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Archaeological Museum of Durrës, Albania, plus Galan Trio performance!
Updated: Jun 17
This fascinating museum is the largest of its kind in Albania and was host to the wonderful Galan Trio for what was a pretty awesome date night. Recommended by our Airbnb host, our visit was a last minute impulse decision that we are most grateful to have done! The performance was excellent, as was the setting, ambience and the very special meaning behind the music.
In case you didn't know, we absolutely love history and we are always attracted to museums. We had not planned on coming here prior to our arrival in Durrës so the suggestion from our host was well received! Of course, the addition of a Piano Trio was a significant bonus and kind of typical of our travels; opportunities like this always seem to manifest and we are most grateful for them!
Read on for more on our fantastic experience here, including museum highlights, a video snippet of the Galan Trio performance and more information on the special story behind the concert.
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About the Archaeological Museum of Durrës
This museum was first opened in 1951 and has a collection of over 3000 artefacts. A vast majority are from the Greek and Roman time periods, when the city of Durrës was widely known as Dyrrhachium.
Durrës was once a centre of worship for the Greek Goddess Venus and such is the historical importance of some of the pieces that there are growing calls for this to become a national museum. It is currently operated by the Regional Directorate of Durrës Monuments. The museum has a lovely vibe and we both love Greek and Roman history so we were in our element!
The Archaeological Museum of Durrës is a great place to observe the life of people in Durres thousands of years ago. Alongside the aforementioned Greek and Roman collections, you can also find many Hellenistic, and Byzantine artifacts that really highlight the prominence of this region. All of the pieces have information detailed in English aswell as Albanian which we really appreciated!
There is a particularly large display of terracotta busts with artifacts referencing not just Venus but also the Greek Goddess of Love, Aphrodite. This was a welcome highlight for us as we got engaged at Aphrodite's Rock in Cyprus and have always held a very high regard for this special Goddess.
Additionally there are tons of coins, engraved tombstones, milestone markers, Roman & Greek statues and even a kiln for baking clay!
Not that you could tell today, but the museum itself suffered heavy damage from rioting and looting in the 1997 Albanian Revolution. It was gradually restored but closed its doors for 4 years in 2011 for further upgrades and improvements. It continues to attract funding for further renovations and has enjoyed more exposure and prominence in recent years.
Find out more about the Archaeological Museum of Durrës on their Facebook page here.
Keep reading to find out more about the exciting Galan Trio, highlights of their performance and a sneak peak of our other adventures in Albania.
Who are Galan Trio?
Galan Trio is a Greek band of 3 artists; Petros Bouras (piano), Dimitra Triantafyllou (violin) and Marina Kolovou (cello). Originally soloists, they came together in 2012 with a vision of performing classical music in a fresh new way. They include video art, light shows and dancing to accompany their unique interpretations. In September 2018, Babis Karasavvidis became their new violinist.
They have performed live in China, Greece, Armenia and a host of other countries. Their debut album 'Switch' received critical acclaim and was broadcasted around the world. They have shared the stage with a host of other major names in the industry and 'Ararat' is the latest composition that they have released for their ever-growing audience.
For upcoming events, latest news and more check out the Galan Trio website here.
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The Ararat Concert
This project has been performed in several countries around the Balkan and Greek states and its journey began 4 years ago. It is a beautiful concert underwritten by music created by no less than six different composers, all from different countries.
To ensure cohesion and flow to the compositions the theme 'Six Perspectives of Mount Ararat' was born. In Armenian, every element of the word 'Ararat' has a different meaning which is represented individually by the composers.
As stated on the concert programme: 'The story of Noah's Ark, stranded on the slopes of Mount Ararat after long, aimless wandering. The most important thing in this story is hope. To keep hoping even when everything has sunk, disappeared and nothing can be seen. But somewhere there is a mountain on whose flanks we might rest. Ararat is a symbol for all who believe in a life powered by indomitable hope.' - David Haladjian
The near 2 hour performance was flawless and the journey and meaning was evident in each of the six pieces of music. We were completely enamoured by the setting and the beautiful tones. Galan Trio were superb and we thoroughly enjoyed the Ararat Concert!
How to get to the Archaeological Museum of Durrës
Tap the map below for easy navigation to the museum. You will also find a host of other places of interest in the area; including a large food and restaurant district along the coast, just one block away from the museum.
The museum is open to the public Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 3pm. You can also book an appointment with a curator, tap here for details.
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Our Archaeological Museum of Durrës & Galan Trio experience rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
As far as date nights go, this one is right up there for us. It was totally unexpected having been recommended just a few hours before the event but it is those types of opportunities which tend to turn out to be the best ones. The setting inside the museum could not have been more perfect as the music enchanted and dazzled. It was very spiritual and you could feel the energy from not just the sounds but the epic artefacts too. This one will not be forgotten any time soon, that is for sure!
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Your FREE interactive map of Albania
Check out all of the places we visited in Albania courtesy of this interactive map from Wanderlog. Tap any of the numbers for more information including directions, our blog posts, links to reviews and much more.
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