BERAT CITY TOUR (UNESCO site) – 8h

Pick up from your hotel in Tirana for the Sightseeing Tour of Berat, “City of the Floating Windows”.

The 2,413 years-old city of Berat known as Antipatrea, is under the protection of UNESCO. Berat is a treasure-trove of Albanian history, culture and a testament to the country’s tradition of religious harmony. The three major neighborhoods of the old city are Mangalemi, Gorica, and Kala, where the castle itself is located and is made unique by the fact that people continue to live inside of it.The arched bridge of Gorica, built in 1780, is a beautiful architectural monument constructed to link Gorica with Mangelemi.The ensemble of the Byzantine churches in Berati is extraordinary, there is the Byzantine Church of Shën Mëhilli( Saint Michael), Church of Shën Maria e Vllahernës ( Saint Mary of Blachernaebuil in XIII century), the Church of ShënTriadha (The Holy Trinity), the post-Byzantine monumental Cathedral of Shën Maria (Saint Mary) today houses a museum of works by the famous iconographers of the 16th century: Onufri and his son Nikolla. There are over 100 icons on display and they also include works of other artists such as Joan Çetiri, Onufër Qiprioti and many anonymous painters.Ottomans occupation has left its mark, you can visit Xhamia e Kuqe( The Red Mosque) inside the castle, the Xhamia e Plumbit (1555), ( The Lead Mosque) ,Xhamia Mbret ( built in 1481 ) ( The King Mosque), and the Xhamia e Beqarëve (1872).

After the tour return back to your hotel in Tirana.