Plumbi Mosque, Berat

Plumbi Mosque, also known as the (Izgurli) Mosque, is one of the most important religious and cultural buildings in the city of Berat. In its construction in the 30s of the 16th century, during the reign of Sultan Sulejman Konunori (1520-1566), the city of Berat was turning into an important administrative and religious center in the territory of the Ottoman Empire.

The order for the construction of this mosque came from the nobleman Ahmet Bej Uzgurliu, who, according to tradition, is thought to have been the scion of the Skuraj family. Evlia Celebi, the Ottoman traveler, when he talks about the buildings of Ahmet Bey in Berat, after describing the mosque, describes it as a building built with carved stones and covered with lead. This cultural monument is part of a very rich complex, including bazaar, madrasah, imaret (public canteen), school, and bathhouse.

The architectural elements of the Plumbi mosque are impressive. The prayer hall is square in shape and covered with an elegant dome. On the north side, the mosque has a portico with seven lead-covered domes. The tall and thin minaret, carefully crafted at its base with the cloisonnage technique, stands as an important symbol of the building.

Inside the mosque, a special feature is the abundant lighting, provided by a large number of windows. This characteristic creates a warm and fruitful environment for prayer, reflecting the attention to detail and craftsmanship used in the construction of this historic mosque.

The Plumbi Mosque is not only a place of worship for believers, but also a rich testimony of cultural and architectural heritage in the city of Berat. Such buildings constitute an important asset for a country's cultural identity and are an important part of its history.