Ethnographic Museum

Located in Palorto Quarter on the site of Enver Hoxha’s birth house. After the original structure burnt down, it was replaced with a model house that mirrors the town’s Ottoman-era buildings.

Like other house museums in the region, it’s a window onto 19th-century Albanian life. Inside the four-story home, you’ll find a historical display of costume, textiles and household objects – but absolutely nothing that references the former dictator.

The Old Bazaar

 Makes up the centre of the Old Town. The history of Bazaar dates back in 17th century. The sources says that a destroying fire impacted the old bazaar in the 19th century.

The architecture of this Bazaar has something similar with the Korca Bazaar, for which the historians think they have been built in the same period (1879) and both restored from a fire. The difference is that it was adapted to the sloping terrain of Gjirokastra and here stands the beauty of this bazaar.

What we have today is preserved in the best way possible. The radial shape is very interesting if you see from above, linking it with many streets in the old city. Now there are still some artisans, working in old way, and people are trying to pass the craft work to new generation. You can buy in this bazaar many souvenirs, t-shirts, handicrafts, curtains, carpet, and plenty of magnets representing different attractions of Gjirokastra region.

The Castle

 One of the biggest castles in the Balkans. It is situated on the hilltop overlooking the city, witnessing the history of the whole region across the centuries. The date for building this fortification is still unclear. According to archaeologists, the place had been inhabited since IV-V century. Inside the castle you can see the Clock Tower, a Festival scene, the Castle’s Museum and a superb views over the valley.

Bachelors’ Mosque

Built in 1827 for Berat’s unmarried craftsmen, the Bachelor’s Mosque is located in the heart of the Mangalem quarter. This mosque is famous for its paintings, its frescoes with floral motifs, and its architectural style. The shape and dimensions are in perfect proportion to the Mangalem neighborhood’s house ensemble.

Mangalem quarter

 Berat’s most representative area for Ottoman-period architecture, the Mangalem Quarter is an excellent realization of an inclining landscape which has organically created a unique slope overlooking the town known as “the city of a thousand windows.”

Medieval Center

 The highlights of this complex of buildings includes the King Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Albania, The Helveti Tekke, with paintings described as among the most beautiful of that time, and the Dervish Konaks which served as shelter for dervishes and pilgrims who performed religious ceremonies in this tekke.

Ethnographic Museum

The Ethnographic Museum is housed in a beautiful, traditional XVIII century Berat house and displays 1400 artifacts. The ground floor mimics the Medieval Bazaar and displays various typical Berat objects such as clothing, tools, household items, and many original artifacts of the time. On the upper floor, visitors will get a chance to see the rooms of a traditional Berat house from XVIII and XIX centuries.

Gorica Bridge

Without a doubt, the Gorica Bridge is considered to be the symbol of Berat and is one of Albania’s treasures of historical and cultural heritage. It was constructed, by local ruler Ahmet Kurt Pasha, was completed in 1777-1778. It is 127 meters long and reaches a height of 10 meters, making it one of the largest bridges of the time and one of the few bridges still in use from that era.

Onufri Museum

 The Onufri National Iconographic Museum, located in The Dormition of St Mary, the Kala quarter’s Cathedral. This post-Byzantine style church is characterized by a magnificent gold plating wooden iconostasis, possesses collections of icons, artworks, and artefacts dating from XIV through XIX centuries.