TIRANA, June 1 – Albania’s UNESCO World Heritage site of Berat has been rated by prestigious Business Insider as one of Europe’s top incredible destinations that haven’t been discovered by tourists.
“Once at the frontier of the Byzantine Empire, the town of Berat in Albania has a citadel and a Byzantine church that dates back to the 13th century. Berat’s old town (the Mangalem) is also a part of the UNESCO World Heritage list,” says the U.S.-based portal in its travel section featuring a picture of Berat which it ranked fifth among 16 undiscovered European destinations.
Since 2008, Berat has been inscribed as a rare example of an architectural character typical of the Ottoman period. Located in south central Albania, Berat bears witness to the coexistence of various religious and cultural communities down the centuries. It features a castle, locally known as the Kala, most of which was built in the 13th century, although its origins date back to the 4th century BC. The citadel area numbers many Byzantine churches, mainly from the 13th century, as well as several mosques built under the Ottoman era which began in 1417.
Back in 2014, Business Insider published a survey ranking Albania among the 50 global destinations that will be huge in the next ten years.
“When Albania emerged from the shadow of communism in 1992, the country was completely unprepared for tourists. Twenty years later, the rugged Albanian Alps, remote castles and untouched coastline are now a staple on the on the European travel circuit,” Business Insider quoted a study conducted by Love Home Swap, one of the world’s biggest online travel club for homeowners.
