Durres Castle is an ancient fortress town located in Durres, Albania. The castle dates back to the 400s, during the rule of Anastasius I, the Byzantine Emperor who was raised in this region. The earthquake in 1273 created serious damages to the ancient walls which had to be repaired. At this time the Venetian Tower was built, standing on top of the previous Byzantine Tower, at a height of 9 meters. In 1939 the castle was the base for a collection of Albanian patriots attempting to delay the Italian army’s advance. Nowadays, the castle is one of the most visited ones in the country.