Global Guided Tours

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Modern Durres, or Durresi, is much different than its past. It shortly acquired capital notoriety, after independence in 1912, but then lost it to Tirana, is a modern, thriving port city with developed boulevards, soft sand beaches for tourism, and calm, warm Adriatic waters. Future planning for Durres has pointed towards Greek and Italian beach culture and quality.

Geography: Western (Central) Albania

Population: 265,330

Transport: Bus, Mini-Bus, International Ferry, Rail (Tirana-to-Durres), Shared Taxi, Taxi, Tour

Local Activities: Walking boardwalks, shopping plazas, seafood lunches, Albanian concerts, ship watching, beaches, and ice-cream desserts!!!

The Beach of Durrës is the biggest and most visited beach in Albania. It lines the seafront of the city of Durrës and is about 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) long. A number of notable Hotels overlook the beach such as the Adriatik Hotel.

This destination is popular with people from Albania (mainly from Middle and North Albania), Kosovo and the Macedonia. It is also a popular summer and weekend destination for the people of Tirana and Durrës. The estimated number of tourists, most of whom frequent the beach during the summer period, is about 600,000 a year.

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albaniaguidedtours.com We provide Guided tours in Albania especially for cruise lines. Knowledgeable , local guides, pre-screened transportation and carefully picked destinations. like beaches, byzantine ruins, ottoman castle, shopping, city tours. Group and private tours available.

The Durrës Amphitheatre (Albanian: Amfiteatri i Durrësit) is a large Roman amphitheatre in the city of Durrës, Albania. Built in the 2nd century AD during Roman Emperor Trajan's rule, it is located in the centre of the city and is only half unearthed. The Durrës Amphitheatre is one of the largest amphitheatres in the Balkan peninsula,[1] once having a capacity of 20,000 people, and has no analogs in Albania.[2] It was discovered in the late 1900s and today has become a popular tourist attraction. Durrës Amphitheatre is a World Heritage candidate.

HISTORY:
The amphitheatre was built in the 2nd century AD. The city of Durrës was first mentioned in 627 BC. The amphitheatre was used for performances until the 5th century AD, well after the Byzantine Empire, where it was located, adopted Christianity as the state religion. In the 6th century, the chapel devoted to Saint Asti, the first bishop of Durrës and a martyr, was built on the amphitheatre. It was laid out with mosaics.[2]

About one third of the site was discovered and excavated in the 1900s; the rest was excavated in the 1960s. After excavation the amphitheater slowly deteriorated, as no conservation efforts were undertaken prior to the 2000s, and construction continued to take place around the site. In the 2004 the University of Parma started restoration work to save the monument.

The castle was built by the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire Anastasius I who originated from Durrës. At the time, Anastasius made the city one of the most fortified cities on the Adriatic. Repairs to the walls have been carried out since the devastating earthquake of 1273. Currently medieval walls nearly 15 feet (4.6 meters) in height and the three entrances of some of the fortification towers are preserved in nearly one-third of the initial length of the city castle walls.. The castle was reinforced with several guard towers by the Republic of Venice and during the occupation of Albania by Ottoman Empire the wall was reinforced.[1]

On 7 April 1939, Albanian patriots fought the fascist Italians who invaded Albania. In Durrës, a force of only 360 Albanians, mostly gendarmes and townspeople, led by Abaz Kupi, the commander of the gendarmerie in Durrës, and Mujo Ulqinaku, a marine official, tried to halt the Italian advance. Armed only with small arms and three machine guns, they succeeded in keeping the Italians at bay for several hours until a large number of light tanks disembarked from the latter's naval vessels. After that, resistance diminished and within five hours Italy had captured the entire city.[2]

The castle is now a popular Albanian tourist attraction in Durrës.

Pamje nga plazhi i Durresit !
Photos from beach of Durres !

Durres (Albania)

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