Durres

The antique Dyrrachium located on the eastern shores of the Adriatic sea, was founded by Ancient Greek colonists around the 7th century BC, becaming an integral part of the Roman Empire and its successor the Byzantine Empire. Given its geography, and Mediterranean clime, the crucial Via Egnatia started in this city, traversing the Balkan Peninsula all the way to Constantinople. The modern day Durres welcomes tourists all year around, and your exploration will include the tour of the Old Town, the ruins of the Byzantine forum and walls, the Roman baths, the contemporary city centre, the renown Roman Amphitheatre, the Venetian tower, and the archaeological museum which hosts an amazing display of antique discoveries, especially focused on the urban planning of this historically significant city.

Durres Amphitheatre

Located in the center of the city, the construction of The Roman Amphitheater of Durrës began under the emperor Trajan in the 2nd century AD, and tragically was destroyed twice by earthquakes in the 6th and 10th centuries. It was discovered in late 1966, and to date, it is the largest Roman amphitheater ever built in the Balkan Peninsula, once having a capacity of 20,000 people. The Durres Roman amphitheater is included on the tentative list of Albanian UNESCO World Heritage Sites and remains one of the most visited sites in Albania.