Qyteti i Durrësit, ditët e sotme shtrihet pikërisht mbi rrënojat antike të Epidamnit. Durrësi, i cili është themeluar rreth vitit 627 para e.r., është një nga qytetet më të rëndësishme në Shqipëri dhe në zonën e Adriatikut, i pasur me histori, arkitekturë dhe site arkeologjike si: Amfiteatri, Murret Rrethuese të qytetit, Forumi Bizantin, Kulla Veneciane, Termet antike Romake, Bazilika e Shën Mëhillit” Arapaj, Fortifikimi i Skëndërbeut në Kepin e Rodonit etj. Gjithashtu, Durrësi ka edhe një pasuri nënujore, e cila përbën një vlerë të shtuar për qytetin tonë, vlera të cilat mund të inkurajojnë akoma më shumë zhvillimin e turizmit arkeologjik.
Following the new administrative-territorial reform, the city of Durrës covers an area of 341.9 km² and has a coastline of 64 km.
Durrës counts around 20 cultural heritage monuments and 12 sites of special significance, all of which are open to visitors year-round, attracting both domestic and international tourists.
So, what can we visit in Durrës?
Follow Us:
DURRES AMPHITHEATER
The Durrës Amphitheater is a unique public monument in our country. It was built near the traditional city center, on plain terrain and partly on a hill. It is considered an engineering and architectural colossus of ancient times and the work of local masters. It has the shape of an ellipse with a diameter of 136m and a height of about 20m. It was built at the beginning of the 2nd century AD, during the time of the Roman emperor Trajan (98-117). It housed about 15-20 thousand spectators who watched the gladiator matches. The amphitheater had the main entrance from the north and an exit to the south on the same axis. The eastern facade from the city center was two-story with arches and columns and above them a decorative structure with windows. The discovery of the arena would also clarify the function of the amphitheater. Games in ancient amphitheaters were banned by the Roman emperor Honorius in 404 AD. The discovery of the amphitheater began in 1966 and lasted until 1970. Parallel to the monument, medieval tombs were discovered in the arena area. In the following years, several expeditions were carried out, which supplemented the documentary and architectural data on this monument.
CHURCH OF THE AMPHITHEATRE
After the games in the amphitheater were interrupted, around the 5th-6th centuries AD, a small church (chapel) was built, where religious ceremonies and funerals of the Christian groups of Durrës were held. Initially, the church was decorated with frescoes. Its longevity testifies to later interventions (6th-7th centuries), decorating both sides, southern and western, with unique mural mosaic panels. This mosaic is dedicated to Saint Stephen, martyr of the city of Durrës. Next, Saint Mary is presented as a Byzantine empress surrounded by two angels, the first with an inscription at the top and two miniature attendants at the feet of the figures. The western side preserves fragments of two saints, Saint Irene and Saint Sophia with their respective names. The eastern gallery, which is decorated with a fresco with the figure of Saint Gabriel, also served as a place of refuge for Christian communities.
KALAJA E DURRËSIT – MURET RRETHUESE TË QYTETIT
The city of Durrës was protected from its foundation by surrounding walls built with cyclopean blocks. On this basis, in the following centuries until the Illyrian and Roman civil period, the city walls were expanded along with its topographical development. The surrounding walls that can be seen today were built by the Byzantine emperor Anastasius I (491-518) originally from Durrës, after the damage caused by the catastrophic earthquake of 345. He protected the city with three rows of brick walls, of which 500m in length are preserved on the South-West side. The perimeter of the fence reached 3.5km, 18m high and 3.50m wide. This defensive system was reinforced with pentagonal towers, 60-65m apart. The latest interventions are those of the emperor Justinian (527-565). Also, later, in the century. In the 13th century (1272) Charles of Anjou and in the 14th century (1350) Charles of Topia also carried out defensive reinforcements. The passage of Durrës under Venetian occupation (1392-1501) for 109 years was accompanied by interventions in the defensive system, with circular towers. Meanwhile, the Ottoman invasion on August 13, 1501 reduced the city to the South-Eastern edge (Lagjia Kala) by surrounding it with an 800m wall, 6 times smaller than the Byzantine fence. The Turkish wall descends from the 59m quota, and the city's Clock Tower was built along its length. The Turkish walls were reinforced with towers and ramparts as well as two main gates located on an axis: "Porta e Madhe" and "Porta e Detit".
VENETIAN TOWER
Kulla rrethore (Torra), u ndërtua në shek. XV-të mbi kullën bizantine. Kjo dëshmohet nga prania e blloqeve nga rrethoja e mëparshme, e fragmenteve arkitektonike dhe e relieveve antike. Kulla ka diametrin 16m dhe lartësinë 9m. Në kullë hyet nëpërmjet një porte në formë harku me tulla. Kulla është e pajisur me 5 frëngji dhe 3 ndarje (kthina). Perimetri sipër mbyllet me bedena. Ambienti i brendshëm është ndërtuar me tulla në formë kupole. Ngjitja në lartësi bëhet nga brenda, me shkallë të ngushta e të pjerrta.
ROTONDA, BYZANTINE FORUM
The Byzantine market square was built in the traditional center of ancient Dyrrachium. It had a central position in relation to the large public and religious buildings of the Byzantine period. Its architectural appearance testifies to the function of an open, circular market square with a portico. In the center of the market square there is a podium and a well, on a bed of marble slabs that cover the floor up to the colonnade with a perimeter of 40m. Around this radial portico were built service areas. The construction technique, the material used and the cultural layer date this monument as contemporary with the public buildings of the emperors Anastasius and Justinian at the beginning of the 6th century AD.
ANCIENT TERMS
Termet publike (poshtë Qendrës Kulturore “Aleksandër Moisiu”, Durrës) u zbuluan pothuajse plotësisht në vitin 1960. Për nga madhësia dhe ambientet e brendshme, këto terme kanë qenë pjesë e gjimnazit të qytetit. Në to ruhen harqet e furrës, muret si edhe dyshemeja e ambienteve. Në fillim është dhoma e apodyteriumit (dhoma e zhveshjes) që pasohet nga tepidariumi (dhoma e djersitjes) e cila ka nën dysheme tulla hipokauste për kalimin e avullit të nxehtë. Në vazhdim, në drejtimin jugor, është frigidariumi (dhoma me ujë të ftohtë) dhe në fund pishina. Shtrimi i dyshemes është me pllaka mermeri, bardh e zi, në formë fushe shahu. Në jugperëndim të Termeve, ndodhet kompleksi i kanaleve shkarkuese dhe mbi te shtrihet rruga kryesore e periudhës romake me drejtim verior (Rruga “Aleksandër Goga”) .
MEDIEVAL HAMMAM
The hamam (bath) is a public building with typical architecture of the Turkish period. It was built in the 18th century in the southeastern corner of the medieval city. In the center there was a spherical dome with a height of 5.8 m, equipped with 12 small windows for ventilation. The premises were heated with steam through ceramic pipes. The oven is located in the back of the hamam. It was badly damaged and was reconstructed in 1980.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
Muzeu Arkeologjik është përuruar më 13 prill 2002 mbi bazën e materialeve të Muzeut të parë arkeologjik, i hapur më 13 mars 1951. Ekspozita është organizuar në tre pavione sipas periudhave historike. Salla e parë fillon me vitrinën e gjetjeve prehistorike në qytet dhe në zonat përreth. Në rend kronologjik ndiqet pandërprerje historia e qytetit në periudhën arkaike, klasike dhe qytetare ilire deri në shek.I p.e.re. Në vazhdim shpaloset zhvillimi topografik, ekonomik, politik e kulturor i Dyrrachiumit romak. Në aspektin tematik ky qytet dëshmon praninë e një popullsie autoktone ilire me botë të pasur shpirtërore. Durrësi paraqitet qendër me ekonomi shumëdegëshe dhe që tregtonte me shumë qendra mesdhetare. Periudha mesjetare përshin 15 shekuj, nga shek. V-XV dhe mbyllet me periudhën turke.
TOP-HANA WELL
Emërtimi Top-Hane tregon funksionin fillestar si punishte për prodhimin e barutit. Prania e burimit të ujit në lagjen Varosh (jashtë kalasë), krijoi mundësinë e ndërtimit të një pusi në shërbim të banorëve të saj, rreth shek. XVI-të. Pusi u ndërtua mbi një bazament katërkëndësh me gurë, rrethuar me katër kolona graniti të periudhës bizantine të cilat ishin tcilat ishin të ripërdorura.
"ALEKSANDER MOISIU" HOUSE MUSEUM
Shtëpi me çardak e ndërtuar në gjysmën e dytë të shek. XIX-të. Në vitet ’30 të shek. XX-të ka qenë edhe seli e konsullatës angleze. Kjo ndërtesë për vlerat e saj arkitekturore është shpallur “Monument Kulture”. Pas restaurimit të saj në vitin 1983, u vendos “Ekspozita e Kulturës Popullore”. Në tre dhoma ekspozite, shpalosen vlerat artizanale të trevës së qytetit tonë dhe të rrethinave të tij. Dy dhoma të tjera i janë kushtuar figurës së aktorit me origjinë shqiptare Aleksandër Moisiu, emërtuar “Dhoma Muze Aleksandër Moisiu”. Moisiu kreu shkollën fillore në Durrës, dhe për këtë arsye në vitin 1928 shkroi kujtimet e tij në formë skice me titull “Ëndërr fëmijërie”.
“FATİH” MOSQUE
The "Fatih" Mosque dates back to the time of Sultan Mehmet II the Conqueror (Fatihu). It is the oldest Islamic religious building in our country. It was built around 1502-1503, built on the ruins of a Christian religious building (a basilica from the 11th century).
ALBANIAN STATE BANK, Durrës
The Bank of Albania “BKT” was built in 1928. Its foundations are on the southeastern tower of the Byzantine wall, called the “Great Bastion”. The building was designed by Italian architects and built by Durrës masters. Compositionally, this building belongs to the works of the Baroque style, which was used for the first time in our country. A human sculpture (woman) is placed on the Bank, which symbolically represents the war, resistance and victory over the centuries and the prosperity of the country.
PALACE OF KING “ZOG I”
The royal palace was built in 1937. It was designed at the highest point of the hills (98 m) and has a dominant position in relation to the city and the sea. Architecturally, it represents the building style (neo-classical) used at the beginning of the 20th century. On the front facade of the Villa, the figure of the national hero Gjergj Kastriot Skenderbeu stands out, placed in profile to the right, on horseback and with a sword in hand.
MAUSOLEUM OF THE MARTYRS
It is a memorial object for the fallen of World War II and the Nazi camps. The mausoleum was designed by architect Kristo Sotiri (1870-1953). Works began in 1947. It is the first and only of its kind, as a mausoleum in our country. The complex of the “Martyrs’ Mausoleum” has an arch-shaped plan. It consists of three main parts: the Mausoleum building, the staircase and the garden. The remains of the martyrs are placed in special niches (chambers). While for those who fell in the Nazi camps, memorial graves (graves without bones) were used. On two marble slabs, the names of those interned in the Nazi camps are written in bronze letters.
MEMORIAL OF “MUJO ULQINAKU”
Memoriali i kushtohet Mujo Ulqinakut (1896-1939), “Hero i Popullit”, një ndër luftëtarët e parë të qëndresës së armatosur kundër pushtimit fashist italian më 7 prill 1939. Memoriali u realizua nga “Skulptori i Popullit” Kristaq Rama. Mujo Ulqinaku lindi në qytetin e Ulqinit në familjen e një detari. Kishte gradën nënoficer në repartin e marinës në Durrës. Ai u pozicionua në vijën e parë të luftimit që në orët e para të pushtimit fashist italian. Mujo Ulqinaku dhe bashkëluftëtarët e tij, me qëndresën dhe patriotizmin e tyre treguan trimëri të pashoq.
CITY COUNCIL
The Durrës City Hall was built in 1929, on the traditional city square. The city hall is designed with three floors and basements. The first floor, at the entrance to the facade, is treated with three arches, while the second floor above it has an internal balcony with columns. The building culminates with a square tower, on the left, where the City Clock is also located. The facade is decorated on both sides with relief decorations in the form of medallions, which have the symbols of a sailing ship as well as a sheaf of wheat ears.
TRADE ROAD
“Rruga Tregtare”, sot “Bulevardi Epidamn”, u ndërtua pas dëmtimeve që shkaktoi tërmeti i vitit 1926. Me hapjen e kësaj rruge fillonte dhe zbatimi i një plani rregullues modern i qytetit të Durrësit sipas treguesve urbanistikë të zhvillimit të qyteteve evropiane. Në të dy anët e kësaj rruge u ngritën ndërtesa dy e tre katëshe (vila), të stilit të arkitekturës bashkëkohore, me dekor të larmishëm. Katet e sipërme shërbenin për banim ndërsa katet e para ishin për tregtim, prejt të cilave mori edhe emrin “Rruga tregtare”. Ato ruhen ende sot si përfaqësuese të ndërtimeve arkitekturore të viteve ’30-40 të shek. XX-të
“ST. LUCIA” COUNTCATHEDRAL
The Catholic Church "St. Lucia" with a bell tower, was built in 1909. The church represents a religious building with its respective functional premises. It is also known as an important center where the patriotic cleric Dom Nikoll Kaçorri (1862-1917) celebrated mass. This personality with a good reputation among citizens was also the initiator and supporter of the ideas of the patriotic movement for the teaching of the Albanian language and for the independence of Albania. In the cell of this church, the patriots of Durrës gathered, from where important decisions were made that influenced the historical events of the city, such as the raising of the national flag in Durrës on November 26, 1912.
MEDIEVAL CISTERN
The Water Tank or Depot is a construction from the late Middle Ages and is located behind the Mausoleum of the Martyrs. The water was collected from the natural springs of the hilly area. It is a building with a vaulted roof covered with tiles and surrounded by buttresses. It has five entrance steps and an arched door above which there is a circular window for ventilation.
APARTMENT 115 of the Manushi and Pali family
The house was built in 1884, the date of which was written in iron letters on the semi-arch of the main gate along with the initials Z.M., the name of the owner Zis Margariti. This house served as the residence of the Austro-Hungarian consulate (legacy) in 1914.
CHURCH OF “THE APOSTLE PAUL AND SAINT AST”
Kisha e Apostull Pavlit dhe Shën Astit u ndërtua gjatë viteve 1994-2002, dhe u përurua më 3 Maj 2009. Apostull Pavli njihet si predikuesi i parë i fesë së krishterë në Iliri. Në kujtim të tij ka qenë ndërtuar një kishë në skajin verior, në ”Kepin e Palit” sot ”Kepi i Pallës”. Shën Asti është martiri i parë, i cili u martirizua në vitin 100 të e.re. në Durrës, në periudhën e perandorit romak Trajan (98-117).
THE GREAT MOSQUE
Xhamia e Madhe u ndërtua në vitin 1938. Pozicioni i zgjedhur topografik me fasadë nga Lindja plotëson ansamblin e ndërtimeve publike në sheshin qendror të qytetit. “Lëvizja kundër fesë, paragjykimeve fetare dhe zakoneve prapanike” e 6 shkurtit 1967, prishi kupolën dhe minaren e saj, dhe e transformoi në institucion kulturor, emërtuar “Pallati Rinia”.
After the 1990s, the Great Mosque returned to its function as a religious building and preserved its original architecture. Construction was carried out in two phases: during 1992-1994 and later during 2004-2006.
BASILICA OF “SAINT MICHAEL” ARAPAJ
The Basilica of ‘St. Michael’ is a cult building from the beginning of the 6th century, during the time of the Byzantine emperor Justinian (527-565). It is located 6 km from Durrës on the western side of the “St. Michael” hill, opposite the “Iliria” beach. It has been completely excavated and measures 65x28m. Architecturally, it represents a three-nave basilica with three corresponding apses. It has two side annexes to the north and south as well as an atrium (inner courtyard with colonnades). Adjacent to the southern nave is a monumental tomb (martyrium), covered with a layer of mosaic treated in two emblems, with subjects from early Christianity, with an area of 54m². The selected motifs, figures, working technique, multicolored stones classify this mosaic as a unique work of art from the Byzantine period of the 6th century, the work of the mosaic masters of the city of Durrës.
EARLY CHRISTIAN BASILICA (GJURICAJ)
In Ishëm, a Basilica was built, known today as the Basilica in Gjuricaj. In its preserved state today, it measures 47 X 20 m. The church is of the basilica type, single-aisled with three naves. At a later time (7th century), a small chapel was adapted inside the central nave.
Part of the walls, floors and some architectural details made of marble are preserved in relatively good condition from the monument. According to researcher Halil Myrto, the objects discovered in this Basilica date back to the 4th – 3rd century BC, as well as the 5th – 6th century AD.
The church is built of stone masonry and 5 rows of bricks bonded with lime mortar. On the floor of the building, architectural details made of marble have been found, such as: columns (fragmented), capitals, imposts, iconostasis plates and other plates with relief decoration. According to the author, objects dating back to the Hellenistic period, the first centuries of our era, as well as the middle and late Middle Ages, have also been discovered.
THE FORTUNE FORTUNE
The castle was built in 1572-1574 by the local feudal lord, Mehmet, on the orders of the Ottoman Sublime Porte. After the completion of the works, the castle was equipped with cannons and a garrison of soldiers was stationed in it. The castle, with a rectangular layout (100 X40 m), has two gates and 5 watchtowers.
From historical sources it is precisely known as the purpose and time of its construction. During the 16th century, Ishmi was included in the Sandžak of Ohrid, which was a province full of peasant revolts and unrest for the Ottoman Empire. For this reason, the feudal lord Mehmet proposed to the Sublime Porte that a fortress be built in Ishmi, which would protect the vilayet from the rebels, on condition that the Sandžak be given to him as an undertaking for the collection of state fiscal obligations.
The castle is built on a hill east of the village of Ishëm. From it, a wide horizon opens up to the view. From the north and east, the fertile plain of Ishëm is observed and the view is divided into the Krujë - Dajt mountain range, while from the west, the mouth of the river, Cape Rodonit and part of the Adriatic Sea coast are observed. The walls are strengthened by five towers which, with the exception of a corner tower with a circular plan and another pentagonal one, have rectangular shapes. Tower I and Tower II have been preserved at the height of the walls, while towers III, IV and V are ruined. Of these, only the side walls are preserved on the ground level, while the front walls have completely disappeared.
THE TOWER OF "SULEJMAN'S TOWER"
The Sulejman Kulla Tower is located in the village of Kullas i Ishmit. It is the only tower in the Durrës district. It was declared a Cultural Monument around 1983. It is a three-story building built of stone. The tower has about 20 battlements, which served to protect the tower in case of attack. The first floor of the tower served as a warehouse, while the other floors were for living. The tower also has two balconies that served the residents. The tower was restored around 1988. Today it is in functional conditions and can be visited.
FORTIFICATION OF CAPE RODON
Among the fortifications built by Skanderbeg to protect the country in the war against the Turkish invasion, is the Castle on Cape Rodonit, known by the toponym "Skanderbeg's Castle", which was built around 1460.
The castle had a rectangular plan and was equipped with 4 defensive towers at each corner. It was destroyed by the Turks in 1467 and rebuilt by Venice 33 years later. Today, the main tower, 10 m high, and some defensive walls, 3.5 m thick, are preserved.
HOLY CHURCH – NDOIT in the Muzhli of Skanderbeg
The Church of St. Ndoi is located near the seashore north of Skanderbeg's castle on Cape Rodoni. The church belongs to the Romanesque-Gothic architectural type and was built at the end of the 13th century.
Written sources mention that there were three important churches near the Cape: the Church of Saint Mary, that of Saint Anastasia, and that of Saint Collet, where the Franciscan convents exercised their activity.
On the northern and southern walls of the Church, blind arches with a sharp profile pass over pilasters. On the eastern wall, there is a semicircular apse, both on the inside and outside. Inside the church, two layers of mural paintings can be seen on the masonry. According to history, Skanderbeg spent his vacation on the occasion of his marriage. The church was restored in 2003.
PORTO-ROMAN WALL
From the Wall of Porto Romana, about 7 km north of the city of Durrës, the remains of a wall that once closed the narrow strip of land, through the sea and the marsh, are still preserved today. Hezei briefly mentions these constructions, noting that the walls closed a system that had a length of no more than 200 m, and their system of brick strips bore a great resemblance to the more regular and older parts of the great enclosure of Durrës.
According to researchers, the northern wall that closed the strait was equipped with rectangular towers placed at equal distances.