Berat, called the White City, is thought to be the prettiest town in Albania. 

This World Heritage site boasts more than 1,000 windows on Ottoman style homes built into the hill side along the Osum River. It is thought that the windows were built to add more light inside of the dark homes. 

The homes were white washed because in the Ottoman era, where the city was part of the empire; this practice served both aesthetic and practical purposes, making the houses appear cleaner, brighter, and reflecting heat in the hot summers. At first I thought it was a tad boring but that patterns and textures grew on me.  Soothing actually.

I visited this city on a Photography Tour to explore and to capture its beauty. 

I enjoyed a performer at the castle and the magnificent buildings.  

The mosque interested me because while the outside was very plain, the inside burst with color.  

The entire city wasn’t white.  Here’s a tall building in the commercial area with impressive mural. 

WE enjoyed meandering the river, capturing its view.  I became fascinated with a street lamp reflecting light.  White, of course. 

Meals were great.  Local fish a favorite. 

This trip was organized by Fantastic Photo Tours.