Berat

About

First inhabited by Greek tribes in the 6th century BC, Berat is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Today, the city is an architectural melting pot, with Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques existing in harmony. Berat Castle, which was destroyed by the Romans in the 2nd century BC, has recovered over the centuries, and visitors can tour the ancient inner castle, or wander the thriving Kala neighbourhood within the castle’s walls. The Muslim ‘Mangalem Quarter’ is home to the 16th century Sultan’ Mosque - one of the oldest in Albania. Across the river, the city’s iconic white houses, which earned it the nickname of ‘The City of 1000 Windows’, is the old Ottoman Christian quarter.