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Holy Trinity Church History: The Holy Trinity Church (Albanian: Kisha e Shën Triadhës) is a medieval Byzantine church which stands on a hill in the city of Berat in the Kalaja district of Southern Albania. One of the Historic Centers of Berat and Gjirokastër UNESCO World Heritage Site, the church has a cross shaped plan with a dome. It is composed of the nave, narthex (entrance area) and the altar alcove. […]

National Ethnographic Museum History: The National Ethnographic Museum of Berat (Albanian: Muzeu Kombëtar Etnografik i Beratit) is an ethnographic museum located in Berat, Albania. It opened in 1979 and contains a diversity of everyday objects from throughout Berat‘s history. The museum contains original furniture and a number of household objects, wooden case, wall-closets, as well as chimneys and a well.  Near the well is an olive press, […]

The Halveti Tekke History:   The Halveti Tekke (Albanian: Teqeja e Helvetive) is a Cultural Monument of Albania, located in Berat. The teqe (cemevi in Turkish) was built in 1782 from Ahmet Kurt Pasha and pertained to the Khalwati order, a Sufi sect.   The Helveti Tekke or Teqe e Helvetive, a Bektashi Sufi shrine of the Helveti sect built in the 15th century and rebuilt by Ahmet Kurt Pasha in […]

King’s Mosque History: The King Mosque (Albanian: Xhamia e Mbretit or Xhamia e Hynqarit), also known as the Sultan’s Mosque (Xhamia e Sulltanit) or Sultan Bayezid Mosque, is a mosque and a Cultural Monument in Berat City, Berat County, Albania. The mosque was built in the 15th century by the Ottoman sultan Bayezid II for the local Albanian population. The King mosque became a Cultural Monument in 1948.   Places to visit in […]

Gorica Bridge History: Gorica Bridge over the Osum river is a landmark in the city of Berat, Albania. It is one of the oldest and most popular Ottoman bridges in Albania. It connects two parts of Berat, was originally built from wood in 1780 and was rebuilt with stone in the 1920s. The seven-arch bridge is 129 meters (423 ft) long and 5.3 meters (17 […]

Quarter Of Gorica Description   Gorica quarter is the part of Berat that lies on the left bank of the river Osum.  The area decorated with cobbled paved streets, stone houses and small orthodox churches. From that side of the river, you have magnificent views looking back over the Berat district of Mangalem.  Following the […]

The Red Mosque History: According to Ottoman explorer Evliya Çelebi (1611-1682), the mosque was built under the reign of Bayazid II. It was probably built in the 15th century and was one of the oldest mosques in the country. It was probably built shortly after the conquest of Berat by the Ottomans in 1417. The oldest written record dates from […]

National Iconographic Museum Onufri History: The National Iconographic Museum “Onufri” (Albanian: Muzeu Kombëtar Ikonografik “Onufri”) is an Albanian national museum dedicated to Byzantine art and iconography in Berat, Albania. The museum is located inside the Church of the Dormition of St Mary in the castle quarter Berat. The museum was named to honor Onufri, a painting Headmaster of the 16th century. The museum features on display 173 objects chosen among 1500 objects belonging […]

Mary of Blachernae Church History: The St. Mary of Blachernae Church (Albanian: Kisha e Shën Mëri Vllahernës) is a Byzantine church in Berat, Albania. It is named after the famous Church of St. Mary of Blachernae, near the Palace of Blachernae in Constantinople. It is believed that the church was built on the foundations of a ruined 5th century church that existed at the same place. The […]

Berat Castle History: Berat Castle (Albanian: Kalaja e Beratit), also referred to as the Citadel of Berat and castle quarter, is a fortress overlooking the town of Berat, Albania. It dates mainly from the 13th century and contains many Byzantine churches in the area and Ottoman mosques.It is built on a rocky hill on the left bank of the river Osum and is accessible only […]