Completed in 1553–54, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the mosque was founded by Ahmet Bey Uzgurli, a local nobleman. The 17th-century traveller Evliya Çelebi described it as the centrepiece of a complex that included a bazaar, a madrasa, a school, a public kitchen and a bathhouse. It is a Cultural Monument of Albania and part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Berat and Gjirokastër.
The building follows a simple, harmonious plan: a square prayer hall lit by many windows, a portico on its northern side and a tall, slender minaret. Restored in 2014, it remains an active place of worship and a natural starting point for a walk up through the white houses of Mangalem towards the castle. Visitors are welcome outside prayer times; dress modestly and remove your shoes before entering.
Simple yet elegant, the Lead Mosque is a fine introduction to Berat’s Ottoman heritage.
