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Durres Amphitheater

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The amphitheater at Durres in central Albania is one of the larger and better preserved amphitheaters of the Roman world, as well as one of the eastern-most examples of the amphitheater form Durres Amphitheater. As one of the greatest Roman constructions in the region and one of the miracles erected under Roman emperor Trajan it was built after the 2nd century B.C.

The Amphitheater, made of a structure of bricks and stones, is composed of a two-story façade decorated with arches and colonnades overlooking the city center. It has an elliptical shape with axes of 132.4 metres (434 ft) and 113.2 metres (371 ft). The arena is 61.4 metres (201 ft) by 42.2 metres (138 ft) and is 20 metres (66 ft) high. The Amphitheater was in use for more than three decades, and had a capacity of between 15,000 and 20,000 spectators.  

It is included on the tentative list of Albania for inscribing it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2013, the amphitheatre was shortlisted along with thirteen other sites by Europa Nostra as one of the most endangered cultural heritage sites in Europe.

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