What to expect
Once you arrive in Berat, your journey begins at the legendary Berat Castle, a fortress that dates back to the 4th century BC. Perched on a hill with stunning views of the entire valley, the castle is not only a monument — it is one of the few still-inhabited fortresses in the world. As you explore its stone pathways, you will uncover how Berat was invaded three times by the Ottomans, Romans, and Bulgarians, before becoming a powerful principality under the noble Muzaka family in the 14th century. Your walk continues to the Onufri Iconography Museum, set inside the beautifully renovated 18th-century Cathedral of the Assumption of Saint Mary. After the castle, the tour leads you into the heart of the city — the traditional quarters of Mangalem and Gorica. Linked by the elegant Gorica Bridge over the Osum River, these neighborhoods are famous for their white Ottoman houses, stacked perfectly on the hillside, giving Berat its nickname: The City of a Thousand Windows.