Durres (Tirana, Albania)

Port Durres (aka Durres Harbor) is Albania's largest port and also the cruise port to Tirana (country's capital city). The harbour is an artificial water basin located at the north end of the same-named bay. The port's entrance is oriented west-northwest (width approx 600 ft / 183 m) and passing between two breakwaters. Albania's other cruise ports include Vlore (Albania's 2nd-largest port) and Sarande - both positioned on the Albanian Riviera (Bregu).

The port is also among the largest passenger (ferry and cruise) ports in Adriatic Sea. Its annual passenger shipping volume is around 1,5 million. The use of tugboats in the port is mandatory.

The city is located on Albania's central coast, approx 33 km (21 mi) west of Tirana. The municipality covers a total area of 338 km2 (131 mi2) and has population over 200,000.  It is located at one of the narrower points of Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Brindisi and Bari.

Port Durres is the 10th largest cargo port on Adriatic Sea, handling over 3,4 million tonnes of cargo annually. Many railways and roads pass through the city. It is the starting point of Albania's national roads SH2 and SH4, also of the Pan-European Corridor 8. It also serves as the main train station on the national railway HSH (Hekurudha Shqiptare).

There are some well-preserved Roman arenas in Durees which have been excavated in the city's old quarter. Established as Epidamnus by the Greeks in 7th century BC, Durres was seized by the Illyrians and then passed to the Romans. In 4th century AD Durres became capital of the Roman province Epirus Nova, but during its history, it later came under control of Byzantines, Crusaders, Sicilians, Venetians, Serbs, Albanians and Greeks. In 1913 it was declared capital of independent Albania but was overrun by Austrians and later Italians in World War I.

Here is also one of the biggest amphitheatres on the Balkan peninsula. The ancient Durres Amphitheatre once had capacity around 20,000 seats.