Durrës

Durrës(/ˈdʊrəs/DUURR-əs,Albanian:[ˈdurəs];Albaniandefinite form:Durrësi) is thesecond-most-populous cityof theRepublic of AlbaniaandseatofDurrës Countyand Durrës Municipality. It is one of Albania's oldestcontinuously inhabited cities,with roughly 2,500 years ofrecorded history.It is located on a flat plain along theAlbanian Adriatic Sea Coastbetween the mouths of theErzenandIshëmat the southeastern corner of theAdriatic Sea.Durrës' climate is profoundly influenced by a seasonalMediterranean climate.

Durrës
Municipalityandcity
Clockwise from top:Panorama of Durrës,Mosaicsat a Basilica within theAmphitheatre,Venetian Tower,Albanian College, Church of Saint Asti and Apostle Paul, Ancient Walls, Amphitheatre, Iliria Square.
Flag Seal
Durrës Location of Durrës Durrës Durrës (Europe)
Coordinates:41°18′48″N19°26′45″E
Country	Albania
Region	Northern Albania
County	Durrës
Founded	7th century BC
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
• Body	Durrës Municipal Council
•Mayor	Emiriana Sako (PS)
Area
• Municipality	338.30 km2(130.62 sq mi)
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2011)
• Municipality	175,110
• Municipality density	517/km2(1,340/sq mi)
• Administrative unit	113,249
Demonym	Durrsak(e) (Albanian)
Time zone	UTC+01:00(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00(CEST)
Postal code	2000
Area code	+355 (0) 52
Seaport	Port of Durrës
Motorways
Highways
Vehicle registration	DR
Website	Durrës.gov.al

Durrës was founded byAncient Greekcolonists fromCorinthandCorcyraunder the name ofEpidamnosaround the 7th century BC in cooperation with the localIllyriantribeTaulantii.Also known as Dyrrachium, Durrës essentially developed as it became an integral part of theRoman Empireand its successor theByzantine Empire.TheVia Egnatiastarted in the city and led east across the fields, lowlands and highlands of the Balkan Peninsula toConstantinople.

In theMiddle Ages,Durrës was contested betweenBulgarians,Venetians,local Albanian noble familiesandOttomandominion. The Ottomans ultimately prevailed, ruling the city for more than 400 years from 1501 until 1912. Following theAlbanian Declaration of Independence,the city served as the capital of thePrincipality of Albaniafor a short period of time. Subsequently, it was annexed by theKingdom of Italyin theinterwar periodand was occupied byNazi Germanyduring World War II. Durrës experienced a strong expansion in its demography and economic activity during theCommunism in Albania.

The transport connections, concentration of economic institutions and industrial tradition underlie Durrës' leading economic position in Albania. It is served by thePort of Durrës,one of the largest on the Adriatic Sea, which connects the city to other neighbouring countries. Its most considerable attraction is theAmphitheatre of Durrësthat is included on theAlbanian tentative listfor designation as aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site.Once having a capacity for 20,000 people, it is the largest amphitheatre in theBalkan Peninsula.

Name

In antiquity, the city was known asEpidamnos(Ἐπίδαμνος) andDyrrhachion(Δυρράχιον) inclassical Greekand thenEpidamnusandDyrrachiuminclassical Latin.Epidamnosis the older known of the two toponyms; it is widely considered to be ofIllyrianorigin, as first proposed by linguistHans Krahe,and is attested inThucydides(5th century BC),Aristotle(4th century BC), andPolybius(2nd century BC).Etymologically,Epidamnosmay be related toProto-Albanian*dami (cub, young animal, young bull) > dem (modern Albanian) as proposed by linguistEqrem Çabej.Although the nameEpidamnos/Epidamnuswas more commonly used among Ancient Greek authors, the coinage of the city only used the abbreviations for the nameDyrrhachion/Dyrrhachium.Dyrrachiumwas chosen as the sole name of the city after theRoman Republicgot control of the region after theIllyrian Warsin 229 BC.The Latin spelling of /y/ retained the form ofDoric GreekDyrrhachion, which was pronounced as /Durrakhion/. This change of the name is already attested in classical literature. Titus Livius, at the end of the first century BC, writes inAb Urbe Condita Librithat at the time of the Illyrian Wars (roughly 200 years earlier) the city was not known as Dyrrachium, but as Epidamnus.Pomponius Mela,about 70 years later than Titus Livius, attributed the change of the name to the fact that the name Epidamnos reminded the Romans of the Latin worddamnum,which signified evil and bad luck;Pliny the Elder,who lived in the same period, repeated this explanation in his own works. However, the Romans may have adopted the new name because it was already in more frequent use by citizens of the city.

The nameDyrrhachionis usually explained as a Greek compound fromδυσ-'bad' andῥαχία'rocky shore, flood, roaring waves',an explanation already hinted at in antiquity by Cassius Dio, who writes it referred to the difficulties of the rocky coastline,while also reporting that other Roman authors linked it to the name of aneponymousheroDyrrachius.The mythological construction of the city's name was recorded byAppian(2nd century AD) who wrote that "the king of the barbarians of this country, Epidamnus gave the name to the city. His daughter's son Dyrrachius, built a port near the town that he called Dyrrachium".Stephanus of Byzantiumrepeated this mythological construction in his work. It is unclear whether the two toponyms referred originally to different areas of the territory of the city or whether they referred to the same territory.Classical literature indicates that they more probably referred to different neighbouring areas originally. Gradually, the name Epidamnus fell out of use and Dyrrachium became the sole name for the city. Archaeological research has shown that at the time of the foundation of Durrës, two distinct settlements existed on its territory. The first one is a hill site with no direct contact with the sea. It predates the colony and might represent the settlement which held the toponym known asEpidamnosin ancient literature. The hill site overlooks to its south the second site which is the territory of the port of Durrës, where the colony was founded. Its location on a rocky shore struck by waves on all sides reflects the description of the toponym Dyrrhachion.The distinction between these two districts of the city remained in place even much later. In the 19th century,Durrës properwas the district of the port, while the hill north of it was a separate settlement, Stani (Kodra e Stanit).

The modern names of the city in Albanian (Durrës) and Italian (Durazzo,Italian pronunciation:[duˈrattso]) are derived fromDyrrachium/Dyrrachion.An intermediate,palatalizedantecedent is found in the formDyrratio,attested in the early centuries AD. The palatalized /-tio/ ending probably represents a phonetic change in the way the inhabitants of the city pronounced its name.The preservation of old Doric /u/ indicates that the modern name derives from populations to whom the toponym was known in its original Doric pronunciation.By contrast, in Byzantine Greek, the name of the city is pronounced with the much later evolution of /u/ as /i/. The modern Italian name evolved in the sub-dialects that emerged fromColloquial Latinin northern Italy.The modern Albanian name evolved independently from the parent language of Albanian around the same period of the post-Roman era in the first centuries AD as the difference instressin the two toponyms (first syllable in Albanian, second in Italian) highlights.InAromanian,the city is known asDurus.During the 411-yearOttoman period,Durrës was known inOttoman TurkishasDırac(دراج); withfinal consonant devoicing,the name has evolved into modernTurkishasDıraç.InVenetianit calledDurazo,while in theSouth Slavic languagesthe city is known asDrač(Cyrillic Драч).

In English usage, the Italian formDurazzoused to be widespread, but the local Albanian nameDurrëshas gradually replaced it in recent decades.

History

Earliest period

The territory of Durrës was populated at least starting from theEneolithicand then, fromprotohistorictimes, it was inhabited by Illyrian peoples.

Antiquity

See also:EpidamnosandBattle of Dyrrhachium (48 BC)

TheRoman amphitheatre of Durrësbuilt in the 2nd century AD

Though surviving remains are minimal,Durrës is one of the oldest cities in Albania. In terms of mythology, the genealogy of the foundation of Dyrrhachium includes among the founders Illyrian men (the Illyrian king Epidamnos and his grandson Dyrrachos), Greek men (theCorinthianFalio, descendant of Heracles), heroes (Heracleswho was given part of the lands) and gods (Poseidon,as father of Dyrrachos).

Several ancient people held the site: the presence of theBrygiappears to be confirmed by several ancient writers, theIllyrianTaulantii(their arrival has been estimated to have happened not later than the 10th century BC), probably theLiburniwho expanded southwards in the 9th century BC.The city was founded by Greek colonists in 627 BC on the coast of the Taulantii.According to ancient authors, the Greek colonists helped the Taulantii to expel Liburnians and mixed with the local population establishing the Greek element to the port.A flourishing commercial centre emerged and the city grew rapidly.The fact that about the 6th century BC the citizens of Epidamnus constructed a Doric-style treasury atOlympiaconfirms that the city was among the richest of theAncient Greek world.An ancient account describes Epidamnos as 'a great power and very populated' city.

Silverstaterof the Illyrian kingMonunius,c. 280 BCfrom the Dyrrhachion mint. Cow and suckling calf, rev. double stellate pattern, inscription: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΟΝΟΥΝΙΟΥ and the city symbol ΔΥΡ.

After 323 BC Epidamnus-Dyrrhachium was involved in the intervention in Illyria of the Macedonians underCassander,who clashed with the Illyrians underGlaukias.In 314 BC the Macedonian king seized the city but the garrison he established there was in turn besieged and driven out by the Illyrian king and theCorcyrans.In 312 BC, after another unsuccessful attack of Cassander in the region, the city came under the protection of Glaukias. Those events marked the end ofMacedonianpresence on the Adriatic coast for almost one century.The city probably came under the control ofPyrrhus of Epirusat the beginning of the 3rd century BC.From about 280 BC the Illyrian kingMonunius,and his successorMytilosminted in Dyrrhachion silver and bronze coins respectively, bearing the king's name and the symbol of the city.The fact that their coins were struck in the city mint of Dyrrhachion stresses that they exercised to some extent their authority over the city.

Epidamnus came under the control of the IllyrianArdiaeiunderAgron,who fortified the city (c. 250–231 BC).When theRomansdefeated the Illyrians, they replaced the rule of queenTeutawith that ofDemetrius of Pharos,one of her generals.He lost his kingdom, including Epidamnus, to the Romans in 219 BC at theSecond Illyrian War.In theThird Illyrian WarEpidamnus was attacked byGentiusbut he was defeated by the Romansat the same year.

Entrance in theancient walls of Durrës

ForCatullus,the city wasDurrachium Hadriae tabernam,"thetabernaof the Adriatic ", one of the stopping places for a Roman traveling up theAdriatic,as Catullus had done himself in the sailing season of 56.

After theIllyrian Warswith theRoman Republicin 229 BC ended in a decisive defeat for the Illyrians, the city passed to Roman rule, under which it was developed as a major military and naval base. The Romans preferred to use the nameDyrrachium(Greek: Δυρράχιον /Dyrrhachion) for the city. They considered the nameEpidamnosto be inauspicious because of its wholly coincidental similarities with the Latin worddamnum,meaning "loss" or "harm". The meaning ofDyrrachium( "bad spine" or "difficult ridge" in Greek) is unclear, but it has been suggested that it refers to the imposing cliffs near the city. During theGreat Roman Civil Warin Illyria, theBattle of Dyrrachiumwas undertaken byJulius CaesaragainstGnaeus Pompey.The battle was a victory for Pompey, but it preceded the more decisiveBattle of Pharsalusin Greece where Caesar won. Under Roman rule, Dyrrachium prospered; it became the western end of theVia Egnatia,the greatRoman roadthat led toThessalonicaand on toConstantinople.Another lesser road led south to the city ofButhrotum,the modernButrint.The Roman emperorCaesar Augustusmade the city a colony for veterans of hislegionsfollowing theBattle of Actium,proclaiming it acivitas libera(free town).

In the 4th century, Dyrrachium was made the capital of theRoman provinceofEpirus nova.It was the birthplace of the emperorAnastasius Iinc. 430.Sometime later that century, Dyrrachium was struck by a powerful earthquake which destroyed the city's defences. Anastasius I rebuilt and strengthened the city walls, thus creating the strongest fortifications in the western Balkans. The 12-metre-high (39-foot) walls were so thick that, according to the Byzantine historianAnna Komnene,four horsemen could ride abreast on them. Significant portions of the ancient city defences still remain, although they have been much reduced over the centuries.

The Eastern Roman EmperorAnastasius Iwas born into anIllyrianfamily in Durrës

Like much of the rest of theBalkans,Dyrrachium and the surroundingDyrraciensis provinciaesuffered considerably frombarbarianincursions during theMigrations Period.It was besieged in 481 byTheodoric the Great,king of theOstrogoths,and in subsequent centuries had to fend off frequent attacks by theBulgarians.Unaffected by thefall of the Western Roman Empire,the city continued under theByzantine Empireas an important port and a major link between the Empire and western Europe. During the sixth century based on accounts ofProcopius,the city was mainly inhabited by a Greek population.

Middle Ages

See also:Battle of Dyrrhachium (1018)and(1081)

The city and the surrounding coast became a Byzantine province, theTheme of Dyrrhachium,probably in the first decade of the 9th century.Durrës became aChristiancity quite early on; itsbishopricwas created around 58 and was raised to the status of anarchbishopricin 449. It was also the seat of anOrthodoxmetropolitan bishop.The city remained in Byzantine hands until the late 10th century, whenSamuel of Bulgariagained control of the city, possibly through his marriage withAgatha,daughter of the local magnateJohn Chryselios.Samuel made his son-in-lawAshot Taronites,a Byzantine captive who had married his daughterMiroslava,governor of the city. In circa 1005, however, Ashot and Miroslava, with the connivance of Chryselios, fled toConstantinople,where they notified EmperorBasil IIof their intention to surrender the city to him. Soon, a Byzantine squadron appeared off the city underEustathios Daphnomeles,and the city returned to Byzantine rule.

Durrës Castlewas built by the ByzantineEmperor Anastasius I491–518 CE, making the city one of the most fortified on theAdriatic.The walls were devastated by an earthquake in 1273 and were extensively repaired.

In the 11th–12th centuries, the city was important as a military stronghold and ametropolitan seerather than as a major economic center, and never recovered its late antique prosperity;Anna Komnenemakes clear that medieval Dyrrhachium occupied only a portion of the ancient city.In the 1070s, two of its governors,Nikephoros Bryennios the ElderandNikephoros Basilakes,led unsuccessful rebellions trying to seize the Byzantine throne.Dyrrachium was lost in February 1082 whenAlexios I Komnenoswas defeated by theNormansunderRobert Guiscardand his sonBohemundin theBattle of Dyrrhachium.Byzantine control was restored a few years later, but the Normans under Bohemund returned to besiege it in 1107–08, and sacked it again in 1185 under KingWilliam II of Sicily.

In 1205, after theFourth Crusade,the city was transferred to the rule of theRepublic of Venice,which formed the "Duchy of Durazzo".This Duchy was conquered in 1213 and the city taken by theDespotate of EpirusunderMichael I Komnenos Doukas.In 1257, Durrës was briefly occupied by the King of Sicily,Manfred of Hohenstaufen.It was re-occupied by the Despot of EpirusMichael II Komnenos Doukasuntil 1259, when the Despotate was defeated by the ByzantineEmpire of Nicaeain theBattle of Pelagonia.In the 1270s, Durrës was again controlled by Epirus underNikephoros I Komnenos Doukas,the son of Michael II, who in 1278 was forced to yield the city to Charles d' Anjou (Charles I of Sicily). Inc. 1273,it was wrecked by a devastatingearthquake(according toGeorge Pachymeres) but soon recovered. It was briefly occupied by KingMilutinof Serbia in 1296. In the thirteenth century, aJewish communityexisted in Durrës and was employed in thesalt trade.

In the early 14th century, the city was ruled by a coalition of Anjous, Hungarians, and Albanians of the Thopia family. In 1317 or 1318, the area was taken by the Serbs and remained under their rule until the 1350s. At that time the Popes, supported by the Anjous, increased their diplomatic and political activity in the area, by using the Latin bishops, including the archbishop of Durrës. The city had been a religious center of Catholicism after the Anjou were installed in Durrës. In 1272, a Catholic archbishop was installed, and until the mid-14th century there were both Catholic and Orthodox archbishops of Durrës.

Two Irish pilgrims who visited Albania on their way to Jerusalem in 1322, reported that Durrës was "inhabited by Latins, Greeks, perfidious Jews and barbaric Albanians".

When the Serbian TsarDušandied in 1355, the city passed into the hands of the Albanian family ofThopias.In 1376 theNavarrese CompanyLouis of Évreux, Duke of Durazzo,who had gained the rights on theKingdom of Albaniafrom his second wife, attacked and conquered the city, but in 1383Karl Topiaregained control of the city.TheRepublic of Veniceregained control in 1392 and retained the city, known asDurazzoin those years, as part of theAlbania Veneta.It fended off a siege by theOttomanSultanMehmed IIin 1466 but fell to Ottoman forces in 1501.

Further information:Statutes of Durazzo

Ottoman period (to 1912)

See also:Sanjak of Durrës,Scutari Vilayet,andPashalik of Scutari

Under Ottoman rule, many of its inhabitants converted toIslamand manymosqueswere erected. The city was renamed Dırac (دراج) but did not prosper in the first two centuries of the Ottoman era; its importance declined greatly and it became a den ofpiracy.Following the establishment of Ottoman rule in 1501, the Durrës Jewish community experienced population growth.

The city of Durrës in 1573

Map of the coast in northern Durrës from Giuseppe Rosaccio in 1598

As a port, Durrës was of little importance to the Ottomans, who controlled the entire Albanian coast. The town's main significance rather lay inits strategic castle,which the Turks reinforced and improved upon, and its rich salt deposits. There were few permanent civilian settlements, and most of the population, including the localkadı,opted to live further inland, such as in the newly established town ofKavajë,14 km south of Durrës. The Ottoman chroniclerEvliya Çelebivisited Durrës in 1670-71 and noted in hisSeyahatnamethat there were around 150 houses as well as a mosque named after SultanBayezid II.

The city's economy began to recover from the late 17th century onwards, boosted by profits from the salt mines, which exported salt throughout the Balkan hinterland. According to diplomat and TurkologistFrançois Pouqueville,about 100 Turkish and Greek merchants lived in the city in 1699, exporting 3,000quintals(300 tons) of beeswax, 15,000 quintals (1,500 tons) of finished cloth, 15,000 pieces of fine leather, and 60-100 ships of wheat, barley, corn and millet to Venice every year despite an official prohibition from the central government in Constantinople.France, England, the Netherlands, and Austria established their consulates in Durrës in 1700.

As Ottoman relations with Venice improved upon the conclusion of theOttoman-Venetian Wars,Durrës became a focal point of trade with the Republic of Venice, especially in grains and olive oil, as reported by the Venetian consul in the city in 1769. Mercantile relations with Venice were halted when the latter city was occupied by Napoleonic forces in 1797, bringing an end to the maritime republic. TheAustrian Empireand laterAustria-Hungary,via the port ofTrieste,then replaced Venice as Durrës' largest trading partner. According to contemporary statisticianFriedrich Wilhelm von Reden,total exports from Durrës reached 672,000 Austrianthalerseach year, while imports amounted to 455,000 thalers.

By the mid-19th century, its population was said to have been about 1,000 people living in some 200 households. In the late nineteenth century, Durrës contained 1,200 OrthodoxAromanians(130 families) who lived among the larger population of Muslim Albanians alongside a significant number of Catholic Albanians.The decrepitude of Durrës was noted by foreign observers in the early 20th century, echoing comments made by the Ottoman cartographerPiri Reisalmost 400 years before: "The walls are dilapidated; plane-trees grow on the gigantic ruins of its old Byzantine citadel; and its harbour, once equally commodious and safe, is gradually becoming silted up."

Turn-of-the-century Durrës, in the last decades of Ottoman rule

During theTanzimat(reform) era, Durrës was separated from theSanjak of Elbasanand became a main administrative centre in the reorganisedİşkodra Vilayetbefore 1912; it had its ownsanjak,namely theSanjak of Durrës,which was established in 1880 within the vilayet. With the city's economic prosperity and upgrade in status, its demographic decline was also reversed. Many government buildings were built, as well as Western-style hotels and restaurants for private businesses. In 1892-1893 the population of thekazaof Durrës grew to about 4,781, consisting of 3,018 Muslims, 1,514 Orthodox, 201 Catholics, and 48 foreigners.

On 26 November 1912, as the Ottoman Empire was embroiled in theFirst Balkan War,a group of nationalists led byIsmail Qemaliraised theAlbanian flagover Durrës.Albania declared independencetwo days later, bringing four centuries of Turkish rule in Durrës to an end.

Modern

See also:Congress of Durrës

Further information:Battle of Durazzo (1915)and(1918)

The city of Durrës in 1918

TheRoyal Palace of Durrësserved as the residence ofWilliam, Prince of Albaniaand his wifePrincess Sophie of Albania

William, Prince of Albaniaand his wifePrincess Sophie of Albaniaarriving in Durrës, the capital of Albania at that time on 7 March 1914

Durrës was an active city in theAlbanian national liberation movementin the periods 1878–1881 and 1910–1912.Ismail Qemaliraised theAlbanian flagon 26 November 1912 but the city was occupied by theKingdom of Serbiathree days later during theFirst Balkan War.On 29 November 1912 Durrës became the county town of theDurrës Countyone of the counties of theKingdom of Serbiaestablished on the part of the territory ofAlbaniaoccupied fromOttoman Empire.The Durrës County had four districts: Durrës,Lezha,ElbasanandTirana.The army of the Kingdom of Serbia retreated from Durrës in April 1913.The city becameAlbania's second national capital (afterVlora) on 7 March 1914 under the brief rule of PrinceWilhelm, Prince of Albania.It remained Albania's capital until 11 February 1920, when theCongress of LushnjëmadeTiranathe new capital.

During theFirst World War,the city was occupied byItalyin 1915 and byAustria-Hungaryin 1916–1918. On 29 December 1915,a Naval Battlewas fought off Durazzo. On 2 October 1918, several allied shipsbombarded Durazzoand attacked the few Austrian ships in the harbour. Although civilians started to flee the city at the start of the bombardment, many casualties were inflicted on the innocent and neutral population. The Old City being adjacent to the harbour was largely destroyed, including theRoyal Palace of Durrësand other primary public buildings. It was captured by Italian troops on 16 October 1918. Restored to Albanian sovereignty, Durrës became the country's temporary capital between 1918 and March 1920. It experienced an economic boom due to Italian investments and developed into a major seaport under the rule of KingZog,with a modern harbour being constructed in 1927. It was at this time theRoyal Villa of Durrëswas built by Zog as a summer palace, that still dominates the skyline from a hill close to the old city.

Royal villa in Durrës

An earthquake in 1926 damaged some of the city and the rebuilding that followed gave the city its more modern appearance. During the 1930s, theBank of Athenshad a branch in the city.

Durrës (calledDurazzoagain in Italian) and the rest of Albania wereoccupied in April 1939and annexed to theKingdom of Italyuntil 1943, then occupied byNazi Germanyuntilautumn 1944.Durrës's strategic value as a seaport made it a high-profile military target for both sides. It was the site of theinitial Italian landingson 7 April 1939 (and was fiercely defended byMujo Ulqinaku) as well as the launch point for the ill-fatedItalian invasion of Greece.The city was heavily damaged byAlliedbombing during the war and the port installations were blown up by retreating German soldiers in autumn 1944.

Street in Durrës

Socialist realist statue of unknown soldier with a high rise in the background

TheCommunistregime ofEnver Hoxharapidly rebuilt the city following the war, establishing a variety of heavy industries in the area and expanding the port. It became the terminus of Albania's firstrailway,begun in 1947 (Durrës–Tiranë railway). In the late 1980s, the city was briefly renamed Durrës-Enver Hoxha. The city was and continues to remain the center of Albanian mass beach tourism.

Following the collapse of communist rule in 1990, Durrës became the focus of mass emigrations from Albania with ships being hijacked in the harbour and sailed at gunpoint to Italy. In one month alone, August 1991, over 20,000 people migrated to Italy in this fashion. Italy intervened militarily, putting the port area under its control, and the city became the center of theEuropean Community's "Operation Pelican",a food-aid program.

In 1997,Albania slid into anarchyfollowing the collapse of a massivepyramid schemewhich devastated the national economy. An Italian-led peacekeeping force was controversially deployed to Durrës and other Albanian cities to restore order, although there were widespread suggestions that the real purpose of "Operation Alba"was to prevent economic refugees continuing to use Albania's ports as a route to migrate to Italy.

Following the start of the 21st century, Durrës has been revitalized as many streets were repaved, while parks and façades experienced a face lift.

Geography

Further information:Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast

Durrës is located on the Bay of Durrës on a flatalluvial plainbetween theriver mouthsofErzenand theIshëmalong theAdriatic Seawithin theMediterranean Sea.Themunicipality of Durrësis encompassed in theCounty of Durrëswithin theNorthern Region of Albaniaand consists of the adjacent administrative units ofIshëm,Katund i Ri,Manëz,Rrashbull,Sukthand Durrës as its seat.It stretches from the mouth of Ishëm River at theCape of Rodonin the north across theBay of Lalzito theShkëmbi i Kavajësin the south.

Climate

According to theKöppen climate classification,Durrës is classified under the periphery of thehot-summer Mediterranean climate(Csa) zone with an average annual temperature of 15.9 °C (60.6 °F).Its climate is influenced by its proximity to the Adriatic Sea in the Mediterranean Sea and the hills in theWestern Lowlandsin the hinterlands.The summers are predominantly hot and dry, the winters relatively mild, and falls and springs mainly stable, in terms of precipitation and temperatures.The mean monthly temperature ranges between 7.5°C(45.5°F) in winter to 23.8 °C (74.8 °F) in summer. The highest temperature of 39 °C (102 °F) was recorded on 14 August 1957. The lowest temperature of −6.2 °C (20.8 °F) was registered on 26 January 1954.Durrës receives most of theprecipitationin winter months and less in summer months. The mean annual precipitation ranges between 1,000 millimetres (39 inches) and 1,273 millimetres (50.1 inches).

Climate data for Durrës
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	11.4 (52.5)	12.5 (54.5)	14.9 (58.8)	18.3 (64.9)	22.6 (72.7)	26.5 (79.7)	28.7 (83.7)	28.8 (83.8)	26.0 (78.8)	21.4 (70.5)	16.6 (61.9)	13.3 (55.9)	20.1 (68.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)	8.1 (46.6)	9.0 (48.2)	10.9 (51.6)	14.0 (57.2)	18.1 (64.6)	21.8 (71.2)	23.8 (74.8)	23.9 (75.0)	21.2 (70.2)	17.2 (63.0)	13.0 (55.4)	9.9 (49.8)	15.9 (60.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	4.8 (40.6)	5.6 (42.1)	6.9 (44.4)	9.7 (49.5)	13.6 (56.5)	17.2 (63.0)	19.0 (66.2)	19.0 (66.2)	16.5 (61.7)	13.0 (55.4)	9.5 (49.1)	6.5 (43.7)	11.8 (53.2)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches)	132 (5.2)	107 (4.2)	99 (3.9)	81 (3.2)	68 (2.7)	41 (1.6)	26 (1.0)	36 (1.4)	71 (2.8)	112 (4.4)	160 (6.3)	131 (5.2)	1,064 (41.9)
Average rainy days	13	12	13	12	9	7	5	5	7	10	13	13	119
Averagerelative humidity(%)	72	69	70	72	73	70	67	67	70	72	72	72	71
Averagedew point°C (°F)	2 (36)	2 (36)	5 (41)	8 (46)	12 (54)	16 (61)	17 (63)	17 (63)	16 (61)	12 (54)	7 (45)	4 (39)	10 (50)
Mean monthlysunshine hours	133.3	135.6	173.6	207	279	318	375.1	325.5	261	217	147	124	2,696.1
Mean dailysunshine hours	4.3	4.8	5.6	6.9	9	10.6	12.1	10.5	8.7	7	4.9	4	7.4
Mean dailydaylight hours	9.6	10.6	12	13.4	14.5	15.1	14.8	13.8	12.5	11.1	9.9	9.2	12.2
Averageultraviolet index	2	2	4	6	8	9	9	8	6	4	2	1	5
Source 1: Climate data(Temperatures-Precipitation-Humidity)Weather Atlas(Daylight-UV-Rainy days)
Source 2: Weatherbase(Dew Point) Weather2visit(Sunshine)

Politics

Durrës is amunicipalitygoverned by amayor–council systemwith the mayor of Durrës and the members of the Durrës Municipal Council being responsible for the administration of Durrës Municipality.The mayor of Durrës is elected by its people to act as the executive officer of the municipality.The Durrës Municipal Council is the legislative body of the municipality and is also a democratically elected institution, comprising 51 councillors since the latest municipal election.Both, the mayor and members of the municipal council serve four-year terms without term limits.

Economy

Its highly advantageous geographical location puts thePort of Durrësamong the largest in theAdriaticandIonianseas

Durrës is an important link toWestern Europedue to its port and its proximity to the Italian port cities, notably Bari, to which daily ferries run. As well as the dockyard, it also possesses an important shipyard and manufacturing industries, notably producing leather, plastic and tobacco products.

The southern coastal stretch of Golem is renowned for its traditional mass beach tourism having experienced uncontrolled urban development. The city's beaches are also a popular destination for many foreign and local tourists. In 2012, new water sanitation systems are being installed to eliminate sea water pollution. In contrast, the northern coastal stretch of Lalzit Bay is mostly unspoiled and set to become an elite tourism destination as a number of beach resorts are being built since 2009. Neighboring districts are known for the production of good wine and a variety of foodstuffs.

According to the World Bank, Durrës has made significant steps of starting a business in 2016. Durrës ranks ninthamong 22 cities inSoutheastern Europebefore the capitalTirana,Belgrade,Serbia andSarajevo,Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Transportation

SH2betweenTiranaand Durrës

SH4 at Kavaja Rock along Golem beach resort area

Major roads and railways pass through the city of Durrës thank to its significant location and connect the northern part of the country to the south and the west with the east. Durrës is the starting point ofPan-European Corridor VIII,national roads SH2 and SH4, and serves as themain railway stationof theAlbanian Railways(HSH).

ThePan-European Corridor VIIIis one of thePan-European corridors.It runs between Durrës, at theAdriaticcoast, andVarna,at theBulgarian Black Sea coast.TheNational Road 2(SH2) begins at thePort of Durrësat the Dajlani Overpass, bypasses the road toTirana International Airport,and ends at the Kamza Overpass in the outskirts ofTiranawhere it meetsNational Road 1(SH1) State Road heading to northern Albania. TheAlbania–Kosovo Highwayis a four-lane highway constructed from 2006 to 2013 between Albania and Kosovo. As part of the South-East European Route 7,the highway will connect theAdriatic Seaports of Durrës via Pristina, with theE75/Corridor XnearNiš,Serbia. As most tourists come through Kosovo, the laying of the highway make it easier to travel to Durrës.

ThePort of Durrës,in the south-west of the city, is one of the major ports of the Adriatic Sea and plays a very important role in the city's economy. The port is located on an artificial basin that is formed between two moles, with a west-northwesterly oriented entrance approximately wide as it passes between the ends of the moles. The port is also a key location for transit networks and passenger ferry, giving Durrës a strategic position with respect to thePan-European Corridor VIII.The port has experienced major upgrades in recent years culminating with the opening of the new terminal in July 2012. In 2012,The Globe and Mailranked Durrës at no. 1 among 8 exciting new cruise ports to explore.It is one of the largest passenger port on theAdriatic Seathat handle more than 1.5 million passengers per year.

Therailway station of Durrësis connected to other cities in Albania, including the capital ofTirana,Vlorë,ElbasanandShkodër.TheDurrës–Tiranë railwaywas a 38-kilometre (24-mile)railwayline which joined the two biggest cities inAlbania:Durrës andTiranë.The line connects to theShkodër–Vorë railwayhalfway inVorë,and to theDurrës–Vlorë railwayin Durrës. In 2015, some rail stations and rolling stock along the Durrës-Tiranë line are being upgraded and latter colored red and white.

A rail connection between Durrës andPrishtinain Kosovo was proposed in 2021, with a feasibility study being prepared in 2022.

Demography

Population growth of Durrës in selected periods
Year	1923	1927	1938	1979	1989	2001	2011
Pop.	4,785	5,175	10,506	66,200	82,719	99,546	113,249
±% p.a.	—	+1.98%	+6.65%	+4.59%	+2.25%	+1.56%	+1.30%
Source:

Durrës is the second most populousmunicipality in Albaniaand one of the most populous on theAdriatic Seawith a growing number of inhabitants. According to the2011 census,the municipal unit of Durrës had an estimated population of 113,249 of whom 56,511 were men and 56,738 women.

Islamwas introduced to the city in the early 16th century during the Ottoman conquest. Much of the local population converted to Islam during the four centuries of Ottoman rule. The two most well-known mosques in the city are theGreat Mosque of Durrës(built in 1931 on the site of an earlier Ottoman mosque) and theFatih Mosque,erected in 1502 just one year after the city became part of the Ottoman Empire.

Christianityin Durrës and elsewhere in Albania has a presence dating back toclassical antiquity.Christian traditions relate that the archbishopric of Durrës was founded by theapostle Paulwhile he was preaching inIllyriaandEpirusand that there were possibly about seventy Christian families in the city as early as the time of theapostles.TheOrthodox Church of Albania,which has been autocephalous since 1923, was divided into thearchbishopric of Tirana–Durrës,headed by the Metropolitan and sub-divided into the local church districts ofTirana,Durrës,ShkodërandElbasan.

Culture

The theatrical and musical life of the city is centered on theAleksandër Moisiu Theatre,the Estrada Theatre, a puppet theatre, and the Philharmonic Orchestra. The annualInternational Film Summerfest of Durrës,founded in 2008, is held in late August or early September in the amphitheatre. In 2004 and 2009Miss Globe Internationalwas held in Durrës.

The city is home to different architectural styles that represent influential periods in its history. The architecture is influenced by Illyrian, Greek, Roman and Italian architecture.In the 21st century, part of Durrës turned into a modernist city, with large blocks of flats, modern new buildings, new shopping centres and many green spaces.

Education

The Albanian College of Durrës

Durrës has a long tradition of education since the beginning of civil life from antiquity until today. After the fall of communism in Albania, a reorganization plan was announced in 1990, that would extend the compulsory education program from eight to ten years. The following year, major economic and political crisis in Albania, and the ensuing breakdown of public order, plunged the school system into chaos. Later, many schools were rebuilt or reconstructed, to improve learning conditions especially in larger cities of the country. Durrës is host to academic institutions such as theUniversity of Durrës,Albanian College of Durrës,Kajtazi Brothers Educational Institute,Gjergj Kastrioti High School, Naim Frashëri High School, Sports mastery school Benardina Qerraxhiu and Jani Kukuzeli Artistic Lycee.

One of the city's main sights is the Byzantine city wall, also calledDurrës Castle,while the largestamphitheatrein the Balkans is close to the city's harbour. This fifth-century construction is currently under consideration for listing as aUNESCO World Heritage Site.

Museums

Durrës is home to the largest archaeological museum in the country, theDurrës Archaeological Museum,located near the beach. North of the museum are the sixth-centuryByzantine wallsconstructed after theVisigothinvasion of 481. The bulk of the museum's collection comprises artefacts from the nearby ancient site of Dyrrhachium and includes an extensive collection from the Illyrian, Ancient Greek, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Items of major note include Roman funeral steles and stone sarcophagi, a colourful elliptical mosaic measuring 17 by 10 feet (5 m × 3 m), known asThe Beauty of Durrës,and a collection of miniature busts of Venus, testament to the time when Durrës was a centre of worship of the goddess. There are several other museums including theRoyal Villa of Durrësand the Museum of History (in the house of the actorAleksandër Moisiu).

International relations

In 2008,Bosnia and Herzegovinaopened a consulate in the city considering that there is a community withBosniakancestry that lives inDurres County.They are mostly concentrated in two neighborhoods of the city ofShijak,BorakeandKoxhas.Nowadays it seems that the consulate is no longer active.

These countries have an honorary consulate in Durrës:

• Hungary
• North Macedonia

Twin and sister cities

See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in Albania

Durrës istwinnedwith:

• Bari,Italy
• Bitonto,Italy
• Istanbul,Turkey
• Thessaloniki,Greece

Cooperation and friendship

Durrës has cooperation and friendship relationships with:

• Kumanovo,North Macedonia
• Shantou,China
• Ulcinj,Montenegro

See also

• List of ancient cities in Illyria
• List of mayors of Durrës
• List of people from Durrës

Bibliography

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• Cabanes, Pierre (2008). "Greek Colonisation in the Adriatic". InTsetskhladze, Gocha R.(ed.).Greek Colonisation: An Account of Greek Colonies and Other Settlements Overseas.Vol. 2. Brill. pp. 155–186.ISBN9789047442448.Archivedfrom the original on 23 September 2023.Retrieved10 August2019.
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• Šašel Kos, Marjeta (2002)."Pyrrhus and Illyrian Kingdom(s?)".Greek Influence Along the East Adriatic Coast.Knjiga Mediterana.26:101–119.ISBN9531631549.Archivedfrom the original on 20 January 2024.Retrieved31 December2020.
• Šašel Kos, Marjeta (2005).Appian and Illyricum.Narodni muzej Slovenije.ISBN961616936X.
• Sassi, Barbara (2018)."Sulle faglie il mito fondativo: i terremoti a Durrës (Durazzo, Albania) dall'Antichità al Medioevo"(PDF).In Cavalieri, Marco; Boschetti, Cristina (eds.).Multa per aequora. Il polisemico significato della moderna ricerca archeologica. Omaggio a Sara Santoro.Fervet Opus 4, Vol. 2, part VII: Archeologia dei Balcani (in Italian). Presses Universitaires de Louvain, with the support of Centre d'étude des Mondes antiques (CEMA) of the Université catholique de Louvain.ISBN978-2-87558-692-6.Archivedfrom the original on 14 March 2023.Retrieved31 December2020.

Sedlar, Jean W. (2013).East Central Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000-1500.University of Washington Press.ISBN9780295800646.

• Stallo, Jennifer (2007).Isotopic Study of Migration: Differentiating Locals and Non-Locals in Tumulus Burials from Apollonia, Albania(Thesis). University of Cincinnati. Archived fromthe originalon 29 January 2022.Retrieved31 December2020.
• Stephenson, Paul (2003).The Legend of Basil the Bulgar-Slayer.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-0-521-81530-7.Archivedfrom the original on 18 January 2023.Retrieved20 February2016.
• Shehi, Eduard (2017)."Rishikim mbi topografinë e Durrësit antik në dritën e të dhënave të reja arkeologjike-historike [A review of topography of Durrës in antiquity in light of new archeological and historical data]".Iliria.doi:10.3406/iliri.2017.2528.ISSN1727-2548.Archivedfrom the original on 13 May 2022.Retrieved15 September2021.
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External links

• durres.gov.al– Official Website(in Albanian)