Day 7 Berat, Albania

 

This morning we went for a walk up a steep path following Caesar's trail. A path he took on his way to defeat Pompey. Whether that is true or not doesn't matter as it was a delightful walk through the forest which cleared to give us some amazing views of the countryside.

A conveniently placed hotel at the bottom of the hill made an ideal spot for a tea break before moving on to Apollonia.

Apollonia was originally occupied by Illyrian tribes and then Greeks around 6th cent BCE. Romans also settled here but that declined in the 3rd cent CE when the harbour silted up due to an earthquake.

Impressive museum. It is the first archeological museum in Albania. The site covers a large area but only a small section has so far been excavated.

Marble statue of female 2nd - 3rd cent AD

Lion found in front of a tomb 3rd - 2nd cent BCE

The monastery and the church of St Mary dates back to the 13th century. The monastic complex is Byzantine and is built with recycled bricks and blocks from the ancient buildings of Apolonia. The church is the first of this type in Albania being in the shape of a cross with a central dome. In the front of the church is the refectory.

In the corner of the church I could just about see a fresco above one of the pillars which dates from the 14th century.

Another hour and a half in the bus and we arrived in the town of Berat where we will be spending two nights which will give us more free time than usual. It was a beautiful hotel and I was delighted with my room which had a balcony overlooking the main street. 

My room was the only one with a balcony, giving me great views into the town. It turned out to be a real joy as m and C joined me for a glass or two of wine in the evenings giving us a great opportunity for people watching.

In the evening we visited a local restaurant of which there were many. We were given a table overlooking the pedestrian bridge which looked beautiful as it was all lit up.

The food was excellent which we have have now come to expect. Afterwards we joined the locals for a walk along the promenade by the river. Lots of families were doing the same.