Durrës
Durazzo, Dyrrahium, Epidam most important is that all the ancient names are part of the Illyrian traces of the Taulantes. This antic city has been active since the earliest periods of ancient civilization, as one of the most important ports of the eastern Adriatic. Great development has been underway in Durres since the Roman period, passing through the Byzantine period. From the largest Balkan Amphitheater of the I-II century with 18,000 seats to the gigantic walls built by the Byzantine Emperors Anastasios and Justinian who took care of the fortification of their home city of Durres.
Afterwards the city’s passage under Venetian influence was accompanied by other forms and systems of fortifications such as the Venetian Tower’s. The Ottoman conquest of 1501 reduced the city to an area six times smaller than the Byzantine one. Dividing it into two main gates. The most golden period of this city, comes from the XI-XV century, when Albania was called the State of Arbër, was the period of the ruler George Kastriot Skanderbeg, who made the greatest resistance ever to the Ottoman Empire. Skanderbeg was crowned “Prince of Christianity” by the Pope at that time.
During this era, Durres was called the “Second Constantinople.” Today we can enjoy the pedestrian street, which is called the “Traders Street”, which connects the city centre with the “Volga” pedestrian, which is washed by Adriatic sea. In Durres we can enjoy fresh seafood cuicine with an Italian culture, enjoying the Adriatic skyline full of endless stories and legends. Durazzo the city where two emperors of the ancient worlds, Julius Caesar and Pompey fought one of the fiercest battles that would decide the fate of Rome. Although hidden in this big metropolitan port city, ancient and modern stands together to take us back, to long-centuries history.
Check our tours of Durres.