Durrës
—  Municipality and City  —
Seal
Durrës
Coordinates: 41°19′N 19°27′E / 41.317°N 19.45°E / 41.317; 19.45
Country	Albania
County	Durrës County
District	Durrës District
Regions (Rajone)	6
Founded	627 BC
Government
• Mayor	Vangjush Dako (PS)[1]
Elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Population (2011)[2]
• Municipality and City	115,550
• Metro	265,330
Time zone	Central European Time (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	2001-2009
Area code(s)	052
Twin cities
• Istanbul	Turkey
• Prishtina	Kosovo
• Prizren	Kosovo
• Bari	Italy
• Ulqin	Montenegro
• Thessaloniki	Greece
Website	www.durres.gov.al

Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about 33 km (21 mi) west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari (300 km/186 mi away) and Brindisi (200 km/124 mi away). Durrës is home to Albania's main port, the Port of Durrës, and to the newest public university, the Aleksandër Moisiu University. It has a population of 115,550, while metropolitan area has a population of 265,330 ^[2]. In addition, it is the meeting point of national roads SH2 and SH4. Founded in the 7th century BC by Greek colonists from Corinth and Corcyra under the name Epidamnos,^[3] it has been continuously inhabited for 27 centuries and is one of the oldest cities in Albania. Durrës served as Albania's national capital from 7 March 1914 until 11 February 1920 during the reign of William of Albania in Principality of Albania.^[4] In 2012, The Globe and Mail ranked Durres at no.1 among 8 exciting new cruise ports to explore.^[5]

Names[link]

Durres seen from above

The city was named in Greek as Epidamnos (Επίδαμνος) and Dyrrhachion (Δυρράχιον) "two ridges", or in Latin Epidamnus and Dyrrachium. Roman authors believed that the town was renamed from Epidamnus to Dyrrachium after the hero Dyrrachius.^[6] The modern name of the city in Albanian Durrës and Italian Durazzo was altered by variations of the Slavic Dŭračĭ (modern Drač (Драч)),^[7] from the era when the city was held by the Serbian and Bulgarian empires. It was known in Ottoman Turkish as Dıraç. In the past few decades, the Albanian name Durrës (Durrësi) has gradually replaced the widespread use of the Italian name Durazzo. For other names by which Durrës is known, see other names of Durrës.

History[link]

Ancient[link]

Ancient Greek coin of Dyrrachium. Obv. Cow feeding a calf. Rev. Two stylized thunders of Zeus with the letters ΔΥΡ (DYR).

Though surviving remains are minimal,^[8] 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^[9] colonists from Corinth and Corcyra, modern-day Corfu. The general vicinity of Epidamus was called Epidamnia.^[10] The city's geographical position was highly advantageous, as it was situated around a natural rocky harbour which was surrounded by inland swamps and high cliffs on the seaward side, making the city very difficult to attack from either land or sea.

Epidamnos was noted for being a politically advanced society, prompting Aristotle^[11] to praise its political system in controlling trade between the Greek colonists and the local barbarians.

Durrës Amphitheatre

However, Corinth and Corcyra, each with a claim to be "mother city" (metropolis), quarreled over the city, helping to precipitate the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC as one of the most significant battles took place on the Durrës seaside. Epidamnos was seized by Glaukias, an Illyrian king, in 312 BC with the help of the local Greek oligarchy.^[12] Later Queen Teuta attacked Epidamnos but withdrew when the Romans arrived the same year (229 BC) and expelled the Illyrian garrison from the city, including it thereafter in their protectorate. The Romans set up replaced the rule of Teuta with that of Demetrius of Pharos, one of her generals.^[13] 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^[14] at the same year.

For Catullus, the city was Durrachium Hadriae tabernam, "the taberna of the Adriatic", one of the stopping places for a Roman traveling up the Adriatic, as Catullus had done himself in the sailing season of 56.^[15]

Roman and Byzantine rule[link]

After the Illyrian Wars with the Roman Republic in 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 renamed it Dyrrachium (Greek: Δυρράχιον / Dyrrhachion). They considered the name Epidamnos to be inauspicious because of its wholly coincidental similarities with the Latin word damnum, meaning "loss" or "harm". The meaning of Dyrrachium ("bad spine" or "difficult ridge" in Greek) is unclear, but it has been suggested that it refers to the imposing cliffs near the city. Julius Caesar's rival Pompey made a stand there in 48 BC before fleeing south to Greece. Under Roman rule, Dyrrachium prospered; it became the western end of the Via Egnatia, the great Roman road that led to Thessalonica and on to Constantinople. Another lesser road led south to the city of Buthrotum, the modern Butrint. The Roman emperor Caesar Augustus made the city a colony for veterans of his legions following the Battle of Actium, proclaiming it a civitas libera (free town).

In the 4th century AD, Dyrrachium was made the capital of the Roman province of Epirus nova. It was the birthplace of the emperor Anastasius I in circa 430. Some time 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 m (36 ft)-high walls were so thick that, according to the Byzantine historian Anna 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.

Like much of the rest of the Balkans, Dyrrachium and the surrounding Dyrraciensis provinciae suffered considerably from barbarian incursions during the Migrations Period. It was besieged in 481 by Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths, and in subsequent centuries had to fend off frequent attacks by the Bulgarians. Unaffected by the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the city continued under the Byzantine Empire as an important port and a major link between the Empire and western Europe.

Middle Ages[link]

Durrës in 1573

The city and the surrounding coast became a Byzantine province (the Theme of Dyrrhachium) in the early 9th century. Byzantine rule was contested by the Bulgarians under Simeon the Great, but it remained in Byzantine hands until the late 10th century, when Samuel of Bulgaria conquered the city and held it until ca. 1005.

Dyrrachium was lost in February 1082 by the emperor Alexios I Komnenos to the Normans under Robert Guiscard and his son Bohemund in the Battle of Dyrrhachium. Byzantine control was restored a few years later but the city was lost again in 1185, this time to the Norman King William II of Sicily. In 1205, after the Fourth Crusade, the city was transferred to the rule of the Republic of Venice who formed the "Duchy of Durazzo". This Duchy was destroyed in 1213 and the city was taken by the Despotate of Epirus. In 1257 Durrës was briefly occupied by the King of Sicily, Manfred of Hohenstaufen. It was re-occupied by the Despote of Epirus Michael II until 1259 when the Despotate was defeated by the Byzantine Empire of Nicaea in the Battle of Pelagonia. In 1270's Durrës was again controlled by Nikephoros I Angelos, the son of Despot Michael II who in 1278 was forced to yield the city to Charles d' Anjou (Charles I of Sicily).

Venetian Tower of Durrës

Five years later, in ca. 1273, it was wrecked by a devastating earthquake (according to George Pachymeres; R. Elsie, Early Albania (2003), p. 12) but soon recovered. It was briefly occupied by the King Milutin of Serbia in 1296. In early 14th century the city was under the rule of a coalition between Anjous, Hungarians and the Albanian rulers of the Thopia family. In 1317 or 1318 the area was taken by the Serbs and remained under their rule till 1350's. 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 the religious center of the Catholicism after the Anjou were installed in Durrës. In 1272 a Catholic archbishop was installed and till mid 14th c. a double line of Catholic and Orthodox archbishops of Durrës seem to exist.^[16]

Durrës Ancient City Wall Entrance

When the Serbian King (Tsar) Dušan, died in 1355, the city passed into the hands of the Albanian family of Thopias. In 1376 the Navarrese Company Louis of Évreux, Duke of Durazzo who had gained the rights on the Albanian Kingdom from his second wife, attacked and conquered the city, but in 1383, Karl Topia took once again control of the city.^[17] The Republic of Venice regained control in 1392 and retained the city, known as Durazzo in those years, as part of the Albania Veneta. It fended off a siege by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in 1466 but fell to Ottoman forces in 1501.

Durrës became a Christian city quite early on; its bishopric was created around AD 58 and was raised to the status of an archbishopric in 449. It was also the seat of a Greek Orthodox metropolitan bishop. Under Turkish rule, many of its inhabitants converted to Islam and many mosques were erected. This city was renamed as Dıraç, the city did not prosper under the Ottomans and its importance declined greatly. By the mid-19th century, its population was said to have been only about 1,000 people living in some 200 households. Its decrepitude was noted by foreign observers in the early 20th century: "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."^[18] It was a sanjak centre in İşkodra Vilayet before 1912.

20th century[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

Durrës was an active city in the Albanian national liberation movement in the periods 1878-1881 and 1910-1912. Ismail Qemali raised the Albanian flag on November 26, 1912 but the city was occupied by the Kingdom of Serbia three days later during the First Balkan War. On November 29, 1912 Durrës became the county town of the Durrës County (Serbian: Драчки округ) one of the counties of the Kingdom of Serbia established on the part of the territory of Albania occupied from Ottoman Empire.

William, Prince of Albania and his wife Princess Sophie of Albania arriving in Durrës, the capital of Albania on 7 March 1914.

The Durrës County had four districts (Serbian: срез): Durres, Lezha, Elbasan and Tirana.^[19] The army of the Kingdom of Serbia retreated from Durrës in April 1913.^[20] The city became Albania's second national capital (after Vlora) on March 7, 1914 under the brief rule of Prince William of Wied.^[21] It remained Albania's capital until February 11, 1920 when the Congress of Lushnjë madeTirana the capital.

During the First World War, the city was occupied by Italy in 1915 and by Austria-Hungary in 1916-1918. It was captured by the Allies in 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 King Zog, with a modern harbour being constructed in 1927.

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

The Second World War saw Durrës (called Durazzo again in Italian) and the rest of Albania being annexed to the Kingdom of Italy between 1939–1943, then occupied by Nazi Germany until 1944. Durrës's strategic value as a seaport made it a high-profile military target for both sides. It was the site of the initial Italian landings on 7 April 1939 as well as the launch point for the ill-fated Italian invasion of Greece. The city was heavily damaged by Allied bombing during the war and the port installations were blown up by the retreating Germans in 1944.

The Communist regime of Enver Hoxha rapidly 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 first railway, begun in 1947. In the late 1980s the city was briefly renamed Durrës-Enver Hoxha. The city was and continuous 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 the European Community's "Operation Pelican", a food-aid program.

In 1997, Albania slid into anarchy following the collapse of a massive pyramid scheme which 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 turn of the century, Durres has been revitalized as many streets were repaved, while parks and facades experienced a face lift.

Economy[link]

Durres seaside seen from the SH2 expressway exit ramp

Durrës is an important link to Western Europe due 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 port has experienced major upgrades in recent years.

The southern coastal stretch is renown 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, with an estimated 600,000 tourists visiting annually. Many Albanians from Tirana and elsewhere spend their summer vacations on the beaches of Durrës. In 2012, new water sanitation systems are being installed to completely eliminate sea water pollution. In contrast, the northern coastal stretch is mostly unspoiled and set to become an elite tourism destination as a number of prestigious resorts are being built. The neighboring districts are known for the production of good wine and a variety of foodstuffs.

Climate[link]

Durrës has a typical Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool winters. The average of water temperature in Durrës is from 14 °C (57 °F) in February to 26 °C (79 °F) in August. The summer in Durrës starts from May to middle of October .

The southern part of the coastal plain is characterized by a relatively dry Mediterranean climate, hot summers with an average temperature of 26 °C. Winter is mild and wet with an average temperature of 9.8 °C. The average annual rainfall amounts to 800-1 300 mm, but only 12 percent of the total falls in the period June-September. In this area many crops are grown (cereals, industrial crops, vegetables, forages etc.), also citrus and olive trees.

Sights[link]

Some important buildings in Durrës include the main library, the cultural center with the Aleksander Moisiu theater, the Estrada Theater, the puppet theater, and the philharmonic orchestra. There are also several museums such as the Durrës Archaeological Museum, Royal Villa of Durrës and the Museum of History.

The city hosts the Durres Ancient City Wall called also Durrës Castle while the largest amphitheatre in the Balkans is located in the city close to the harbour. This first-century construction is currently under consideration for inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site.^[23][24]

Panorama of Durrës Amphitheatre

International relations[link]

Consulates in Durrës[link]

•  Belgium
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina
•  Turkey

Twin towns — sister cities[link]

• Istanbul, Turkey^[25][26]
• Prishtina, Kosovo
• Prizren, Kosovo
• Bari, Italy
• Ulcinj, Montenegro
• Thessaloniki, Greece (since April 5, 2012)^[27]

Notable people[link]

• Saint Astius of Durrës, Martyr and Bishop of Dyrrhachium
• Anastasius I, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire
• Karl Topia, Prince of Albania
• Leonik Tomeu, professor of Nicholas Copernicus at the University of Padova
• John Kukuzelis, famous Albanian Byzantine music composer
• Andrea Aleksi, Albanian architect, painter and sculptor
• Abaz Efendi Çelkupa, signatory of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
• Mustafa Agë Hanxhiu, signatory of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
• Jahja Ballhysa, signatory of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
• Dom Nikollë Kaçorri, signatory of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
• Pjetër Arbnori, "the Mandela of the Balkans"
• Panajot Pano, famous soccer player
• Namik Dokle, politician and former Chairman of the Parliament of Albania from September 2001 to April 2002.
• Mirela Manjani, athlete
• Pëllumb Xhufi, historian and former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Fatmir Mediu, leader of Republican Party of Albania
• Sokol Olldashi, Albanian politician and current Minister of Public Works, Transportation and Telecommunications
• Bujar Nishani, Albanian politician and current Minister of Interior
• Gazmend Oketa, former Albanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
• Ferdinand Xhaferraj, former Minister of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Youth and Sports
• Lefter Koka, former Mayor of Durrës and current Member of the Albanian parliament
• Vangjush Dako, current Mayor of Durrës
• Edmond Kapllani, soccer player
• Emiljano Vila, soccer player
• Kreshnik Qato, boxer

Gallery[link]

• 

  King Zog's Villa overlooking Durrës

• 

  Durrës Sea Promenade

• 

  Durrës Mosque and the Art Gallery beneath

• 

  Durrës Cathedral

• 

  Durrës Beach at sunset

• 

  Durrës Archaeological Museum

• 

  Durrës beach during the summer

See also[link]

• Battle of Dyrrhachium
• Durrës Castle
• Rrok Mirdita
• The Beauty of Durrës
• Tourism in Albania
• Golem, Kavajë
• Cape of Rodon
• Transport in Albania
• List of ancient cities in Illyria
• List of traditional Greek place names
• 2010 Albania floods

References[link]

Bibliography[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Category:Durrës

• Durrës on Wikitravel
• Durrës on In Your Pocket City Guide
• Official Durres Guide
• Official Map of Durres
• Visit Durrës (Archived webpage)
• Municipality of Durrës (Albanian)
• Durrës International Film Summer Fest
• Durrës Port Authority
• Minibus departure times from/to Durrës
• Panoramic Photo of Durres in the 1920s
• Durrës Projet
• Explore Durrës Amphitheatre with Google Earth on Global Heritage Network
• What to see in Durres
• Durres travel guide

Coordinates: 41°19′N 19°27′E / 41.317°N 19.45°E / 41.317; 19.45

v t e Cities in Albania Bajram Curri Bajzë Ballsh Berat Bilisht Bulqizë Burrel Cërrik Çorovodë Delvinë Divjakë Durrës Elbasan Ersekë Fier Fushë-Arrëz Fushë-Krujë Gjirokastër Gramsh Himarë Kamëz Kavajë Këlcyrë Klos Konispol Koplik Korçë Krasta Krrabë Krujë Krumë Kuçovë Kukës Kurbnesh Laç Leskovik Lezhë Libohovë Librazhd Lushnjë Maliq Mamurras Manëz Memaliaj Orikum Patos Peqin Përmet Peshkopi Pogradec Poliçan Prrenjas Pukë Reps Roskovec Rrëshen Rrogozhinë Rubik Sarandë Selenicë Shëngjin Shijak Shkodër Sukth Tepelenë Tirana Ulëz Urë Vajgurore Vau i Dejës Vlorë Vorë

v t e Municipalities of Durrës County Capital: Durrës Durrës District Durrës Gjepalaj Ishëm Katund i Ri Maminas Manëz Rrashbull Shijak Sukth Xhafzotaj Krujë District Bubq Cudhi Fushë-Krujë Kodër-Thumanë Krujë Nikël

With Friends Like These... is a 1998 film by Philip Frank Messina. It stars Robert Costanzo, Jon Tenney, David Strathairn and Adam Arkin, and features a cameo by Bill Murray.

Summary[link]

In the film, four small-time two-bit character actors (Costanzo, Tenney, Strathairn and Arkin), all close friends, are competing for same important part in the next Martin Scorsese mob film.

Cast[link]

• Adam Arkin - Steve Hersh
• David Strathairn - Armand Minetti
• Jon Tenney - Dorian Mastandrea
• Robert Costanzo - Johnny DiMartino
• Amy Madigan - Hannah DiMartino
• Laura San Giacomo - Joanne Hersh
• Elle Macpherson - Samantha Mastandrea
• Lauren Tom - Yolanda Chin
• Beverly D'Angelo - Theresa Carpenter
• Ashley Peldon - Marissa DiMartino
• Allison Bertolino - Dana DiMartino
• Bill Murray - Maurice Melnick
• Frederika Kesten - Catrice
• Carmine Costanzo - Nino DiMartino
• Heather Stephens - Babette
• Martin Scorsese - Himself

External links[link]

• With Friends Like These... at the Internet Movie Database.
• With Friends Like These... at AllRovi

This film article about a 1990s comedy is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e