Via Egnatia

To the east of the city of Kavaja lay the so-called “Highway of the Balkans” used from antiquity to the late Middle Ages, Via Egnatia. Built by the Romans in the c. II AD the beginning of which was the ancient city of Dyrrachium, today’s Durrës, which is only 20 km north of Kavaja. Its construction in this area brings us a very significant testimony from ancient times about the importance of this three in the economic plane and the connection with other areas of Albania and not only.

Egnaitia as a communication artery existed before the Roman occupation, but as a regular road with tracks, bridges and stations it was equipped in 146 AD. the proconsul of the Roman province of Macedonia Gnaeus Egnatius, who undertook complete construction work on it.

The strategic goal of the Romans was to create the opportunity for the military legions to move more easily from the Adriatic to the interior of the Balkans. Strabo, in his book Geography gives us this description: From Apollonia begins the Egnatia Road, this road is measured in miles and marked with pillars. Those starting from Apollonia and Epdamni meet at a point on the road equidistant from these two cities.

At that time, the road was equipped with stones that indicated the miles, it was paved with cobblestones and there were stations for changing horses and inns to spend the night. Even today, the entrance road to Kavaja from the north is called Egnatia Road.

Photo by: Creator Engine