Berat, known as the “City of a Thousand Windows,” is one of Albania’s most picturesque and historically rich cities. Located in central Albania along the Osum River, Berat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its well-preserved Ottoman architecture, charming white-washed houses, and religious coexistence over centuries.
The city’s unique appearance is defined by rows of hillside houses with large windows that seem to gaze down the valley a feature that gave Berat its nickname. The historic neighborhoods of Mangalem, Gorica, and Kala each tell a story: from the Christian churches of Gorica to the Ottoman-era mosques in Mangalem, and the ancient Berat Castle, still inhabited today, atop the hill in Kala.
Within the castle walls, visitors can find churches adorned with frescoes, the Onufri National Iconographic Museum, and sweeping views of the city and surrounding mountains. Berat is also a symbol of Albania’s religious harmony, with Orthodox churches and mosques standing side by side for centuries.
Strolling through Berat means stepping into living history, where cobbled streets, stone bridges, and rich cultural layers create a city that’s both timeless and vibrant.
