AVIZ, a walled town of Portugal, on the river of the same name in Alentejo, and containing about 1500 inhabitants. It is still the headquarters of the knights of the order of Aris, founded by Alphonso I. in 1146. Its defences are in ruins.
AVLONA or VALONA, a town and seaport of Albania, capital of the pashalic of the same name. It stands on an eminence near the Gulf of Avlona, an inlet of the Adriatic, and has a fort in Lat. 48. 27. 5. N. Long. 19. 26. 5. E. The port, which is protected by the island of Sasseno, is the best on the Albanian coast. Population, including suburbs, about 9000, comprising Christians, Turks, and Jews. The Christian population are principally engaged in commerce, and the Turks in the manufacture of woollen stuffs and arms. The material imported into this country for tanning, under the name of Valonia, is the pericarp of an acorn produced in that country.