Photos

Berat lies on the right bank of the river Osum, a short distance from the point where it is joined by the Molisht river. It is remarkable town, with a wealth of beautiful buildings of the highest architectural and historical interest. The pine forests above the city, on the slopes of the towering Tomori mountains, provide a backdrop of appropriate grandeur.During the second century B.C. the town was called Antipatrea. it was a strategic fortress of the Illyrian Dasaretes tribe. After the Ottoman conquest it fell into decline, and at the end of the sixteenth century had only 710 houses.
The city began to revive in the seventeenth century, especially after an earthquake in 1851, becoming a craft centre, noted particularly for its artistic wood carving. In 1809, it was seized by Ali Pasha Tepelena. The town is composed of three parts: Gorica, on the far side of the river; Mangalem, on the fortress side of the river; and the residential quarter within the fortress (known as Kalaja). The houses on the fortress side which date from the seventeenth century, have typically two storeys, with the upper storey slightly overhanging and rich wood carving within. With their wide facades and large windows, they seem to be built almost on top of one another. The hills and the mountain slopes around Berat, are planted with fig trees olive trees and other fruits.