Durrës (Photo by Marc Morell)

The palace of king Zog I in Durrës (Photo by Joonas Lyytinen)

Durrës (Latin: Dyrrhachium, Italian: Durazzo) is the most ancient city of Albania and one of the most economically important as the biggest port city. It is located at 41.33°N, 19.45°E and has a population of around 114,000 (2003 estimate). The city and its harbour is located on the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea. The beaches of Durrës are local hotspots for many Albanians and are an important part of tourism in Albania. General info: Durrës, Albania Size: 55. ... General info: Durrës, Albania Size: 55. ... Download high resolution version (600x800, 59 KB) Palace of the King Zog I, was actually funded by the local businessmens of Durres and gave to King Zog I as a gift. ... Download high resolution version (600x800, 59 KB) Palace of the King Zog I, was actually funded by the local businessmens of Durres and gave to King Zog I as a gift. ... Latin is the language that was originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... A city is an urban area, differentiated from a town, village, or hamlet by size, population density, importance, or legal status. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Events January events January 1 Luíz Inácio Lula Da Silva becomes the 37th President of Brazil. ... The Adriatic Sea Source: NASA The Adriatic Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea separating the Apennine peninsula (Italy) from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges. ... Vlorë Tourism in Albania is still in its infancy. ...

During much of antiquity the city was known as Epidamnos, and later the Romans popularized the name Dyrrachium due mainly to the fact that Epidamnos was unfamiliar to their ears. Earlier, the ancient philosopher Aristotle had praised the city's political system. The Greek city of Epidamnos (Strabo Geography vi. ... The Greek city of Epidamnos (Strabo Geography vi. ... Aristotle (sculpture) Aristotle (Greek: Αριστοτέλης Aristotelēs) (384 BC – March 7, 322 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher. ...

In the Middle Ages Dyrrhachium was an important Byzantine port, and a major link between the empire and western Europe. In the 11th and 12th centuries it was subject to attack by the Normans of Sicily; Robert Guiscard captured it from Alexius I Comnenus in 1081 (see Battle of Dyrrhachium (1081)), and Robert's son Bohemund of Taranto was defeated there in 1107. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... The Normans (adapted from the name Northmen or Norsemen) were Scandinavian invaders (especially Danish Vikings) who began to occupy the northern area of France now known as Normandy in the latter half of the 9th century. ... Sicily (Sicilia in Italian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,700 sq. ... Robert Guiscard (i. ... Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus Alexius I (1048–August 15, 1118), Byzantine emperor (1081–1118), was the third son of John Comnenus, the nephew of Isaac I Comnenus (emperor 1057–1059). ... Events Corfu taken from Byzantine Empire by Robert Guiscard, Italy Byzantine emperor Nicephorus III is overthrown by Alexius I Comnenus, ending the Middle Byzantine period and beginning the Comnenan dynasty Alexius I helps defend Albania from the Normans (the first recorded mention of Albania), but is defeated at the Battle... The Battle of Dyrrhachium took place on October 18, 1081 between the Byzantine Empire, led by Alexius I, and the Normans under Robert Guiscard. ... Bohemund I of Antioch (c. ... Events William Warelwast becomes Bishop of Exeter. ...

The city was later under Venetian rule, and came to be known by the Italian name Durazzo. The Republic of Venice was a city-state in Venetia in Northeastern Italy, based around the city of Venice. ...

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 captured by the Serbs three days later. The Serbs stayed in Durrës until 1913. On March 7, 1913, Durrës became the capital of Albania, until 1920 when the capital was changed to Tirana. 1878 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1881 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1910 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1912 is a leap year starting on Monday. ... Ismail Qemali on postage stamp Ismail Bej Qemali (January 16, 1844-January 24, 1919) was born in Vlorë, Albania. ... Flag Ratio: 5:7 The national flag of Albania ( ) is a base red flag with a black two-headed eagle in the centre. ... November 26 is the 330th day (331st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1912 is a leap year starting on Monday. ... Serbs (in the Serbian language Срби, Srbi) are a south Slavic people living chiefly in Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... 1913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... March 7 is the 66th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (67th in Leap years). ... 1913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ... average temperature and precipitations in Tirana Tirana (Albanian: Tiranë or Tirana) is the capital and largest city of Albania. ...

During the rule of king Zog, the city experienced an economic boom due to Italian investments. An earthquake in 1926 damaged some of the city, and the rebuilding that followed gave the city its more modern appearance. Zog, King of the Albanians His Majesty King Zog, born Ahmed Bey Zogu (October 8, 1895–April 9, 1961), was an Albanian prime minister (1922-1924), president (1925-1928), and king (1928-1939 and 1943-1946, the latter period in name only). ... 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

After World War II the city experienced another period of growth and became more industrialized. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

Some important buildings in Durrës include the main library, the cultural center with the Aleksander Moisiu theater, the Estrada Theater, the puppet theater, the philharmonic orchestra, etc. There are also several museums such as the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of History. Aleksander Moisiu (April 2, 1879–March 22, 1935) (aka Alexander Moissi) was a famous Albanian stage actor. ...

Today the city is an important link to Western Europe due to its port and its proximity to the Italian port cities, such as Bari. Western Europe is distinguished from Eastern Europe by differences of history and culture rather than by geography. ... Location within Italy Bari is the second largest continental city of Southern Italy, with a population of 326,201 (2001) along 116 sq. ...

The city's beaches are also a very active point for many foreign and local tourists. Many Albanians from Tirana spend their summer vacations on the beaches of Durrës. Due to the recent construction of a highway linking Tirana and Durrës, the travel time is only approximately 30 minutes.

During the Kosovo war the city hosted some 110,000 refugees fleeing fighting in Kosovo and became a base of operations for much of the refugee response by aid agencies in Albania. The term Kosovo War or Kosovo Conflict is often used to describe two sequential and at times parallel armed conflicts (a civil war followed by an international war) in the southern Serbian province called Kosovo (officially Kosovo and Metohia), part of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. ... Kosovo (disambiguation). ... Humanitarian aid is assistance given to people in distress by individuals, organisations, or governments to relieve suffering. ...

See also

• History of Albania
• List of cities in Albania

This article briefly outlines each period of History of Albania only; details are presented in separate articles (see the links in the box and below). ... This is a list of cities in Albania: Apollonia Bajram Curri Ballsh Berat Bilisht Bulqizë Burrel Butrint Cërrik Çorovodë Delvinë Durrës Elbasan Ersekë Fier Fushë-Krujë Gjirokastër Gramsh Has Himarë Kamzë Kavajë Këlcyrë Klos Koplik Korçë Krujë Krumë Kuçovë Kukës Laç Lezhë Librazhd Lushnj...

External links

• ALBoZONE: Cities of Albania (http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7b2yg/id16.html)