Explore Berat(UNESCO) from Tirana/Durres
Overview
This is a lovely tour that shows one of the oldest towns in Albania. The Berat castle it is the biggest inhabited castle in Albania. Our guide will show you the way how the Albanians live and how they have built the typical houses in central Albania. We will also visit the lower part of the town where we will see the Mangalemi neighborhood which gives the nickname of the "1000 Windows" city. Afterwards we will return from a different route which makes another highlight of this daytrip. The road is through the countryside and shows how the agriculture is developed in the central Albania. We will get to see hills, cultivated fields and natural lakes.
Gallery
What's Included
✓ Included
- Entrance fees
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Guide/Driver for the whole day according to the language that you have requested
✗ Not Included
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Tips/Gratuities for Guide/Driver
- Everything that is not mentioned in the section "Included"
Itinerary
1
Stop 1
In the morning we depart for Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Being more than 2400 year old, the town it is one of the most attractive towns in Albania. Established in the 3rd century B.C by an Illyrian tribe of central Albania with a protective castle, it was known as the fortified city of Antipatrea. In 1417 the town was occupied by the Ottoman who built quite a few mosques in the area below the town’s old castle. Berat is situated at the foot of Tomorri Mountain and on the shores of Osum River. Built in white on a slope of green with the river at its feet, it offers a striking view as soon as it becomes visible.
2
Stop 2
We will visit the Castle, St Marys Church turned Onufri Museum which houses an amazingly diverse collection of Icons and two other churches not open to the public. Onufri whose name has been given to this Icon museum was an Albanian master painter of the 16th century who painted many church icons in Albania and Greece and is famous for its red colour named after him. Berat is also famous, as two of the oldest bibles “New Testaments” one from 6th century and one from 9th century AD have been found here.
3
Stop 3
After visits and optional lunch at the castle with homemade specialities we make our way down to the old district of Mangalem where we will visit the Kings Mosque and Helveti Tekke next to each other. Religious monuments of different faiths stand together demonstrating the religious tolerance of Albanians’.
4
Stop 4
On the way back we will visit Belsh Town that is located at the shore of a small natural lake. The town is situated in the Dumrea plain which has about 85 different sized lakes that are all natural. The road has a very nice landscape which makes it another highlight in this tour.
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Good to Know
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels