TIRANA, Aug 16 /ATA/ – Berat, or as it is known as the City of Thousand Windows, is a charming UNESCO town full of Ottoman-era houses, impressive fortress structures, and mystical churches and mosques, located on the side of the hills and mountains that sandwiched the Osum River, all waiting for you to explore, the leading travel and leisure bucketlistly.blog said in its latest article and guide on attractions in the southwestern Albanian museum city.
Berat is a city that you should not miss when you are in Albania.
Explore Berat Castle
Berat Castle is one of the most iconic landmarks in the area. This Roman-era castle sits atop a rocky hill on the left bank of Osum River overlooking the city of Berat. The castle is bigger than it looks from the city. You can spend several hours discovering all the Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques inside the castle district. The way up to the castle from the Old Town is quite steep and in the mid-summer heat of Albania and the exposed trail, it can be quite unbearable to go up to the castle during the day, so the best time to visit Berat Castle is later afternoon. Looking over the surrounding landscape, you will notice 2 mountains on both sides of the Osum River. Those are Mt. Tomorr and Mount Shpirag, and the legend has it that these 2 mountains were once giants who fought each other to win the heart of a woman in Berat.
Admire the beauty of Holy Trinity Church in Berat Castle
Within the walls of Berat Castle, there is one church that stands out of all, the Holy Trinity Church. This church is a must-visit if you are interested to see a fine example of the great influence the Byzantine Empire left in this area. This medieval Byzantine church was built somewhere between the 13th and 14th century.
Visit other mosques and churches in Berat
Many civilizations have managed to coexist in Berat for centuries and you can see it from all the mosques and churches you will find in Berat. There are also several other churches and cathedrals that you should check out. There are the St. Theodore’s Church and The St. Mary of Blachernae Church located within Berat Castle, and Saint Demetrius Cathedral located at the Eastern end of Bulevardi Republika, not too far from the Old Town. For mosques, you will find Lead Mosque not too far from Saint Demetrius Cathedral, the King Mosque.
Walk the Bulevardi Republika at night and experience Xhiro Hour first hand
After the sunset, be sure to check out Bulevardi Republika and experience Xhiro, an Albanian tradition where once the sun is down, the entire city will come together at a boulevard and walk up and down the street, socializing with each other. With people out and about, playing chess outdoors, talking to each other while walking up and down a street, I gotta say, I’ve never seen a tradition quite like it. What not many people know is that Bulevardi Republika is also the best place to take a photo of Berat.
Visit the Ethnographic Museum
Ethnographic Museum is a great place to visit if you want to learn about the history of Berat, Albanian cultures, and allow you to get a glimpse of what life was like back then. The view is also pretty amazing from the balcony of the museum, overlooking the city. It is a great place to stop for an hour after you came down from the castle.
Hike the Osumi Canyon
If you have another day to spare, I would recommend you spend that day in nature and explore the surrounding landscape of Berat. Osumi Canyon is the largest canyon in Albania, and it is one of the greatest hikes you can do in Berat. There may also be a chance for you to relax and swim in the canyon.
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