- Address: Rruga Sotir Noka, Durres, Albania
- Phone: +3 555 226 14 35
- Area: 20 square meters. m.
- Capacity: 20 thousand people
- Working hours: 9.00 - 16.00
- The cost of visiting 300 lek
The famous ancient amphitheater in Durres is a preserved architectural monument of the Roman colonists who conquered the city after the Greeks. It is the largest amphitheater on the Balkan Peninsula and the only one in Albania . Despite its impressive age, the amphitheater is perfectly preserved to our days and now it can be visited.
History
From II to VI century AD, the amphitheater in Durres was used for its intended purpose. In the arena, gladiatorial fights were conducted, wild animals were hunted, theatrical performances were shown. In the middle of the VI century, with the strong influence on the life of people of religion, during the reign of Emperor Heraclius I, the chapel of St. Augustine was built in the upper part of the amphitheater. Later, around the 10th-10th centuries, frescoes and mosaic mosaics have been preserved here to this day. Since 1960, the amphitheater has been recognized as a national treasure and a historical monument of Albania .
In 1966, archaeologists from the University of Parma in Italy made many discoveries. Parts of library records about gladiatorial fights were found, staircases and galleries were cleaned. Since this time, there has been a constant restoration of the amphitheater, according to ancient drawings, the constructions of galleries that have a radial-circular direction have been restored.
Description
The Amphitheater in Durres is a typical ancient building. Historians suggest that the amphitheater was built at the beginning of the second century of our era. The structure is located inside the ancient walls and is located on the slope. This, most likely, and allowed to keep it in good condition, tk. multiple showers and sea winds greatly destroy the architectural structures, and thanks to the slope the water flows quickly and does not have time to destroy the ancient amphitheater.
The amphitheater is built in an elliptical form - this was done in order to have a better sound during performances. The area of the arena of the Roman amphitheater is about 20 square meters. Capacity - about 20 thousand spectators. To enter the different levels, stairs and rows of symmetrical corridors were built. For today, only a third of the amphitheater in Durres has survived well. The northern gallery is literally recessed into the hillside, which is why the mosaics and wall paintings were perfectly preserved in this part. Also in the complex of the amphitheater there are Roman baths, hotel bathing rooms, common changing rooms.
How to get there?
Today the amphitheater in Durres is a museum. Travelers can visit it on weekdays from 9-00 to 16-00 for 300 people per person. If you came here on Sunday and Saturday, the amphitheater can be viewed from the pedestrian walkway above the northern gallery, from where a beautiful panorama of the whole building opens.
From Central Train Station in Durres to the amphitheater can be reached in 10 minutes by taxi or car by Rruga Adria and Rruga Egnatia towards Rruga Sotir Noka. From Durrës Port Authority you can walk a few kilometers along the road Rruga Doganes in the direction of Rruga Sotir Noka right up to the amphitheater.
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