Welcome to Berat: tour of the castle and Onufri Museum with lunch

Berat Castle and Onufri Museum Tour stops.

Welcome to Berat! This special tour takes us to see two of the main attractions in town, the fortified citadel and the Onufri Museum. At the end of the guided tour, we will be hosted by a Berat family for a lunch of local specialties. We will be able to enter their home, it will be an opportunity to learn about the local lifestyle, customs and culture, exchange small talk thanks to our guides, and eat with them.

Berat Castle, the magic of an enchanted scenery

This tour is dedicated to all those who wish to immerse themselves in the typical atmosphere of Berat, one of Albania's cities with the greatest historical heritage. 

After meeting with our guides at the hotel, we walk to the hill that houses the famous Berat Castle, a real fortified citadel surrounded by imposing walls. As we ascend to Berat Castle, we will be able to admire the splendid view that stretches over the city and its surroundings. Once inside the walls, we will find ourselves in one of the most characteristic areas in all of Albania. Small streets still traversed by a few inhabitants, with stone houses and flower gardens. All around towers and fortifications, the ancient ruins of a mosque, and a few churches. Among them is the beautiful Holy Trinity Church, with its cross-shaped plan. It is a small 14th-century jewel that seems to rest on one side of the hill. The church alternates white stone and red brick in its facade, a mixture of colors and scenic beauty that we will not fail to photograph. Another church, that of St. Mary of Blacherne, will remain with us for its interior. It is in fact decorated with mosaics and frescoes of biblical scenes by Nikolla Onufri.

Guided tour of the Onufri Museum, at the origins of Albanian sacred art.

Once we reach the top of the castle, another church awaits us, that of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, which has been used since 1986 to house the Museum of Icons. The Onufri Museum, which is dedicated to one of the most important painters in the history of Albanian art. The exhibit, consisting of nearly two hundred works, takes us on a journey through medieval sacred art. Onufri was a painter of strong realism, who made an interesting research in the world of color. Famous is his 'Onufri red,' a particular shade with a very vivid rendering between red and pink, the composition of which remains secret to this day. Inside the museum we will also be able to admire the masterpieces of all the other Albanian painters who since the 16th century have continued their pictorial research in the wake of the master Onufri.

Convivial lunch hosted by a family from Berat.

Hospitality in Albania is sacred. It is a very ancient attitude, inscribed in the culture and identity of this people. At the end of the tour of Berat, we will be hosted for lunch by a family living just inside the castle walls. Here our palates will be delighted with the special delicacies prepared by Nina, who will serve us a full meal by introducing each dish punctually. Be careful, however, to leave yourself some room for the grand finale! Nina is famous for her homemade desserts made with different types of locally grown fruits. We will taste them while enjoying Turkish coffee and a glass of raki, the Albanian brandy.

The tour continues after lunch with a guided tour of the historic center of Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will stop in the medieval neighborhoods of Mangalem and Gorica, with the King's Mosque and the Islamic shrine of Helveti Tekke.

• The itinerary may vary but the scheduled stops will always be the same

• Admission to some sites or attractions may not be included

• Comfortable footwear suitable for walking is recommended

• In warmer months, equip yourself with a hat or head protection

• This tour is not recommended for people in wheelchairs or with reduced mobility

• Clients are asked to arrive 15 minutes before departure at the meeting point indicated