BVA

Old Town (Mangalem district) from across Osum River

Berat, Albania

Berat has been inhabited since ancient times. It is a city and south central municipality with outstanding examples of late Ottoman era architecture. The Mangalem district of the city contains the Illyrian citadel dating back to the 4th century BCE. The dwellings on steep slopes were constructed with stone base levels and lighter timber framed walls with projecting windowed rooms to catch the southern light, so that Berat is known as the 'town of a thousand windows'. Renowned for woodworking crafts, Berat was designated a 'Museum City' in 1961. (photo 2015)