TIRANA, Aug  23 /ATA/ The city of Berat has attracted a very high number of local and foreign tourists this year.

Famed not only for its rare beauty, but also for its hospitality, Berat is among the most favorite cities of tourists.

The Director of Tourism and Activities in Berat Municipality, Silvi Merdani, told ATA on Tuesday that “from January until now at the end of August, about 270 thousand local and foreign tourists have visited Berat, where the highest flow was in the months May-August.”

“During this year, there was an extraordinary increase in the number of visitors, almost 70% more than in previous years,” Merdani emphasized.

According to her, tourists are mainly from Italy, Spain, Poland, France, Germany, Egypt, America, etc.

“Besides the castle, the main attractions in the city are definitely the Canyons of Osum, the city wineries, the Onufri, Ethnographic and Solomon museums. Buildings of worship, such as churches and mosques, are also appealing to many visitors,” said Merdani.

Merdani said that “this year the municipality of Berat has hosted a series of activities every weekend, such as puppet shows, theatre plays for adults,  live music in pedestrian areas, friendship parties, exhibitions, etc., which have attracted a high number of tourists in the city of one over one windows.”

There are around 486 cultural monuments in the entire region of Berat , which  has a tremendous impact, especially in the increase of cultural tourism in recent years.

Berat Castle is one of the largest historical monuments of the Balkans, a large fortress that dominates the Osum River. The castle is built according to a triangular plan. This castle, if seen from below, looks like part of the hill.

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