Tour to Berat, Unesco Town

Depart to Berat one of the most fascinating Albanian towns with a mixture of cultural influences. Being more than 2400 year old, the town it is one of the most attractive towns in Albania. Established in the 3rd century B.C by an Illyrian tribe of central Albania with a protective castle, it was known as the fortified city of Antipatrea. In 1417 the town was occupied by the Turks who build quite a few mosques in the area below the town’s old castle. Berat is situated at the foot of Tomorri Mountain and on the shores of River Osum. Built almost all, in white on a slope of green with the river at its feet, it offers a striking view as soon as it becomes visible. It is famous for its white-washed houses with their many windows which, seem to have been build on top of each other, that give it the nickname “town of a thousand windows”. Because of these, the town retains a unique style of architecture, with narrow and stone paved streets.

The castle is unique in Albania and among the few in the world that still has houses and inhabitants within its walls, going on their lifes at the same place their predecessors did centuries ago.

Arrive in Berat. Visit the Fortress, Onufri Museum and some old churches. Onufri was an Albanian master painter of the 16th century who painted many church icons in Albania and Greece and is famous for its red colour named after him. After visits at the castle we make our way down to the scheduled place for lunch, where we will sample the delicious cuisine of this town. In the downtown we visit the Leaden Mosque, the King's Mosque, the Bachelor's Mosque and the Alveti Tekke.

Then we will have lunch and after lunch we will have some more visits to the Kings Mosque and Alvati Teke.

Drive back to Durres. Visit of the amphitheatre from outside and the old walls and the area known as the forum. Return to ship.