Berat (UNESCO's World Heritage Site) (https://berat.al/)
Old stone houses climb up the hill to its castle and line the banks of the Osumi River in Berat, enveloping visitors in the historical beauty of the town, earning it the title of 'town of a thousand windows' and helping it join Gjirokastra on the list of Unesco World Heritage sites, in 2008.
Berat, this 2413 years old city, is easily a highlight of Albania, at the crossroads of eastern and western cultures, costumes, traditions and outlook where one can find 13th century Byzantine churches, 16th century mosques, and a millennium-old castle overlooking the uniquely picturesque city.
The city’s life began in the 6th-5th century B.C. as an Illyrian settlement. In the 3rd century B.C., it was turned into a citadel, known as Antipatrea, later expanding during the feudal dominion of the Muzakaj family.
Inside the castle one can find old Byzantine churches with valuable frescoes and icons, and also a calligraphy school.
The three major neighborhoods of the old city are Mangalemi, with its characteristic Ottoman houses, Gorica and its beautiful arched bridge over the Osum river linking it to Mangalemi and Kala.
The Cathedral of Shën Mëria houses a museum of works by the famous iconographers of the 16th century: Onufri, and his son, Nikolla. There are over 100 icons on display and they also include works of other artists such as Joan Çetiri, Onufër Qiprioti, and many anonymous painters.
Berat is a testament to Albania’s religious harmony where churches and mosques occupy the same streets. Worth mentioning is the Ikona Burimi Jetëdhënës (Icon of the Life Giving Source) at the Onufri Iconographic Museum, an 18th-century Albanian work of art depicting a Christian scene with minarets rising in the background, lauded as a symbol of the country's famous religious harmony.
Highlights of Berat include the Monastery of Shën Spiridhoni (Saint Spyridon) in Gorica, the Xhamia e Kuqe (Red Mosque) inside the castle, the Xhamia e Plumbit (the Lead Mosque 1555), the Xhamia e Beqarëve (Celibataires Mosque)(1872) in Mangalem quarter, as well as Xhamia Mbret (King’s Mosque) (16th century), and the Halveti Tekke or Tariqa in the medieval center . Other sites worth visiting are the Ethnographic museum, situated inside an 18th century çardak building, and the Edward Lear Gallery of Art, Solomoni Museum providing a glimpse of Berat’s 400 years of Jewish history, including how Albania became the only country in Europe whose Jewish population increased during WW II.
