Description of the attraction
Durres Castle is a 5th century citadel founded by the supreme ruler of Byzantium Anastasius, who founded the settlement of Durres itself. The reign of Anastasius in Durres is marked by the fact that under him this city was one of the most protected policies in the Adriatic.
The fortress underwent a large-scale reconstruction in 1273 after a devastating earthquake. The ancient walls with a height of about 4, 6 meters and three arched passages, as well as several towers, have survived to this day. The remains of the fort's defensive wall have survived for almost a third of the original length of the fortress city. The main tower of the castle was strengthened with the arrival of the guard of the Republic of Venice, it was given a round shape, and during the domination of the Ottoman Empire in Albania, it was additionally fortified with walls. It is now called the Venetian, and now it houses a youth bar.
On April 7, 1939, the country's patriots fought under the cover of the castle walls when the Italian fascists invaded Albania. At that time, the garrison of Fort Durres consisted of 360 local residents, mainly gendarmes and townspeople, led by the head of the gendarmerie Abbas and Muyo Ulkianaku, an employee of the sea service. They sought to stop the Italians' advance. Armed only with rifles and three light machine guns, these heroes held their positions, but were suppressed by the guns of the tanks delivered by sea. After that, the resistance was broken, the Italians occupied the city in five hours.
The castle and the Venetian Tower are popular tourist sites in Durres.
