GORICA DISTRICT
A small district of white houses with gardens, listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Beautiful views across to Mangalem.
This small picturesque neighborhood (Lagjia Gorica) is part of the historic center of Berat, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site. It offers splendid views of Mangalem and was once populated by Orthodox Christians. Located on the left bank of the Osum River, at the foot of Mount Shpirag (1,240 m above sea level), it has a Slavic name meaning "little mountain". The white houses here are of the same type as in Mangalem. But they are more spacious, more spaced out and have yards and gardens. Most of them were rebuilt after an earthquake in 1851. There are a few hotels and restaurants in the neighborhood, as well as two Orthodox churches that are open for worship and tours. In the center is the Church of St. Spiridon (Kisha e Shën Spiridonit), a triple-naved basilica erected in 1864 that retains its original icons. In the narthex there are two frescoes and a Greek inscription above the entrance. At the eastern end of Gorica, the church of St. Thomas (Kisha e Shën Thomait) has stood on a small rocky spur since the 18th century. Partly demolished during the communist period, it was rebuilt in the late 1990s. Finally, the high part of the district, at 275 m of altitude, is accessible by a path. There you can discover the ruins of the fortress of Gorica (Kalaja e Goricës), in particular the base of a 167 m long wall dating from the 7th-6th centuries BC. From there, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Osum valley, Mangalem and the Berat citadel.
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