Berat - The Town of a Thousand Windows, Berat, Albania (B)

Berat in Albania is called "the town of a thousand windows". And that is so true. Looking at the beautiful houses "climbing" up the steep hill around the old town, you can't help but notice the seemingly endless number windows. Because Berat is luckily situated in the mountains, the hill also offers amazing bird's eye views.

Both Berat and Gjirokaster (take a look at my post about Gjirokaster) are similar and the most beautiful towns in Albania but they differ slightly in style from each other. Together with Mostar, Prizren and Ohrid, they form a district full of the distinctive Ottoman Empire architecture, unique for Europe. This region, although as rich in history and as attractive as the Spanish or Italian equivalents, receives hardly ever foreign tourists. But this is a good thing, you can explore what's best without annoying crowds and discover Europe's best hidden gem freely.

Berat lies a bit off road from the main Albania's attractions - the riviera and the Alps. It is more or less halfway between Gjirokaster and the capital - Tirana. A drive from each of them to Berat would take around 3 hours - the roads in the country are not too good comparing to the roads near the coast so more time is needed. Nevertheless, Berat is an amazing town, unique on a European scale and well worth a visit. If it was in Western Europe, it would be no less popular than some famous towns along the French Riviera. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).