In the Albanian highlands, the stone village of Berat, founded 2,400 years ago and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, offers a travel experience that feels like stepping into a fairy tale. Stone houses, winding alleys, blooming gardens, mosques and churches, all under the gaze of an ancient hilltop castle, give the city a timeless charm.

From the terrace of ‘Tradita e Beratit’, a traditional stone villa converted into a boutique hotel and restaurant, visitors enjoy a sweeping view over the historic town. The terracotta rooftops lining the Osum River and the nearby Gorica Bridge form the perfect setting for a photo. It’s an ideal spot to connect deeply with Berat’s millennia-old heritage.

Staying in this stone-built villa means waking up in silence as the city slowly comes to life. Guests are welcomed with a rich breakfast: fresh juices, coffee, farm eggs, croissants, Albania’s signature fried dough ‘petulla’, goat cheese, homemade honey and jams. The hotel has six rooms decorated with handmade embroidered curtains, copper pieces, geometric carpets, and wooden details—all complemented by original architectural elements like fireplaces and preserved stone walls.

Berat is a city of narrow, steep alleys that lead to places where time seems to stand still. Its white homes with brown roofs and layered windows, the historic churches of St. Thomas and St. Spiridon, and blooming gardens behind painted gates shape its unique identity. Not to be missed is the Bachelors’ Mosque—once built for unmarried apprentices—adorned with detailed wall paintings.

The city’s crown jewel is Berat Castle. Still inhabited, its grounds contain church and mosque ruins and one of Albania’s finest museums—Onufri Museum—dedicated to the 16th-century icon painter of the same name.

As sunset paints the sky orange and pink, romance sets in. The restaurant at *Tradita e Beratit* serves traditional Albanian dishes: spinach *byrek*, baked *fërgëse* with salted ricotta, tomatoes, and peppers, stuffed vegetables, homemade meatballs, and the region’s famed Berat olives. Everything pairs with local wines from Hoço Wine.

“Berat, in the heart of Albania, is home to some of the country’s best vineyards. The landscapes here rival those of Italy or France,” says Antonel Hoço, who runs the villa with his sister Kejsi. Every menu item is local, seasonal, and fresh, true to Albania’s culinary tradition.

In summer, as the day’s heat fades, dinner is served under the stars, overlooking the city lights. A dream? Not here. In Berat, it’s simply reality.

-https://www.vanityfair.it/article/berat-albania-patrimonio-unesco-albergo-