a total area of 182.90 square kilometres (70.62 square miles). The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 5,754.

The town is built on a mountain slope. It has a mosque, a Catholic church, a Protestant church, and an Orthodox church. Nearby are the remainders of a medieval castle. To the south west of the city is the site of ancient Phoenice, which was declared an Archaeological Park in 2005.

There is little local employment apart from that provided by the State, and Delvinë benefits little from the tourist boom in Saranda.

The town has a mixed population of Albanians and Greeks. According to the Human Rights Watch, Greeks constituted 50% of the town's population in 1989, but this fell to 25% in 1999.

In antiquity the region was inhabited by the Greek tribe of the Chaonians. In the Middle Ages, Delvinë was part of the Despotate of Epirus. After defeat of Slavic tribes in 616 when they unsuccessfully besieged Thessaloniki, one of the tribes (Vajunites) migrated to Epirus. Until the 14th century this region in Epirus was referred to as Vanegetia, against the name of this Slavic tribe. Similar toponyms like Viyanite or Viyantije survived until the 16th century when they were replaced with the name Delvinë.

The Sanjak of Delvina was established in the middle of 16th century. The county town was Delvinë, yet during the 18th century the local Pasha moved the seat of the sanjak from Delvinë to Gjirokastër. The official name did not change however, as it was also referred to as the Sanjak of Gjirokastër.

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Wikipedia