Durrës is the second largest city of
Albania. It is the most ancient and one of the most economically important cities of Albania. It is located on the central Albanian coast, about 33&_160;km (21&_160;mi) west of the capital
Tirana. It is situated at one of the narrower points of the
Adriatic Sea, opposite the
Italian ports of
Bari (300&_160;km/186&_160;mi away) and
Brindisi (200&_160;km/124&_160;mi away). It has a population of around 114,000 (as of 2003
[update] estimate). The city of Durrës is home to Albania's newest public university, the
Aleksander Moisiu University.
In the past few decades, the Albanian name of the city, Durrës (Durrësi), has gradually replaced the widespread use of the Italian name Durazzo.
The city has been known by many other names in different languages due to its varied colorful history, including the Greek names Epidamnos (?p?daµ???) and Dyrrhachion (?????????), the Latin Dyrr(h)achium, the Bulgarian and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Drach or Drac (????), the Ottoman Turkish Diraç and the Italian Durazzo.
For other names by which Durrës is known, see other names of Durrës.
