Berat

Overview

Set beside the Osum River, Berat comprises the Mangalem and Gorica quarters with a castle above them. The white houses cascading down the slope, dense with windows, earned it the name city of a thousand windows; a stone bridge crosses the river between the banks. The castle still has residents, along with Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques, and the town joined the World Heritage List in 2008.

History

Founded in the 4th century BC and ruled in turn by Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans, its hilltop castle dates back to the 4th century BC, making Berat one of Albania's oldest cities.

Highlights

• •The stepped houses of the thousand windows
• •The hilltop castle and its Byzantine churches
• •The Gorica stone bridge
• •Cafés along the Osum River

Practical tips

• •The climb is steep — wear comfortable shoes
• •Most guesthouses occupy converted traditional stone houses

Practical information

Best time

April-June, September-October

Tickets

The old town is free; the castle about ALL 300

Opening hours

Old town open all day; castle 9:00-18:00

Local food

Albanian grilled meat, yoghurt lamb, trilece

Getting around

About 100 km from Tirana, roughly two hours by road.

Visa

Visa-free for stays up to 30 days with a valid passport.

…