Durrës

Durrës was founded as Epidamnus by Greeks from Corcyra and Corinth in the seventh century VCE. then passed to Illyrians in 312 BCE., then to the Romans who called it Dyrrhachium. Values as a seaport, it was besieged often, by Ostrogoths in 481, Bulgars in the tenth century, Normans in 1082), Byzantines in 1185, Venice in the 13th century, followed by Sicily, Naples, Greece, Serbs, Turks, and in World Wars I and II. The port of Durrës has become a main channel for the import of foodstuffs into Albania. The city's industries include shipbuilding and the manufacture of tobacco, plastic, and leather products. The population in 1989 was estimated as about 83,300.