Alma and Zamo Spathara, the couple who build the Castle of Love in Berat
The history of Castle Park started in 2000 when the couple Zamo and Alma Spathara decided not to abandon Berat but to build the Castle Park tourist complex – a beautiful estate only 1km from the city, son a hill with green pines.
The goal was clear: Castle Park would bring the old disappearing Berata recipies served with love and elegance while preserving the culinary heritage and Albanian hospitality.
In those years there was no talk at all about tourism in Albania. Everywhere in the media there was only talk about black chronicles and corruption.. "We started from scratch. We had nothing but love for life and each other" - says Zamo Spathara
"It is said that in this country our national hero Skenderbeu kissed his bride Donika for the first time. That's why we decided to build our castle of love and youth there" - it is said
In those years there was no talk about tourism in Albania. Everywhere in the media there was only talk about black chronicles and corruption… “We started from scratch. We had nothing but love for life and each other” says Zamo Spathara.
“It is said that in this country our national hero Skenderbeu kissed his bride Donika for the first time here. That’s why we decided to build our castle of love and you there” said Alma Spathara
Berat has an early and very rich culinary tradition. After the year 1990, immediately after the fall of the dictatorship, many restaurants began to open that only cooked foreign recipes such as Greek and Italian, where wine of foreign wineries was served. In Berat, there was a lack of a restaurant which brought back old recipes cooked with products produced by local farmers, but above all served with high standards and quality. There was a need for a restaurant which offered 100% local dishes.
Today, we are proud to carry out our mission to the best of our ability by conveying and preserving the culinary wealth and hospitality of thousands of tourists who visit Castle Park every year.
Berat is blessed with fertile land and hardworking farmers.
We managed to re-awaken the old traditions from the residents by asking them to plant and produce the indigenous products of the area by making them business partners and sharing income together.
