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Berati is one of the most ancient and important centres of
Albania with special values and an uniterrupted continuity of life. It is known as an Ilirian inhabited
center, after that as an arberesh one and nowadays as an albanian one
. The castle and its fortified walls are interrelated just
like a mosaic where various stages of buildings such as " Kala ", "
Mangalem ", " Gorice " wich are settled on hills units of the toun make up
an impressive example of our genius creative people.
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Cult buildings and important monuments are well-known for
a prominent architecture. Their foundations belong to paleochristian
buildings. Monuments that preserve a complete view are of XIV th centuries
.Within these monuments there are some masterpieces of our distinguished
painters just like : Onufri, Nikolla , Qipriot , Cetir and many other
nameless persons, whereas the institution fund of culturalmonuments in
Berat preserve abaut 400 religions objects and icons which in the greatest
part of them as the result of the missing of financial sources are still
unrestored.
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Mosques and small mosques are brilliant examples in their
rising skill of architecture execution, but in particular the iterior part
of ceilings and stained glass windows too. Institute affilation
of cultural monuments in Berat is an
institution that, restores and propogates all these inheritable
values.
Museums such as Onufri, Ethnographic and Historic preserve
and devote prior importance to this treasury placing the bases of a
cultural tourism.
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Being proposed as a world property, Berati is going to be
sooner under protection.There is very developed home tourism in Berat where
foreingner’s preference is the characteristic native kitchen. The distance
of some main sea’beaches is about 80 km away. Taking in consideration the
conditions of our country its difficult for a further preservation of
monuments and art’s works so Berati needs a tecnichal assistence of
developed countries.
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[Things to See
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Near the river is the Palace of Culture ,a theatre worth checking for events.
Beyond this is the Bachelor´s Mosque (1827),now a folk-art museum.
Continue on towards the old stone bridge(1780) and you´ll see the 14th-century
Church of St Michael high up on the hillside,below the citadel.
In Mangalem, behind the Bachelor´s Mosque is Muzeu i Luftes ,which is worth seeing as much for its old Berati house as for
its exhibits on the partisan struggle during WW-Two.
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Beyond the bank on the stone road leading up towards the citadel
is the Museu Etnografik in another fine old building.
After entering the citadel through its massive gate ,
continue straight ahead on the main street and you will see the sign to the Muzeu Onufri
. The Museu Onufri and the Orthodox Cathedral of Our Lady(1797)are both within the
monastery walls.The wooden iconostasis(1850) and pulpit in the cathedral
are splendid.
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