Berat and Gjirokastra are inscribed as examples of an architectural character typical of the Ottoman period. These two sites from Central (Berat) and Southern (Gjirokastra) Albania, are more commonly known as “the city of a thousand windows”(Berat) and “the city of stone” (Girokastra).

Albania was ruled quite a long time by the Ottoman Empire in different periods from 1479 to 1912.

However Gjirokastra for example became the county town of the Sanjak of Albania in 1420, which was the first definition of Albania by the Ottoman empire as territorial unit.

In Berat, the old Ottoman quarters Mangalem and Gorica are situated from both sides of the Osum river and are really worth visiting!

The legends says that the river Osum in Berat was created from tears of Osum, who fell in love with two men at the same time. Today, it divides two mountains facing each other: Tomorr and Shpirag.