Berati, the most picturesque town of Albania: The Citadel

Berati is dominated by its impressive Kalaja, the citadel built on ancient Illyrian foundations along a rocky ridge above the town. Most buildings inside the fortress were built during the 14th century and are preserved as cultural monuments. The population of the fortress was Christian; there were about 20 churches, mosty built during the 13th century. Over the years most deteriorated and now only some remain. The largest church is the Cathedral of Shen Maria (Saint Mary), rebuilt during 1797 and the most representative monument of post Byzantine architecture in Berati. It houses the Onufri National Museum in honor of Onufri, the famous 16th Century Albanian painter and houses a large collection of his beautiful frescoes by Onufri. The 13th century Church of St. Mary of Vllaherna, perched high on the side of a hill in the fortress has 16th century mural paintings by Nikolla, Onufri's son.

The citadel has only one mosque, the Xhamia e kuqe (Red Mosque), that was built in the latter half of the 15th century for use of the Turkish garrison. Only a few ruins and the base of the minaret survives.

There are fantasic views from the citadel's ramparts towards the city of Berati, the old Muslim quarter of Mangalem with its mosques, the Osumi river and the Christian quarter of Gorrica on its left bank with Mount Shpirrag towering above it.

	The Citadel, Berati	St. Mary's church	Onufre Icon Museum	Medieval church, Citadel
	St. Mary of Vllaherna	View to Osumi river	The Red Mosque	Berati from the Citadel
	The centre of Berati	The Gorrica District	Gorrica Christian District	Monastery of St Spyridon

Enter your search termsSubmit search form   Web WorldPics

Click on the map to select a continent...