Visitors have the opportunity to combine their sightseeing with trips to local wineries and tourist villages, all located within 10 km of the city center.

This makes for a more comprehensive experience, providing a compelling reason to extend a stay beyond a simple day trip.

Mayor of Berat Ervin Ceca told ATA that, “Between January and October of this year, Berat has been visited by over one million tourists. According to data from accommodation and service providers, the number of visitors has increased by approximately 15% compared to the same period last year.”

“Visitor interest is also reflected at the ‘Onufri’ Iconographic Museum, which recorded 100,000 visitors between January and the end of October. Located within the Castle, the museum preserves significant examples of Albanian iconography and serves as a major point of interest for tourists visiting the city,” said Ceca.

During autumn, seasonal produce—particularly grapes and olives—adds a new dimension to the tourist experience.

“Visitors can combine walks around the city with trips to wineries and tourist villages located just a few kilometers from the center. These options make for a more comprehensive experience and provide a reason to stay longer than just a single day,” Ceca emphasized. “Alongside the ‘Onufri’ Iconographic Museum, the Ethnographic Museum allows visitors to learn about the lifestyle, traditions and layout of a traditional Berat home through objects and artifacts passed down through generations. Beyond the historic center, the village of Roshnik serves as another compelling destination, where tourism blends with nature, local produce, and traditional hospitality. The Bogova area also offers opportunities for visitors seeking outdoor experiences, while the local wineries remain a highly recommended attraction during the autumn,” said Ceca.

Promoting Berat as a year-round destination relies on a diverse offering, in which UNESCO-protected cultural heritage, museums, historic architecture, a long-standing wine tradition, gastronomy and rural areas all complement one another.

Gastronomy, too, forms an essential part of the area’s identity. “Traditional dishes, olive oil, honey, fruits and products prepared by local families offer visitors the chance to get a close-up look at culinary traditions and the people behind their production. To extend the tourist season and boost benefits for the local economy, collaboration is essential—involving local businesses, hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, wineries, agritourism farms, tour guides and local producers,” said Ceca.

The municipality contributes to promoting the city and creating the right conditions for tourism development, while coordinating activities with local businesses helps generate new opportunities for local enterprises and producers.

“The goal is to develop a tourism model that yields more sustainable income, supports local production and creates employment opportunities,” Ceca stated.

Furthermore, Ceca added, the Municipality of Berat aims to enrich its calendar of cultural and tourist events, ensuring that there are compelling reasons to visit the city in every season. /k.s/j.p/r.e/p.s./

Among the landmarks reflecting this rich heritage are the two churches in Gorica, Berat’s historic Orthodox quarter.

Nestled among narrow lanes in the heart of the historic neighbourhood, St. Spyridon Church is an important example of 19th-century architecture. It also holds a special place in Albania’s religious history as the first Orthodox church to reopen after the fall of Albania’s communist rule.

The imposing building, with cypress trees in its courtyard, resembles a monastery when viewed from a distance. Visitors pass through its wooden doors, climb the stone steps and enter an interior where, alongside newer religious objects, faded frescoes remain on the walls, bearing traces of age and past damage.

Historical accounts describe the church’s extensive repurposing under communism. It was used first for silkworm cultivation, then as a botanical and zoological museum, before being turned into a construction-materials warehouse.

Older residents of Berat remember Nov. 20, 1990, when the first public Orthodox Mass in decades was held there. Worshippers dared to open the church doors and hurriedly clean the building, even though the communist regime had not yet officially fallen and religious practice remained banned.

Now restored, the church welcomes visitors and preserves memories of that period. Services previously held there now take place in the large cathedral built in the city centre. Visitors are particularly drawn to the surviving frescoes on the church’s northern wall, while its iconostasis features valuable icons.

“Whoever comes here, I will welcome with great love,” reads an inscription above the arched entrance.

Back in Gorica’s winding lanes, a steady stream of visitors leads towards the neighbourhood’s other historic church, dedicated to St. Thomas. The lane continues towards the large bridge over the Osum River, making the church an important stop for tourists exploring this part of the city.

The church has a long history, dating back to an earlier sanctuary on whose foundations the present building was erected around the 18th century. Local legends and beliefs also surround the site, including stories of a spirit said to have lived there before the church was built.

Petraq, one of the caretakers of Berat’s Orthodox churches, recounts a local legend in which a woman dreamed of a spirit seeking a home at the very spot where the church now stands, then little more than bare rock. Residents are said to have witnessed miracles after lighting candles near the sacred site.

To this day, several natural hollows can be seen in the rock beside the church. According to local belief, they are the footprints of St. Thomas. The rock remains a place of prayer where people light candles.

During communist rule, the church was altered but not completely demolished. A new stone church, built over the old structure, now forms part of Gorica’s historic architectural ensemble. Inside, a simple iconostasis features newer icons.

From the church and the large cross in its courtyard, visitors can enjoy sweeping views of Berat, the Osum River and its bridges, extending up to the castle, where people can be seen standing on the ramparts.

Berat, renowned for its Ottoman architecture, is currently home to 20 Orthodox churches, both within the castle and across its historic neighbourhoods. Many are listed as first-category cultural monuments because of their Byzantine and post-Byzantine architecture and unique frescoes associated with the era of Onufri, the celebrated Albanian icon painter.

Berat’s Orthodox heritage is distinctive for having developed in close harmony with the city’s Muslim community. Each church tells a story of a difficult journey through time and of the sacrifices made by residents to preserve and rebuild these places of worship.

Today, as visitors arrive in Berat from around the world, the city offers an example of how two faiths can coexist in harmony. The Muslim neighbourhood of Mangalem and the Orthodox quarter of Gorica share the same civic traditions and have even protected one another’s religious sites during times of crisis.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in the social media footage of the construction site following the completion of all major structural and infrastructure work.

Rama noted that work is currently underway on paving the road and installing signage.

Meanwhile, the metal safety barriers are being installed.

“The work is going ahead toward the project’s full completion, promising safer and more functional road infrastructure for all road users and residents of the surrounding areas,” PM Rama wrote.

The Berat–Ballaban road is considered a strategic route that substantially shortens travel distances and times between the UNESCO-protected heritage cities of Berat and Gjirokastra, as well as Përmet and Tepelena.

This road significantly reduces travel time from the south to Berat, bringing domestic and international visitors traveling via Përmet–Tepelena corridor and beyond closer to the city. /p.s./

One such project involves a centuries-old building in Berat Castle that is being converted into a guesthouse for domestic and international visitors.

Prime Minister Edi Rama on Monday shared images of the family-run project, which is expected to open soon with eight rooms in one of Berat’s most scenic locations.

“At the heart of Berat Castle, next to the Onufri Iconographic Museum, a centuries-old guesthouse is preparing to come back to life, preserving its history while becoming a new destination for visitors,” Rama said.

Rama said the project was being carried out with support from the 2025 National Investment Scheme through an agreement with the Agricultural Development and Rural Agency (AZHBR), with Egri Biçoku leading the restoration of the historic building.

“This is how we bring heritage back to life, preserving it while at the same time turning it into economic activity, employment and development for the community,” Rama said.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in the social media a view of this guesthouse, which according to him, offers a special experience between nature and mountain tranquility.

Rama emphasized that this venture is supported by the Agency for Agricultural and Rural Development (AZHBR), and offers accommodation in 16 wooden chalets, welcoming visitors from all over the world.

The development of guesthouses and agro-tourism structures in mountainous areas is adding a new dimension to Albanian tourism, combining traditional hospitality with investments in tourist infrastructure and experiences related to nature. /m.m/r.e/p.s./

The project aims to modernize the city’s urban mobility by replacing diesel buses with electric vehicles, building modern stations and charging infrastructure, and implementing an intelligent fleet management system.

The first phase of the project, conceived as a pilot, foresees the deployment of 7 electric buses on two lines.

Likewise, there is also foreseen construction of 19 bus stops, as well as the installation of charging infrastructure and intelligent transport systems.

This project is part of Berat’s 2030 public transport plan. The goal is to cover 95% of the city’s population using 6 new lines, 18 electric buses, and 65 bus stops. The current tender has a 9-month completion deadline. Bids are open until September 25, 2026. /e.xh/j.p/r.e/p.s./

The Director of the Berat Museum Center Miklor Pasku said that the “Onufri” National Iconic Art Museum welcomed 58,912 visitors and earned 14,788,740 lekë from January to July 2026. This marks a 16% rise in visitors and a 20% increase in revenue compared to 2025, driven largely by Polish, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Dutch tourists.

The Ethnographic Museum in UNESCO-listed Berat welcomed over 3,000 visitors in June and July following its reopening. Foreign tourists from across the globe made up more than 80% of this total. This strong turnout highlights Berat’s rising cultural tourism appeal and its positive economic impact. /p.s./

Using virtual and extended reality (VR/XR), artificial intelligence and other digital technologies, the initiative offers visitors a new way to engage with Berat’s history and cultural treasures, turning a traditional museum visit into a more interactive experience.

Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said the initiative provided visitors with a new way to discover and experience culture by combining history with VR/XR technology, artificial intelligence and other digital tools.

Visitors become part of an interactive narrative, allowing them to explore the city’s cultural heritage and history from a different perspective, he said.

“Developed by Digital Culture in cooperation with the National Iconographic Museum ‘Onufri’, this initiative opens a new perspective on how cultural heritage can be preserved, interpreted and passed on, creating a closer connection between heritage and younger generations,” Gonxhja said.

Miklor Pasku, director of the Berat Museum Centre, told ATA that the museum had begun presenting and testing the initiative, which he described as introducing a new dimension to the experience of cultural heritage.

“Berat is the first city in Albania to host such interactive experiences in a museum, marking an important step towards the digital transformation of cultural institutions,” Pasku said.

The initiative seeks to explore new ways of interpreting and presenting cultural heritage through technology, making history more accessible and engaging for visitors, he added.

“The initiative is in the testing phase. Visitors can try a VR experience with Ava, the digital guide, and interact with Onufri through an interactive painting, turning a museum visit into a vivid and personalised experience,” Pasku said.

An Italian tourist from Rome described the experience as “interesting, original and exciting”, saying it showed how digital technology could be combined with the real world and could provide a new way of bringing younger generations closer to art.

The “Onufri” Iconographic Museum has been housed in the Church of the Dormition of Saint Mary, within Berat Castle, since Feb. 27, 1986. It is named after Onufri, the leading master of Albanian iconographic painting in the 16th century.

According to inscriptions on the building, the church was rebuilt in 1797 on the foundations of an earlier Byzantine-era church. It is considered one of Berat’s most distinctive examples of post-Byzantine architecture.

The museum’s collection comprises 196 icons and liturgical objects.

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A large group of international visitors recently took part in a hands-on gastronomic experience at Castle Park, where they learned to prepare traditional Albanian dishes, from rolling pastry dough and making byrek to cleaning and chopping fresh vegetables. The event also featured Albanian wine, music and traditional dancing.

Prime Minister Edi Rama on Tuesday shared images of the gathering on social media, highlighting the growing appeal of culinary tourism in the historic southern city.

Known as the “City of a Thousand Windows,” Berat remains one of Albania’s most visited destinations throughout the year. Visitors are drawn to its cobbled streets, hilltop castle and the historic quarters of Mangalem and Gorica, renowned for their distinctive Ottoman-era architecture.

The city’s museums, churches and mosques continue to attract tourists interested in Albania’s cultural and historical heritage, while demand for experiential tourism has expanded beyond traditional sightseeing.

In addition to its rich history, Berat is becoming increasingly popular for nature- and adventure-based tourism. Nearby attractions such as agritourism villages, Mount Tomorr, Bogova Waterfall and the Osum Canyons have become integral parts of the region’s tourism offering, helping diversify visitor experiences and extend stays in the area.

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Titled “Fustanella”, the exhibition presents the garment not only as traditional attire but also as an enduring element of Albania’s cultural heritage and national identity.

The collection features works by artist Fatos Sojati, whose interpretations combine traditional motifs with contemporary artistic expression. The exhibition attracted interest from local visitors and foreign tourists, many of whom stopped to explore the pieces and their cultural significance.

Organisers said the exhibition seeks to create a dialogue between tradition and modern art, offering a fresh perspective on a garment that has long been associated with Albanian history and identity.

The fustanella, a pleated skirt traditionally worn by men, has been part of Albanian cultural life for centuries, particularly in southern regions of the country. Widely regarded as a symbol of identity, pride and resilience, it remains one of the most distinctive elements of Albania’s traditional heritage.

By bringing the fustanella into a contemporary artistic setting, the exhibition aims to promote awareness of Albania’s cultural traditions while engaging new audiences with the country’s rich historical legacy.

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