Koritsa(Korca) - Moschopolis(Voskopoja) Albania, Daily excursion from Greece

OR Koritsa (Korca ή Korce) is known as little Paris, as City of Serene (erotic songs), as City of Museums and as Carnival City.

It is located at an altitude 869 m. At the foot of Morava Mountain, In the SE of Albania and near the border with Greece (38 km). Has easy access from cities Kastoria and Florina and is indicated for a day trip. From the capital of Albania Tirana is away 181 km.

The city, with the old neighborhoods and the Bazaar founded in 1490 by the Ottoman local lord Iljaz Bey Mirahori, Put built and the Glass.

The Koritsa bazaar (Korca Bazaar) With the old one -storey and two -storey houses and narrow streets there was a meeting place for merchants from Greece, Turkey, Venice, Trieste.

Koritsa bazaar

Refurbished buildings of the historic center house shops, hotels, restaurants and cafes. Distinguish the atmospheric COMMITTEE –Coffee Museum and Hani i shopping, hotel- restaurant with inner courtyard.

OR BOULEVARD Fan Noli is the wide avenue where most museums are located, hotels, Commercially and the Brewery of Koritsa.

The Koritsa from the 1928 produces the Korca Beer (Beer Corca), 100% Albanian beer and the Brewery Korca Beer It is accessible with free guided tour (hours 10 a.m., 12, 2 pm. It is advisable to consult earlier, https://birrakorca.com.al), in BOULEVARD Fan Noli (After the medieval museum). Opposite the brewery is beer house e birres, that serves Korca Beer and food, with nice yard ideal and for families with children.

The Korca Beer Festival becomes mid -August (14-18), with local and international beers, food and live music, Midhi Kostani Street, Terminal Koritsa Bus Station (information on https://bestbeerfestivals.com/korca-beer-fest).

In addition to beer Koritsa produces wine and raki For example you will find the Korca 2000, στν Rruga Bajazit Well (visitable).

In the mountain village Bobos or Bobos (Albanian), 10 km n of Koritsa, You will find many taverns. Famous for Friday raki by berries (mulberry raki) by the centuries -old murmur of the village.

OR Albanian cuisine includes enough meat, such as roasted lamb mainly on spit, pickle, onions, vegetables but also pies, with the most famous local pie pie, which all the taverns make. The "pie it is sac»Is a handmade delicate dough that is usually filled with spinach (Spinag) with or without cheese), leek (leek), onion – tomato (shallot – tomato), nettle (nettles), pumpkin (khlull) etc., is covered with a special lid (sac) and is baked in the mock (ascendant).

The pie Festival (Cabbage) It is done every summer (early August) In the Polene village adjacent, 3 km from Voskop, In an outdoor area where women make pies on the spot. For pie distinguishes the taste e Sacit in the Old bazaar and Mik Mak In Bulevardi Republika.

The Petanic me legume (pie with beans), the Friday (pasta) and Kulac (cake) They are also traditional foods of Koritsa.

in pie Traditional, Pizza pie, Mik Mak you will find pies pie (by the Turkish Burek) such as spanish pies, meat pies, cheese pies, Potato pies given hand with the piece.

On top of the hill, 3 km over Koritsa, located chapel of Prophet Elias, with cross and stunning views of the plateau and the mountains. Just before you reach the top you can stop for brown – food in the hotel Montrelux Resort Korce, with a pool and great views of the restaurant, στην Street Liberation of Korca.

For photographs of the city from above there is a modern tower in the city known as Red Tower or Panoramic Tower Korca (7 PM-10 pm, entrance 50 Lek).

The International Carnival Festival (International Carnival Festival) It is done every year in June (principles usually), is one of the largest in Albania and attracts many visitors from neighboring countries (information : https://bashkiakorce.gov.al.

KORTSA - DRAWING

In the Old Bazaar you will find the little mall Center COMMERCIAL Pazari And quite a few small shops with souvenirs, like ceramics.

Koritsa is also known for the handmade carpets and rug with the special patterns sold in stores in Bazaar.

KORTSA - ADIATIONS

• Orthodox Cathedral of Christ's Resurrection (Cathedral The Resurrection of Christ), 1992.

• National Museum of Medieval Art (National Museum of Medieval Art – My wife), Fan Noli Boulevard 59 (just below the temple of the Resurrection).

It is one of the most important museums of Albania, part of Cultural heritage. Modern building (1980) with more than 7.000 religious images, from churches and monasteries of Albania, All representative samples of medieval, Byzantine and post -Byzantine Christian art as well as 500 other objects and manuscripts.

You will admire portable pictures of the most famous Albanian painters - hagiographers such as “Resurrection of Lazarus" and "Her Annunciation Virgin – 4 Evangelist», by the Evangelist Temple of Berat, his works Onufri (16^th c.), «Ag. John Vladimir"of Constantine Shattering (18^th c.), images from the abbey Ardenica brothers Constantine and Athanas Zografos (18^th c.), images from Ag. Nicholas Moschopolis of David SELENICE (17^th -18^th c.). Open Tuesday - Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 a.m., Sunday 10 a.m. -3 pm. and Monday closed (free).

• Photography museum JOHN Mili, στην Street Conference of Pezes, In the yellow building (closed Sunday – Monday, entrance with ticket).

Includes items from the personal collection of the famous Albanian photographer from Koritsa JOHN Mili (1904-1984).

• Archaeological Museum Koritsa (Korca Archaeological Museum), Mihal Grameno Street 19 (Behind the Temple of the Resurrection). Housed in old house (19^th c.), that is a cultural monument and has many prehistoric objects (9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Closed on Monday, entrance with ticket).
• Home – Museum Vangjush Mio (Vangjush Mio Museum), Spiro Balkamen Street 3 (the building behind the temple of the Resurrection) Where you will see works and personal belongings of the Impressionist Painter from Koritsa Vangjush Mio (1891-1957).
• National Museum of Education – 1^The Albanian school (The National Museum of Education- Carnivor), στην Boulevard St. George (across from a temple of the Resurrection). Opened to 7-3-1887 and was the 1^The school where the Albanian language was taught. The building, former house, It is a cultural monument (entrance with ticket).
• Tzam Iljaz Bey Mirahori, στην Floresha Myteveli Street 12 (near the old bazaar). It was built between 1484 -1495 by Iljaz Bey Mirahori, founder (1490) and is the oldest religious cultural monument of the city.
• East museum – Asian art «Brother» (Museu Oriental «Brother»), In Bulevardi Fan Noli

Musk

OR Moschopolis (Waxy ή Voskopoje) is a small mountainous settlement of the Municipality of Koritsa (https://bashkiakorce.gov.al). It is located at an altitude 1.160 m., In a valley (grazing) surrounded by mountains (Island) With many springs and running water. With easy access from Koritsa (20 km d of the city) attracts several visitors for a day trip, Even from Greece.

Moschopolis with relaxed rhythms is an ideal destination for quiet holidays, For walks in nature, to tour the numerous old Orthodox churches.

Founded in 1330 by Vlachs and flourished, Like Koritsa, Trade. There was an important cultural, Religious and Spiritual Center of the area. The 1744 Founded the school 'New academy», with dorms for students and together the first printing house (1744) by Gregory Constantinides(printer), that had a rich library for students (have been destroyed, you will see a single sign). From the 24 Orthodox churches once Moschopolis had, all great to fit a lot of faithful, Triple Basilica, Today the saved 7, in relatively good condition.

MOSHOPOLI - FOOD

The settlement has nice houses, cobbled streets, Many small traditional hotels and a few taverns – brown.

OR Pathway Saint Maria, which is a main road, after Taverna VOSKOPOJA, leads to you church of the Assumption or Saint Mary (Church Sleep of Saint Merise).

Moschopolis – Gjergi Simon Sina Street- Janko Coffee

in Pathway GEORGE Simon Their you will find it Janko Coffee (corner shop). The Restaurant Fish Geeska It has in addition to meat and fresh trout from a farm.

Musk – SIGHTS

The sights of Moschopolis are mainly the Orthodox churches that have wonderful frescoes of the great painters – hagiographers of the time and you can admire them freely.

From the 24 that existed once today you will see, in relatively good condition only 7, which are all Cultural Monuments Architecture.

• Assumption (Church Sleep of Saint Merise), 1694-1699 with frescoes 1712.
• Ag. Nicholas (St. Koll's Church), 1721, with frescoes David SELENICE or Selenicasi who has hated the entire church with more than 7.000 different forms.
• Ag. Athanasiou (The church of St. Thanas), in the cemetery, Net, with frescoes 1745 brothers Constantine and Athanas Zografos (18^th c.).
• Ag. Michael (St. Mehilli's Church), 1722, basilica.
• Prophet Elias (Shendelliu church).

Moschopolis, Prophet Elias

Three -aisled basilica with flat roof and internally with two rows of columns attached to arches.

Moschopolis, church Prophet Elias

• Ag. Friday (Then shenepremte)

The first church was the oldest of the village (1378) but burned and rebuilt new in the same position, over the hill.

The Bridge of the area with the two arches is a cultural monument of architecture.

• Monastery St.. John Prodromou (Manastiri I Shen Podhromit) or Baptist, 1632, Byzantine rhythm with special frescoes of 1659. Easy on foot from the center of the settlement (is celebrating 24/6).

ACCESS FROM GREECE TO KORITSA - MOSCHOPOLI

From Castor and Florina through Crystallopigi Customs where both customs authorities, Greece -Albania, At your entrance and exit, They will ask you for identities. The driver of the car, In addition to license and diploma, In case the car holder is not, should also demonstrate authorization from the owner (easily through gov.gr), because they are required and asking for. Crystallopigi distance - Koritsa is 38 km.

useful information

• Police : 129
• Ambulance : 126
• His family George Sina (1783-1856) was originally from the Moschopolis of the then Ottoman Empire (Northern Epirus), therefore Pathway Gear Simon Their in Moschopolis. He was born in Nis Austria and was a businessman, banker, diplomat and National Benefactor of Greece.