Durres

Durres was a major city in antiquity and Albania's main port today. Though Durres recently experienced an earthquake, most of the city seemed in good shape when we drove through.

Nice stereo

Durres was a Greek colony that became a key Illyrian city, before being conquered by the Romans. This Roman funerary stele is from the 2nd century B.C.

Pompey and Caesar fought a battle at Durres.

Votive offerings to Artemis found at her sanctuary in Durres.

Illyrian tombstones written in Greek

A Greco-Roman mermaid

Durres was the link between Constantinople on the Via Egnatia and transport to the Appian Way in Italy.

Poseidon?

Durres was ruled by Byzantines, Bulgarians, and Normans before falling into Venetian hands after the Fourth Crusade. This tower was originally built by the Venetians. Durres would experience rule by many more empires after Venice as well.

A memorial for Mujo Ulqinaku, who fought against the fascist Italy's conquest of Albania.

Durres Amphitheater was built by Emperor Trajan in the 2nd century A.D.

You can venture down into this amphitheater and see some of its interior. Durres Amphitheater was the largest in the Balkans and could seat over 20,000 people.

The interior was later repurposed as a Christian chapel.

Other ancient ruins can be found around downtown.

Durres' walls could use some repairs.