Situated south of Tirana, Berat is Albania’s most beautiful city; lying in a picturesque setting on the banks of the Osum River, it is ringed by the Tomorr and Shpirag Mountains. Berat’s main tourist attraction is the castle-quarter, perched on a cliff, overlooking the old-city. The castle is accessible only from the south side of the town.
Berat castle was probably built around the 3rd century B.C. The castle was burned down by the Romans in 200 B.C. The castle walls were strengthened in the fifth century under Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II.
Later the castle was rebuilt several times: during the 6th century under the Emperor Justinian and again in the 13th century under the Despot of Epirus, Michael Angelus Comnenus. The main entrance, on the north side, is defended by a fortified courtyard and there are three smaller entrances.
The fortress of Berat in its present state, even though considerably damaged, remains a magnificent sight. Walking along the narrow streets of the castle, among its historic buildings one can still find some of the originally 14 churches, and its mosque.
The St. Todhri’s Church was built in the 16th century; the St. Mëri’s Church, which today houses the Onufri Museum, dates from 1797, and was erected on the site of an earlier 10th century church.