Amfiteatri i Durrësit

Amfiteatri i Durrësit is a Roman amphitheatre in the centre of Durrës, Albania. It remains the largest Roman amphitheatre in the Balkans. Built under Emperor Trajan, the amphitheatre dates from the early second century and hosted public spectacles. Its elliptical arena rises partly from a hillside. Roman engineers adapted the structure to the slope, creating stairways, galleries, and routes for spectators. Gladiator games continued here until the fourth century. Later, a Christian chapel occupied the galleries and received frescoes and mosaics. Sixth-century mosaics depict Mary, angels, and early saints. A second painted chapel was added during the thirteenth century. Earthquakes damaged the site, while Ottoman-era construction buried parts beneath later buildings. The amphitheatre’s ruins were rediscovered in 1966. Systematic restoration began in the 2000s, while modern Durrës continued growing around the remains. The site now functions as a museum and archaeological site. Its preserved chapels reveal changing religious uses within a Roman entertainment complex. Amfiteatri i Durrësit stands on Albania’s Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage.