City history
From its ancient roots as Epidamnos to its current status as Albania's most vital maritime gateway, Durres has stood as a witness to millennia of Mediterranean history.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Disputed"
The city was established by Corinthian colonists, serving as a vital maritime hub between the Greek and Illyrian worlds, marking its earliest recorded historical presence.
Disputed
The earliest documented Greek name for the settlement.
Dyrrhachion
The prominent Roman administrative center on the Via Egnatia.
Port
The contemporary Albanian name for the historic coastal city.
Chapter two
The region operates on Central European Time, aligning its temporal standards with mainland Europe for commercial and social synchronization.
Albania observes Daylight Saving Time to align with European Union standards, moving to Central European Summer Time during the spring and summer months.
Chapter three
Epidamnos was founded by Corinthian settlers, creating a strategic and commercial link between the Greek peninsula and the Illyrian coast.
The city became a crucial waypoint on the Roman road connecting the Adriatic coast to the Byzantine capital of Constantinople.
Under the rule of the Republic of Venice, the city saw significant architectural and defensive development to protect maritime interests.
The twentieth century brought significant infrastructure improvements to the port, enabling the city to serve as the nation's primary maritime gateway.