TIRANA, July 16 – The Ksamil beach in southernmost Albania and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Berat have been recommended by the prestigious Business Insider as some of Europe’s undiscovered gems.
The Business Insider ranked the two tourist attractions among 16 of the most breathtaking places in Europe as seen through Instagram.
“Ksamil Beach, Albania — Along with the rest of Albania, this remains one of Europe’s undiscovered gems,” writes the prestigious American portal.
Located in the southern part of the Albanian Riviera, Ksamil is a popular destination only 15 kilometers south of Saranda and in the vicinity of the archaeological UNESCO site of Butrint.
“Ksamil has three small, dreamy islands within swimming distance and dozens of beachside bars and restaurants that open in the summer,” says the Lonely Planet tourist guide which in 2011 placed Albania as a top undiscovered destination.
The Business Insider describes Berat as a “UNESCO World Heritage, commonly referred to as ‘the city of windows’ by locals due to the large windows on the town’s ancient buildings.” Berat’s earliest inhabitants lived in the town in the 6th century BC.
Since 2008, Berat has been inscribed as a rare example of an architectural character typical of the Ottoman period. Located in southwestern 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.
