The building visitors see is not entirely the original. It was almost completely destroyed during the Ottoman campaign against the revolts of 1830–31, and the commander whose artillery caused the damage, Reshid Mehmed Pasha, ordered it rebuilt from the foundations in keeping with older local traditions. Under the communist regime the portico was altered and the minaret pulled down in 1967; both were later restored to the original plans.
The real treasure lies inside. The prayer hall is covered by a decorated wooden ceiling of shallow domes with octagonal inlays, adorned with geometric and calligraphic designs, including a band listing the 99 Names of God. A women’s gallery on the north side gives the interior its distinctive shape, and the portico is larger than the prayer hall itself. The mosque is a Cultural Monument of Albania and part of the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Berat.
As an active mosque, it welcomes respectful visitors outside prayer times; dress modestly and remove your shoes before entering.
