Korça
The next surprise after the
exceptional city of Pogradeci
is the city of Korça, one of the
biggest urban centers in Alba-
nia. During springtime the soft
fragrance of sturgeon flowers
fills the main avenue, while
during winter you can enjoy
a quiet stroll under the snow-
dusted trees.
In 1887, the first Albanian
school opened in Korça. Dur-
ing the First World War, the
French invaded the city and
it became the “Autonomous
Region of Korça.” In 1917 the
French Lyceum (one of the
most notable schools in Al-
bania) opened. Besides its
history, Korça’s traditional
architecture with its villa-like
houses encircled by banisters
and flowery gardens attract
attention. The zone between
Republika and Shën Gjergji
boulevards is very interesting:
here, housed in two traditional
Korça buildings are the Medi-
eval Art Museum and the Pre-
historic Museum, displaying
nearly 1200 artifacts from the
Prehistoric, Hellenic, Roman
and early-Byzantine eras.
Another object of interest is
the Museum-house of the
master artist Vangjush Mio,
and the Museum of the Bratko
Collection, opened in 2003
and displaying art objects
from the Far East.
You might want to visit also
the bazaar (dating from the
turn of the 20th century), the
Mosque of Iliaz Bej Mirahori
(the oldest monument in the
City, dating back to 1484),
and the Cathedral Ngjallja
e Krishtit (“Resurrection of
Christ”), one of the biggest ca-
thedrals in the Balkans.
The city is known for its char-
acteristic songs called “ser-
enades” which are played by
guitars. In the city taverns
you can sample local dishes
(be sure not to miss lakrori me
qepë dhe domate, and tava e
korminës), and don’t forget the
Festival of Carnivals, the big-
gest celebration of its kind in
all of Albania.
