Discover Berat: The city of one above other windows- Full-Day Tour

Protected by the heights of Mount Shpirag, Berat is a medium to large city located in central-southern Albania. It was founded by the ancient Greek tribe of the Dassarets in the 6th century BC, and later underwent the domination of Illyrians, Romans, parts. Thanks to it´s past, Berat is full of architectural suggestions that allow the visitor to travel between different eras, passing from one neighbourhood to another. Most of the things to see in Berat are concentrated in the historic centre, which is in turn divided into three neighbourhoods. There is the area of ​​the citadel (Kalaja - the Castle), which overlooks the Mangalem hill, and then Gorica, the district located on the other side of the Osum river. In all three districts there are historical monuments that testify to Berat's illustrious past.

Leaving straight from Tirana, you will travel to the heart of Albania. Passing through Elbasan, after about 2 hours of travel you will reach Berat. During the tour, participants will have free time to refresh themselves and understand what the best things to do in Berat are. The surroundings will certainly make you wonder, or perhaps encourage you to return for a few days, on vacation. Feel free to ask as many questions as possible to your guide.

In the morning, we will begin in the historic centre of Berat. We will start with the oldest part of the city, the Mangalem district. Mangalem is a well-preserved example of medieval Ottoman architecture. Walking through this neighbourhood you will notice the whiteness of the natural stone houses, with numerous windows and small dimensions. Continuing on, you will come across the minarets of the three oldest mosques, the Mosque of the Bachelors, the Sultan Mosque and the Lead Mosque. But in Mangalem there are also examples of Orthodox architecture - such as the Cathedral of San Demetrio, and Christian architecture - such as the Church of San Michele, located in the highest area of ​​the neighbourhood, from where you can enjoy an exceptional panoramic view.

The Gorica bridge, made of white stone, is 130 meters long and formed by 7 arches. It connects the Muslim quarter of Mangalem to the Christian quarter of Gorica. Here is where you can see a spectacular scenario: the 'rising' formation of the houses located along the hill, the swarming of arches and windows, almost communicating with the neighbours opposite, on the other side of the river. In Gorica you will be able to visit the Church of San Spiridione and the Church of San Tommaso.

The Berat tour continues with a visit to the Castle, the last of the districts of the historic centre. Remained intact over the centuries, today it is inhabited by some families. In the Castle, there are still notable traces of 42 churches, many of which are from the 4th-5th century. Only six have remained over time, and one of these, the ancient Orthodox cathedral of the "Dormition of the Virgin", today houses the Onufri Museum. This is going to be your next stop. It is also known as the iconographic museum of Berat where you will find, within a vast collection, the works of Onufri, a painter with Venetian influences and an Orthodox priest who lived in Albania in the 16th century, immediately after the death of Skanderbeg and the Ottoman reconquest. Feel free to admire this sight before leaving!

Tickets include:

City of Berat, Castle and Museum Ottoman bridge Districts Gorrica Mangalem.