Berat, Medieval city in central Albania
Berat is a city in the municipality of the same name in central Albania, where the settlement stretches along two steep slopes separated by the Osum. The tightly packed houses with their multiple rows of windows form terraced lines, overlooked by a medieval fortress above the older quarter.
The settlement began in the 4th century BC as a Greek colony and was later controlled by Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman rulers. The fortress was expanded during each era, with Islamic occupation from the 15th century shaping the cityscape through mosques and bridges.
The parallel neighborhoods Mangalem and Gorica were laid out during Ottoman rule as separate communities divided by religion. Today the whitewashed houses nestle in both valleys, whose residents share the steep lanes and sit on terraces overlooking the river.
The quarters on both riverbanks are best reached on foot, with most paths following cobbled slopes and narrow passages. Summer months bring heat into the valleys, while spring and autumn suit walking through the higher sections better.
Some residents still live within the fortress walls erected in ancient times, tending small gardens between churches and cisterns. This inhabited citadel is among the few in Europe where people have dwelt continuously within the defenses for centuries.
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