24 hours in… Berat

Are you only spending one day in Berat? The city has lots to offer and we have selected some of our favourite places you can explore in 24 hours. 

MORNING

Start the day with a morning walk by the Osum river. At that time, there are not many people and it is the best moment to admire the city and observe locals drinking their coffees and chatting while sleepy Berat wakes up. Enjoy your coffee too and then head to one of the city’s landmarks, Ura e Varur. This bridge connects the two main districts of Berat, Mangalemi and Gorica. Head to Gorica, a quiet neighborhood packed with cobblestoned streets, stone white houses, secret gardens and old churches, like St. Thomas Church and St. Spiridon Church. Immerse yourself in this picturesque district and zig-zag around the UNESCO town’s hilly backstreets. A visit here is mandatory not only for its history and beauty, but also because Gorica has gorgeous views of the Mangalem district and its unique facades. 

LUNCH

Make a pit stop for lunch, or brunch, at Tradita e Beratit. Dine on a selection of Albanian classics like byrek with spinach, fërgëse with ricotta cheese, tomatoes and peppers, stuffed pepper with rice, stuffed aubergine, Berati traditional beef with cheese inside and homemade meatballs. The kitchen is led by owners’ mum: she cooks family and traditional recipes using only local, seasonal and fresh ingredients from Berat’s farmers. This restaurant, which is also a magnificent hotel, embrace hyperlocal ingredients, turning out a menu that celebrate the land through inventive cooking. And then there’s the wine culture which lends an earthy, time-honoured dimension to a food and drink scene as diverse as the landscape itself. And what a landscape it is. From stretching fields that roll into the distance to the traditional Ottoman era houses, via the majestic mountains in the background and the silent river that flows into the city, nature unfolds on a cinematic scale in the Berat’s region. Order a bottle of local wine or ask the owners their homemade wine, Hoço wine. Either way you won’t be disappointed: Berat is a hilltop town famed for its production of wine, mostly shesh and puls. The vineyards here rival those of Italy and France –minus the fanfare. Go now, before it becomes the new Tuscany.

AFTERNOON

Next up is Mangalem, the most picturesque neighborhood of Berat -and maybe Albania. Stroll up and down the narrow streets of Mangalem admiring the architecture -its Ottoman-era houses with small windows and brown roofs are impressive- and three mosques: the Sultan’s Mosque, the Lead Mosque with its sphere-shaped dome made with lead, and the Bachelors’ Mosque built for unmarried boys in search of girls to marry with stunning paintings decorating its external walls. One could spend an entire weekend exploring the city’s attractions from the Ethnographic Museum that displays the history of Berat and contains several original artifacts from ancient times, including clothes, tools and household objects, to the Jewish Museum dedicated to the Jewish community in Albania during the Second World War. When time is limited, prioritize Onufri Museum located in the Kala area (castle district) on the top of a hill above Mangalem district. It is a cultural gem that hosts spectacular sixteenth century paintings created by the greatest Albanian icon-painter of all time, Onufri. Head to Holy Trinity Church, just behind the Kala castle’s walls, a thirteenth century picturesque church. From this panoramic spot, you can enjoy a blazing sunset. 

INFORMATION

Find out more about Tradita e Beratit
Instagram: @tradita_e_beratit 
Facebook: Tradita e Beratit Location: Rruga Stiliano Bandili, Berat