Durrës

city in Albania

Durrës is the second largest city of Albania. It is on the central Albanian coast, about 33 kilometres (21 mi) west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durrës is at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea. It is opposite the Italian ports of Bari (300 kilometres (190 mi) away) and Brindisi (200 kilometres (120 mi) away). Durrës is home to Albania's main port, the Port of Durrës. The Aleksandër Moisiu University is here. The town has about 115,550 people.[2] Durrës was the national capital from 7 March 1914 until 11 February 1920 .[3]

Durrës
Official seal of Durrës
Durrës is located in Albania
Durrës
Durrës
Coordinates: 41°19′N 19°27′E / 41.317°N 19.450°E / 41.317; 19.450
CountryAlbania
CountyDurrës County
DistrictDurrës District
Regions (Rajone)6
Founded627 BC
Government
 • MayorVangjush Dako (PS)[1]
Elevation
0 ft (0 m)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Municipality and City115,550
 • Metro
265,330
Time zoneUTC+1 (Central European Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
2001-2009
Area code052
Websitewww.durres.gov.al

Climate

change

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 .

History

change

Durrës was founded as a Greek colony, in 627 BC. It was called Epidamnos by the Greeks, and Epidamnus by the Romans. Around 436 BC there was a civil war, which caused the Peloponnesian War. Around 200 BC, Plautus wrote a comeny, Menaechmi, which takes plce in Epidamos. After the Illyro-Roman Wars Epidamnos became a Roman protectorate. It changed its name to Dyrrhachium (Dyrrháchion Δυρράχιον in Greek). They also built the Via Egnatia, which linked Dyrrachium to Byzantium. It was the contiuation of the Via Appia, which ended in Brindisi, 150km away across the Adriatic Sea.

References

change
  1. "Durrës.gov.al". Archived from the original on 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Population and Housing Census in Albania" (PDF). Institute of Statistics of Albania. 2011.
  3. Organic Statute of the Principality of Albania (in Albanian) Archived 2012-02-27 at the Wayback Machine, http://licodu.cois.it