Tragjas Village, Vlora

Tragjas is located 20 kilometers south of Vlora at the foot of the Lungara mountain, which borders it from the north-west to the south-east. Traces of the old settlement have been discovered on the hill known as Qyteza e Sofa, and some Illyrian mounds have also been discovered. In antiquity, this village, also known as Tregas, Dragjat, and Tregasaj, was part of the fortified centers of the bay of Vlora and was linked to Orikum. It was populated in the 15th century, and the castle of Gjon Boçari is mentioned as well.

Tragjas has a population of approximately 1450 people. The villagers are friendly and diligent; their everyday activities revolve around agriculture and animal husbandry. Avni Rustemi was the first teacher at the rural school, and all lessons were delivered in Albanian. The school was built as a donation by the daughter of Jaup Ferati.

The Ottoman floods of the time devastated the historic Tragjas village, which was located on a high hill west of today's Tragjas. It is still an intriguing and popular tourist site, barely 5 kilometers from the town center, and has significant cultural and historical value for the country.

The village is the source of the well-known Tragjas (Izvori) springs, which contain centuries-old turnips. These sources combine to form the Izvor River, which flows into the Adriatic Sea after a short distance of roughly 3 kilometers. In Tragjas, you may find history and culture as well as stunning natural beauty. The white mausoleum of Alem Mehmet, the richest man in the village and a member of Ismail Qemali's government, is one of the village's attractions. There are also Star of David symbols, and some prayers are even written in Arabic.