Amphitheater of Durres

The Amphitheater of Durrës is one of the pearls of cultural heritage in Albania, which has a special history. This amphitheater, which is the largest and most important in Albania and the Balkans, is a testimony of the period of Roman art and architecture, being built at the beginning of the 2nd century AD, during the reign of Emperor Trajan.

The amphitheater has an elliptical shape with a diameter of 136 meters and a height of about 20 meters. Its architecture is of rare richness, comparable to the monuments of the same period in Pompeii and Capua in Italy. The white-tiled spectator staircase was able to accommodate between 16,000 and 20,000 spectators as gladiator fights took place in the arena, bringing a rich cultural and sporting atmosphere.

The Amphitheater of Durrës rises proudly in the center of the city, with a distance of 351 meters from the sea. Built 5.5 meters above sea level on the flat part of the arena, this amphitheater has a powerful structure, with 2/3 of it resting on a hill. This orientation and its location make it a rare example of architectural invention of the period.

Due to its extraordinary conservation and heritage, the Amphitheater of Durrës has survived for over 1,800 years and continues to be one of the 30 amphitheatres of the ancient world that have been discovered so far. Excavations and intensive research were done in the period 1967-1970, under the direction of the scientific collaborator Vangjel Toçi. These excavations have required the improvement and discovery of the complete structure of the amphitheater and have required continued collaboration with the University of Parma to finally complete the discovery and study of this important cultural and historical quarry. In this period, although there has been intervention in the urban landscape and the demolition of some private residences, there has been a continuous effort to preserve and explore this rich historical treasure. The Amphitheater of Durrës remains an important tourist destination and an important evidence of cultural heritage in Albania.