Berat - the city of thousand windows

The remarkable city of Berat is located 122 km south of Tirana and it's considered to be the **center of the southern ** Albania.

The nickname

The nickname, ‘the city of the thousand windows’ was given to **Berat, **due to the ‘skyline’ formed by its white houses and their windows, that are "climbing" on the city's hills. When you visit the **city **for the first time, you instantly notice its seemingly "never ending windows". The special and **unique **architecture of this city has major **influences **from several **civilizations **that amazingly, have managed to **coexist **together for centuries. Like most Albanian cities, Berat has its own castle, churches, and multiple other attractions that worth a visit.

Photo © LeszekCzerwonka

An UNESCO heritage site and the city's castle

**Berat **is divided in two parts- the old town and the new town. The old town is in fact an **UNESCO heritage site **since 2008. Here you can find many attractions that are typical and bring to mind a **medieval town; **you can also get lost in the castle, that is considered to be one of the oldest in **Albania**. After being almost burned down by the Romans in 200 BC, the **castle **was **"revived" **during the 5th century by the **Byzantine **empire, and rebuilt completely during the 13th century under the authority of the **Despot **of Epirus. There are four entrances to the castle, but the main one is the one located at its north part.

Photo © to RKuljovska

Imposing churches and cathedrals

From there you can stroll to the different sides of the city and visit the church of **St. Mary of Blachernae, that **lies in a perfect harmony with the hill. Dating back to the 13th **century, **the church is decorated with paintings by **Nikoll Onufri, **the son of the famous Albanian painter Onufri. Just a few steps away, inside the walls of the castle, the church of the Holy Trinity can be found. Built in the 14th century, this church has a special form of a **cross **and some impressive **Byzantine **murals can be admired at its inside.

What else to see in Berat?

From the church of St. Michael (Shën Mehill) , to the little church of St. Theodore (which has wall paintings by **Onufri **himself), we're now moving to the most interesting **cathedral, the **one of **St. Nicholas. **This cathedral has been well restored and is now serving as a museum, dedicated to **Onufri. **In the **center **of the city, you will find the imposing mosque of Xhamia e Plumbit, built-in 1555.

Photo © RossHelen

During your stay in Albania, **Berat **will captivate you, and it's definitely a unique city that worths a visit.