First you need to do two things:
You need to check if php rewrite module is enabled. you can do it with phpinfo(). Write this in a file info.php and open in browser: http://localhost/info.php
Now search for mod_rewrite. If you see mod_rewrite in this page that means, mod_rewrite is enabled.
If mod_rewrite is not enabled, enable it. I enabled in in ubuntu 18.04 for apache with this command: $ sudo a2enmod rewrite. Then restart apache2 $ systemctl restart apache2
if mod_rewrite is enabled, then other configuration will work.
Then add AllowOverride All in .conf file:
<Directory /var/www/project/public>
AllowOverride All
</Directory>
Then add .htaccess file in you project root directory.
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
# Send would-be 404 requests to Craft
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule (.+) index.php?p=$1 [QSA,L]
</IfModule>
Note: Try adding .htaccess file in /var/www/project/.htaccess or in /var/www/project/public/.htaccess. Not sure what will work.