Durrësi
Durrësi, the biggest seaport
of the country, is located 34
km away from Tirana. It is the
most ancient city in Albania,
with almost 3000 years of his-
tory. Its foundation dates back
to 627 B.C. when the Corinthi-
ans and settlers from Corcyra
invaded the Illyrian territory of
the Taulants. The city is home
to many ancient archaeologi-
cal sites and finds.
The most notable tourist at-
traction in Durrës is the am-
phitheater of the Roman em-
peror Adrian with 15000 seats,
the second biggest amphithe-
atre in the Balkans. During the
9th Century, a small church
with mosaic-covered walls
was built nearby. You can also
see the bathhouses of the 2nd
century A.D. and the nearby
Byzantine forum of the 5th-6th
century with marble columns.
One-third of the original wall
of the city castle is still stand-
ing, and you can even walk
along the same road that Cae-
sar himself trod! The Archeo-
logical Museum is a new build-
ing in the avenue Taulantia. It
is one of the most important
of its kind and is of great in-
terest to visitors. The most re-
nowned archaeological object
uncovered in Durrësi is “Buku-
roshja e Durrësit”, a mosaic of
the 4th century B.C. Today it is
exhibited in the National His-
toric Museum in Tirana.
In addition to its historical val-
ue, Durrësi is also a beautiful
place to take a modern vaca-
tion, due to its sandy beaches,
hotels and metropolitan out-
look. You will find excellent
restaurants and accommoda-
tions all along the sea’s edge.
