The residence of Eqerem Bej Vlora

The residence of Eqerem Bej Vlora is located in the center of the city of Vlora, near "Flag Square". Beu's residence, as it was known by the people, is the only building left from the large saraj construction of the Vlora family's palaces. The sarajs were built by two brothers, Ismail Qemali's grandfather, who was also called Ismail, and Syrja Vlora's grandfather, Beqiri.

The earliest description of the Saraj can be found in the Austrian consul Johan George Von Hahn in the years 1840-1850, who states that: " The oriental-style palaces of the Vlorajs, the country's oldest and most noble family, are built on the south-west side of the city, which, if viewed from the nearby hills, offer a truly fascinating sight. " While we know the plan from a sketch of the English vice-consul A. Rumbold: drawn up in 1865 and published a century later by Eqerem Bey Vlora in 1960, in the magazine Shejzat. There are a number of researchers and travelers such as: Carl Patch, Antonio Baldacci, Luigi Maria Ugolini, who, attracted by their architecture, have left important notes in the works dedicated to Albania.

However, the most detailed descriptions of this complex can be found in the memories of Eqerem Bey. According to him: "At the southeast entrance of the city of Vlora, at the intersection of many roads that, starting from Skela street, lead to the center of the city, in the middle of a large park of 40,000 m2, surrounded by high walls 8 m and with two gates in it, it was until 1925 a huge building, with another smaller one in front.It was the guest house of Vloraj that included: haremlek (women's dwelling), and selamlek (men's dwelling). The harem had: three large halls (30 x 12 m), one for each floor one above the other, and two large rooms on the ground floor, where furniture and household equipment were kept. Also between the two buildings there was a spacious complex where there was: a large kitchen and laundry.

Its facade had windows and a door with an arched vault, giving it the appearance of an administrative building. Inside these buildings, rich collections were kept, with archaeological objects and firearms, which have been well described by the Italian archaeologist L.M. Ugolini, in the early 1920s.

Precisely on the balcony of Selamllek, on November 28, 1912, Ismail Qemali, together with representatives from all over Albania, raised the flag proclaiming the independence of the Albanian state. The current two-story building, known as the Eqerem Bej Vlora House, after 1944 functioned as a culture house, library and museum, entry for the curious is free.