Avlon (Greek: Αυλών, later Αυλώνα) was found as an ancient Greek colony, likewise some other cities on the coast of ancient Illyria. It took place probably c. 4th c. BC. Αυλών is the Greek name for valley, defile, ravine. The same name was given to a village in Messenia, a village in the region of Taranto and a valley on the Euratos River.

Under the rule of the Romans it was an important port city. Vlore gained also another version of its name - Valona. Later it was a part of the Byzantine Empire. For a short period of time it was also governed by the Bulgarians. In 11th c. it passed first into Normans’ hands and later into the House of Anjou’s. In 11th c. it was conquered by Stephen Dusan - the king of Serbia - who conquered Berat in the same year and Kruje two years earlier. Till the end of the year the territory of contemporary Albania became a part of the Great Serbia. But after Stephen Dusan’s death in 1355 the powerful empire built by him fell into small duchies. Local landowners seized power in Albania. Small quarreled duchies were not able to defy a powerful enemy from the East. Soon Vlora changed its owner and name again. It became a part of the Ottoman Empire - under the name of Avlonya.

The city became a theatre of important events again on 28 November 1912, when Ismail Qemal proclaimed the Independent Republic of Albania with Vlora as a capital city. But for short time. The declaration was for growth, because Vlora was the only city controlled by the authors of the manifesto. It did not last long. Two years later Vlora was occupied again, it was the result of Italian invasion. In November 1920, because of the outbreak of the uprising, Italians withdrew from the city. But not for long.

On 7 April 1939, as Fascist Italy, they occupied Durres and till 10 April almost the whole territory of Albania. Since September 1943 it was governed by Germans. But for short time, because since the beginning of 1944 the Yugoslav partisans started to liberate the country. During WW2 Vlore put up stiff resistance to invaders, which resulted in the honorary title of Hero City.

After the war, at the entrance to the bay by Sazan Island, the Russians – new allies of the communist Albania – extended their naval base. It was later handed to the Albanians as an effect of the conflict between Enver Hoxha and Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev. Diplomatic relations between those allied (until then) countries were severed. The soviets stopped their economic support for Albania, which resulted in the Albanian government’s demand to withdraw several dozens of USSR’s army from the naval base within few hours. Albania took over modern infrastructure, equipment, ammunition and also few soviet submarines!

In 1997 Vlore was the centre of disturbances after bankruptcy of pyramid schemes, which resulted in the fall of Sali Berisha’s government and led to anarchy in Albania.