Berat, the "One Window Above the Other", is the city that proudly recounts its 2,400-year history to this day with its unique architecture, a symbol of cultural and religious coexistence, as evidence of UNESCO's World Heritage since 2008.
The urban center reflects a popular Balkan residential tradition, examples of which date mainly from the late 18th and 19th centuries. This tradition fits the city's lifestyles, with houses on tiers on mountain slopes, which are mostly horizontal in plan and with natural light from all sides.
Berat is located in the southern part of Albania and lies on both banks of the Osum River, under the shadow of the castle hill and the surrounding mountains. The city consists of two distinct units: the old town, which preserves the traditional urban structure and is a UNESCO protected part, and the new town, which lies on lower plains and has a contemporary urban and infrastructural development.
The old town includes the historic neighborhoods of Mangalem, Gorica and the Castle District, which have been continuously inhabited for centuries. Traditional buildings, cobblestone alleys, white facades and characteristic windows that climb the hillsides give the city the unique identity of the “city of one window over another”. This area has been preserved as a unique museum ensemble and represents one of the most precious assets of the Albanian and international cultural heritage.
The new town was built mainly during the 20th century and includes most of the public institutions, the administrative center, schools, hospitals, and modern residential areas. This part of the city also offers tourist services, accommodation, and amenities for visitors who come to explore historic Berat.
Berat's history is among the oldest in the country, with traces dating back to antiquity. The Berat Castle, built on a rocky hill in the 13th century, is one of the largest and best-preserved fortresses in Albania. Inside it are Byzantine churches, residential houses, narrow cobblestone streets and the renowned National Museum of Iconography "Onufri", which contains works by the most famous masters of Albanian iconography.
The characteristics that distinguish Berat are the preservation of the traditional architectural style, the interfaith heritage and the artistic values that are passed down from generation to generation. In the same geographical space, visitors can see the Cathedral of St. Mary, the King's Mosque, the Lead Mosque, the Helvetic Tekke and the churches of the Gorica neighborhood, testifying to the coexistence and religious tolerance over the centuries. Berat testifies to a fortified, but open city, and inhabited for a long time by craftsmen and merchants.
Berat's cultural heritage also includes rich handicrafts, traditional festivals and artistic activities that take place in the city throughout the year. Folk festivals, artisanal products and the characteristic hospitality of the inhabitants give the city a constant vibrancy.
Berat is not just a tourist destination, but a living testament to Albanian history, art, and spirit that is preserved with pride and conveyed with love.
