Overview:

Saint Mary's Church in Berat, Albania, is a Roman Catholic church dating back to the 15th century. The church is located on top of a hill overlooking the city and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary in her Assumption. It is one of Albania's oldest churches and is registered as a National Monument by Albania's Ministry of Culture. It is a popular destination for visitors to Berat. The church has a Baroque-style facade and interior and includes a bell tower and fresco paintings from the 14th century. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Albania
Prominent Features:

- 17th century Ottoman architectural style - 5 pointed arched balcony with an adorned front entrance - Decorative interior, including beautiful painted frescos - 2 large windows alternating in red and white marble arches - Domes and minarets - Bell tower containing 8 bells - Magnificent 4 story bell tower - White marble columns - Courtyard with a fountain surrounded by shade giving trees - Suspended from the ceiling stands the 10th century iconostasis, an ornate wooden wall paneling of religious icons You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Albania.

History:

Saint Mary's Church is a Bulgarian Orthodox church located in the city of Berat in Albania. It is believed to have been built during the 13th century, though it has undergone many restorations and adaptions over the centuries. It is the only surviving Bulgarian church in the city and its origins are unclear. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is known as the Church of Eleusa, the most common form of Byzantine Madonna. The name of the church comes from the thirteenth century Serbo-Byzantine Empire. It is believed that the Church was built by Despot Dobroslav of Serbia on the ruins of an ancient Roman temple. The original church consisted of a small single-nave building with a wooden roof and interiors. During the fourteenth century the Church underwent several renovations: the roof was replaced with stone arches and the building was extended to form a four-column church with an apsis. In the fifteenth century the church was further extended with the addition of two large bell towers and a painted iconostasis. The church was also decorated with wall paintings depicting saints and scenes from the Bible. In the eighteenth century the Ottoman Empire assumed control of the region and the church’s status as a Bulgarian Orthodox church was changed to a Muslim place of worship. It was later abandoned and fell into disrepair. In the twentieth century the church underwent further restorations which included the creation of a new entrance and the installation of new windows and doors. The current church building dates from around the 1920s. It is declared a cultural monument by the Albanian Ministry of Culture and is now open for visitors and tourists. Today, the church is best known for its ancient wall paintings, which depict the Virgin Mary and scenes from the Bible, as well as offering a breathtaking view of the city and surrounding landscape. Visit one of the famous monuments of Albania with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Saint Mary's Church is one of the oldest churches in Berat, dating back to the 12th century. 2. The church is located in the beautifully preserved city center of Berat, known as the "Museum City" and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 3. It is believed to have been constructed in the late 12th century by Byzantine emperor Alexius Comnenus in honor of the Virgin Mary. 4. Inside the church, you can find frescoed walls dating from the 13th-15th centuries, including a representation of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. 5. The church is brimming with religious artifacts, such as Orthodox crosses and silver icons. 6. In 1861, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Durres and Berat consecrated Saint Mary's Church as a cathedral and it is now one of the most important Christian monuments in Albania. 7. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the church was used as a mosque by the Ottomans, and the minaret was built as an additional mosque. 8. Today, the church remains an important landmark and is listed as a protected monument by the Albanian Institute of Monuments. One of the historical monuments of Albania, it tells the story of a bygone era