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Dyrrachion

Durrës
Municipality
Panorama of Durres Port.jpg
Amphitheatre of Durrës 2013-09 005.jpg Torra ne Durres.jpg
Albanian College of Durres.jpg Kisha Durres 02.jpg
Stare mury miejskie Durrës.jpg Amphitheatre of Durrës 01.jpg
Drač, panorama náměstí.jpg
Clockwise from top:Panorama over the city, Mosaics of the basilica in the amphitheatre of Durrës, Venetian Tower of Durrës, the Albanian College, Church of Apostle Paul, Ancient walls, Amphitheatre of the City and the Iliria Square.
Official seal of Durrës
Seal
Durrës is located in Albania
Durrës
Durrës
Coordinates: 41°19′N 19°27′E / 41.317°N 19.450°E / 41.317; 19.450Coordinates: 41°19′N 19°27′E / 41.317°N 19.450°E / 41.317; 19.450
Country Albania Albania
County Durrës
Government
 • Mayor Vangjush Dako (SP)
Area
 • Municipality 338.30 km2 (130.62 sq mi)
Elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (2015)
 • Municipality 201,110
 • Municipality density 590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
 • Administrative Unit 299,989
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal Code 2001–2009
Area Code (0)52
Vehicle registration AL
Website Official Website

Durrës (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈdurəs]), historically also known as Epidamnos, Durazzo (Italian pronunciation: [duˈrattso]) and Dyrrachium, is the largest port and second largest city and a municipality of Albania. Founded by Greek colonists from Corinth and Corfu as Epidamnos in 627 BC, it has been continuously inhabited ever since and is one of the oldest cities in Albania. Geographically, it is central on the coast, about 33 km (21 mi) west of the capital Tirana.

It is one of the most ancient and economically significant cities of Albania. Durrës is home to Albania's main port, the Port of Durrës. The city is at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari and Brindisi. The port is also the 10th largest cargo port on the Adriatic Sea that handle more than 3.4 million tonnes of cargo per year.

The city of Durrës is home of one of the largest amphitheatres in the Balkan peninsula, the Durrës Amphitheatre once having a capacity of 20,000 people.

Durrës is one of largest cities on the Adriatic Sea and ranks 5th with a population of 175,110. The total population is 175,110 (2011 census), in a total area of 338.30 km2. The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 113,249. The metropolitan area has a population of 265,330.

Though surviving remains are minimal, as one of the oldest cities in Albania, the city was founded as Epidamnos in the ancient region of Illyria in 627 BC by ancient Greek colonists from Corinth and Corcyra, modern-day Corfu. The Romans replaced the rule of Teuta with that of Demetrius of Pharos, one of her generals. He lost his kingdom, including Epidamnus, to the Romans in 219 BC at the Second Illyrian War. In the Third Illyrian War Epidamnus was attacked by Gentius but he was defeated by the Romans at the same year.


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