Editing Durres (section)

== History ==

Durrës was founded in 627 BC as Epidamnos by Greek settlers from Corinth and Corcyra. The settlement developed around a natural harbour. It became a trading point between the Adriatic coast and communities in the Balkan interior.

Under Roman rule, the city was known as Dyrrhachium. It became the western terminus of the [[Via Egnatia]], which crossed the Balkans toward Thessalonica and Constantinople. The port supported Roman military movements across the Adriatic. Commerce also expanded under Roman administration. Public buildings were constructed within the city, while defensive walls protected the settlement. The Durrës Amphitheatre was built during the Roman period.

Durrës remained an important port under the Byzantine Empire. Control changed repeatedly during the medieval period. Venice governed the city during part of the late Middle Ages. The Ottoman Empire captured Durrës in 1501 and retained it until the establishment of independent Albania in 1912.

In 1914, Durrës became the seat of the Albanian government under Prince Wilhelm of Wied. The city continued to function as a national maritime centre during the following decades. Italian forces landed at Durrës during the invasion of Albania on 7 April 1939. Albanian defenders resisted the landing around the port.

Urban development expanded after the Second World War. New housing districts were built around the older city. Industrial sites grew near the port. New railway facilities connected Durrës with inland Albania.

On 26 November 2019, an earthquake struck western Albania and caused extensive damage in Durrës. Apartment blocks and hotels were damaged or destroyed. Public structures also suffered damage. Rescue operations were followed by reconstruction work across the city.