Korcza is a city where the Middle Eastern climate of the bazaar and Western European order are smoothly combined. It is here that the first Albanian school was established. Korcza is also known for its intellectual traditions and interesting museums.
Due to its history and centuries-long Turkish, Greek and Austro-Hungarian occupations, Korcza today is a specific mixture of different cultures and influences. In the Middle Ages, the famous school of writing icons operated here, and the monuments related to it can be seen, among others at the National Museum of Medieval Art. A reference to the tradition of writing icons and making church paintings is the monumental, contemporary Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, one of the largest in the Balkans, where you can see interesting paintings.
Turkish influences in Korcza can be seen above all in the Korcza Bazaar, which was revitalized at the beginning of the 21st century. On the cobbled streets there are low houses with shops, craft workshops and numerous pubs. In the central square there is the Ilyaz Mirahori Mosque and the Clock Tower in Korcza.
An important episode that left a mark on the history of the city and its atmosphere was the establishment in 1887 by the Albanian national activist, Pandela Sotiri, of the first Albanian language school. Today, the National Education Museum operates in its building. In turn, after the Balkan wars and the creation of an independent Albania, the French Republic of Korczy was established in the city, and soon after that, the French high school, which was the forge of the country's intellectual elite. To this day, you can see buildings built in the interwar period according to patterns from Paris and other French cities, and cultural traditions are continued by numerous museums, including The Archaeological Museum in Korcza and the Museum of Oriental Art "Bratko".
The modern landmark of Korcza is the promenade with shops and restaurants, and the ten-story Red Tower with a beautiful view of the city and the surrounding area.
