The archaic port city of Durres is the second-largest in Albania. An important economical and industrial center, it is the most ancient of all the country's cities. Due to its incredible longevity, the remnants of its exciting history make for a fascinating visit for tourists. Founded in the 17th century BC, its location has long been desirable to invading armies, as evidenced by the last 900 years wherein control of the city had changed hands 33 times. The first settlers in the city were the Illyrians in 627 BC, and Durres became a prosperous trading harbor.
Since then, the city has expanded to the north and the east – and a host of new public and residential buildings have been erected while monuments of the ancient city have been preserved. Durres has a multitude of parks and flower gardens, and an outdoor theater can be found on the hills of the city. The key recreational areas are the Durres and Currilave beaches, where tourists can enjoy the sandy beaches and the clear seawater of the Adriatic.
The main attraction is the large Roman amphitheatre in the centre of town. Erected between 117-78 BC, it was used to host gladiator games that were watched by up to 20,000 people. Amazingly, it had lain forgotten until 1966, and 25 percent of the amphitheatre still remains buried beneath houses. In the city's center, tourists can find the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of History, numerous ancient Roman baths and a magnificent amphitheater behind a mosque.
Strolling along Durres' main street, travelers find a host of travel agents, cafes, shops and many bakeries that sell byrek – a delicacy made of pastries filled with slivers of salty cheese or sufflaq – pita bread stuffed with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, halal (permissible) meat and generously smothered with mayonnaise.
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