Durrës (also known under Italian name Durazzo), historically known as Epidamnos and Dyrrachium, is the second most populous city of the Republic of Albania. Located on the Adriatic Sea, it is the country's most ancient and economic and historic center.
Durrës (Durres), Albania Monterrasol private car tours to
Durrës (Durres), Albania Monterrasol private car tours to
Durrës (Durres), Albania Monterrasol private car tours to
Durrës (Durres), Albania Monterrasol private car tours to
Apollonia - Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site, museum, orthodox monastery; archaeological site is a UNESCO Tentative List Site
Berat - Known for architecture, bridge, byzantine empire, castle, historical center, medieval old town, museum, river, venetian empire; historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Krujë (Kruje) - Known for castle, historical center, museum
Founded in the ancient region of Illyria in 627 BC by Greek colonists from Corinth and Corfu under the name of Epidamnos around the 7th century BC, the city essentially developed to become significant as it became an integral part of the Roman Empire and its successor the Byzantine Empire.
Durrës is served by the Port of Durrës, one of the largest on the Adriatic Sea, which connects the city to Italy and other neighboring countries. Its most considerable attraction is the Amphitheater of Durrës that is included on the tentative list of Albania for designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once having a capacity for 20,000 people, it is the largest amphitheater in the Balkan Peninsula.
After the Illyrian Wars with the Roman Republic in 229 BC ended in a decisive defeat for the Illyrians, the city passed to Roman rule, under which it was developed as a major military and naval base.
The Romans renamed it Dyrrachium. They considered the name Epidamnos to be inauspicious because of its wholly coincidental similarities with the Latin word damnum, meaning "loss" or "harm". The meaning of Dyrrachium ("bad spine" or "difficult ridge" in Greek) is unclear, but it has been suggested that it refers to the imposing cliffs near the city.
One of the city's main sights is the Byzantine city wall, also called Durrës Castle, while the largest amphitheater in the Balkans is found close to the city's harbor.
Durrës is home to the largest archaeological museum in the country, the Durrës Archaeological Museum, located near the beach. North of the museum are the sixth-century Byzantine walls constructed after the Visigoth invasion of 481. The bulk of the museum consists of artifacts found in the nearby ancient site of Dyrrhachium and includes an extensive collection from the Illyrian, Ancient Greek, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Items of major note include Roman funeral steles and stone sarcophagi, an elliptical colorful mosaic measuring 17 by 10 feet, referred to as The Beauty of Durrës, and a collection of miniature busts of Venus, testament to the time when Durrës was a centre of worship of the goddess.
Durrës (Durres) related tours
We at Monterrasol Travel welcome you to see Durrës (Durres) during multi-day private car tour. Contact us if you would like to customize your tour to Durrës (Durres).
We have developed several tours that visiting this beautiful place. But, if you have a special conditions or any from these tours fit you, please do not hesitate to contact us, we can organize a tour exactly as you would like. And remember, we have no problems to take you from almost any place where you stay, hotel or private accommodation.
Balkans discovery 15 days tour will open for you 4 countries: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia. Together with mentioned countries, you will also briefly meet famous Dubrovnik in Croatia and enjoy great time in beautiful coastal city Thessaloniki in Greece. With this tour we will pass over wonderful hilly Bosnia-Herzegovina, coastal venetian towns of Montenegro, fortresses and castles of Albania, and old roman sites of Macedonia.
In each country we going to discover we will visit most of must-see places. We will walk venetian coastal towns in Montenegro; medieval towns in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; will see famous Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia; ancient roman settlements in Macedonia and Greece; fortified towns in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania; archaeological places in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia; medieval fortresses and castles in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania; UNESCO sites in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro.
In this tour we will travel 15 days by Adriatic coast of Montenegro and Albania, and discover Greece mainland and Peloponnese. Meet during the tour ancient monasteries and castles, enjoy amazing beaches, touch stones of old places in 3 countries.
This 18 days tour will allow you to meet amazing south Balkans countries: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, and of course beautiful Greece. We will pass through medieval fortified towns, old venetian coastal towns, old castles and fortresses, Orthodox monasteries, archaeological sites, and amazing Balkans coastal line. Each country we going to visit will show must-see attraction; many sites we going to will visit are UNESCO Heritage sites. At season time we will stop on beaches to take a rest, to refresh and enjoy the crystal clear water.
This Balkans discovery tour will open for you 6 famous countries: Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, and Greece. Each country have a rich history and many attractions. With this tour we will pass over Adriatic coast and Dalmatian Riviera of Croatia, wonderful hilly nature of Bosnia-Herzegovina, coastal venetian towns of Montenegro, unexpected panoramas of Albania, visit roman sites of Macedonia, and finally come to gem of this tour, beautiful Greece.
We will walk in medieval and venetian towns in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania; will see famous Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; ancient roman settlement in Albania, Macedonia, and Greece; fortified towns in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; archaeological places in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and Greece; medieval fortresses in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; UNESCO sites in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Greece.
This extended 24 days cultural and panoramic tour from Dubrovnik to Athens will allow you to explore amazing South Balkans countries: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, and of course beautiful Greece. We will pass through medieval fortified towns in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Greece, old venetian coastal towns in Montenegro, Albania and Greece, old castles and fortresses om each country, Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Greece, famous archaeological sites in Greece, and amazing Balkans coastal line with beaches and crystal clear sea.
Each country we going to visit will show must-see attraction; many sites we going to will visit are UNESCO Heritage sites. At season time we will stop on beaches to take a rest, to refresh and enjoy the unbelievable clear water.
With this extended 26 days Balkans cultural tour you will explore 6 countries: Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia and Greece. We will pass by Adriatic coast and Dalmatian Riviera of Croatia, wonderful hilly nature of Bosnia-Herzegovina, coastal medieval towns of Montenegro, unexpected panoramas and castles of Albania, meet truly roman sites of Macedonia and rich historic places of Greece.
We will visit medieval and venetian towns in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; will see famous Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Greece; ancient roman theaters in Macedonia and Greece; fortified towns in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; archaeological places in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and Greece; medieval fortresses of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania and Montenegro; UNESCO sites in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania and Greece.
March 28, 2021 Stobi, Macedonia. Stobi, the biggest city from the antique period in this part of Macedonia, only 80km south from the the capital Skopje, is a place that links the Mediterranean to the continental Balkan hinterlands, shrouded by the mythical rivers of Axios and Erigon, along which countless Roman legions, Crusading cavalries, Ottoman conquerors and World War armies had marched. Today, this region represents the midpoint where the Old and the New World of wine meet.
February 13, 2021 Kraljeva Sutjeska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kraljeva Sutjeska is a village in the municipality of Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, almost at the middle of Bosnia and Herzegovina territory.
The village hosts a number of important historical sites: 14th century Catholic Franciscan monastery, ruins of the medieval Bosnian Court, an old Bosnian house with the original architecture from the 18th century, and mosque from 15th century, claimed to be the oldest in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also, very close to the village is located Bobovac, a fortified city of medieval Bosnia and Herzegovina.
January 30, 2021 Ohrid, Macedonia. Ohrid is a city in the country with modern name North Macedonia (before it called just Macedonia). Ohrid once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and has been referred to as a "Jerusalem of the Balkans". The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are Cultural as well as Natural sites.
January 22, 2021 Szigliget, Hungary. The ruins of the medieval recently restored fortress stand atop the 239m Várhegy hill.
January 7, 2021 Berat, Albania. Berat is the ninth largest city by population of the Republic of Albania. Berat, UNESCO World Heritage Site from 2008, comprises a unique style of architecture with influences from several civilizations that have managed to coexist for centuries throughout the history. Like many cities in Albania, Berat comprises an old fortified city filled with churches and mosques painted with grandiose wealth of visible murals and frescos. Berat is one of the main cultural centers of the country.
