Berat attracts visitors with its Ottoman architecture, historic streets and rich cultural heritage. In the Gorica quarter, two Orthodox churches offer a closer look at the city’s spiritual history and centuries-old traditions.

The Church of St. Spyridon, built in the 19th century, holds a special place in Albania’s religious history. It became the first Orthodox church to reopen after the communist regime began to collapse. During communism, authorities repurposed the building for silkworm cultivation, a botanical and zoological museum, and later a construction-materials warehouse. However, on November 20, 1990, Orthodox believers reopened its doors and held the first public liturgy there in decades, despite the continuing ban on religion. Today, the restored church welcomes visitors and preserves historic frescoes and valuable icons.

Meanwhile, the Church of St. Thomas draws visitors with its long history, local legends and sweeping views of Berat, the Osum River and the surrounding landmarks. According to local tradition, natural impressions in the nearby rock mark the saint’s footprints, and believers still light candles there.

Today, Berat preserves around 20 Orthodox churches across its castle and historic neighbourhoods. Many hold first-category cultural monument status because of their Byzantine and post-Byzantine architecture and distinctive frescoes. Together, the churches of Gorica and the Muslim quarter of Mangalem highlight the city’s tradition of religious coexistence, where communities have shared customs and protected one another’s places of worship through difficult times.