Korçë, Albania

View of Korçë from the Heroes' Cemetery overlooking the town

Church in Korçë (Photo by Marc Morell)

Korçë (Albanian: Korçë or Korça, Greek: Κορυτσά, Korytsá, Italian: Corizza) is a major city in south-eastern Albania, located at 40°37′ N 20°46′ E near the border with Greece. It has a population of around 60,000 people (2003 estimate), making it the fifth largest city in Albania.

History

Korçë was founded some time before 1280, when its existence was first recorded, but was destroyed in 1440 by the expanding Ottoman Empire. It was revived in the 16th century and developed into a significant commercial centre in a predominately agricultural part of Albania.

The city and the surrounding area are home to a significant Greek and Aromanian community. (It also has a small population of Macedonian Slavs.) Its incorporation into Albania in 1913, following the Balkan Wars, was controversial, as nationalist Greeks claimed it as part of a region they called "Northern Epirus". It has repeatedly been occupied by Greece since the end of Ottoman rule in the Balkans in 1912. Korçë was occupied by Greece between 1912-1913 and again during the early part of the First World War. The city was administered by France between 1916-1920 but was again occupied by Greece between November 1940 - April 1941, following Fascist Italy's annexation of the rest of Albania.

Culture

Korçë has been an important religious centre for Greek Orthodox Christians and Muslims for centuries. It is the seat of an Orthodox metropolitan bishop and also possesses a large 15th century mosque.

Economy

During the 20th century, Korçë gained a substantial industrial capacity in addition to its historic role as a commercial and agricultural centre. Local industries include the manufacture of knitwear, rugs, textiles, flour-milling, brewing, and sugar-refining. Deposits of lignite are mined nearby.