For centuries Korçë has been an important religious centre for Orthodox Christians. It hosts a large Orthodox community and since 1670 has served as the seat of an Orthodoxmetropolitan bishop. There is also a large Sunni community in and around the city. Islam entered the city in the 15th century through Iljaz Hoxha, a famous Albanianjannissary, who actively participated in the Fall of Constantinople.[11] One of the oldest mosques was built in Albania by Iljaz Hoxha in 1484, the Ilias Mirahori Mosque. ABektashi community is also present in the city. The main centre of the Bektashis of the area is the Turan Tekke.
Museums and culture
Korçë is referred to as the city of museums. The National Museum of Medieval Art of Albania has rich archives of ca. 6500 icons and 500 other objects in textile, stone and metal. The National Museum of Archeology is located in Korçë. The first Albanian School as well as the residence and gallery of painter Vangjush Mio function as museums. The Bratko Museum and the Oriental Museumare also located in the city.
Korçë has a city theatre, the Andon Zako Çajupi Theatre, which started its shows in 1950 and has been working uninterruptedly since
Korçë has a city theatre, the Andon Zako Çajupi Theatre, which started its shows in 1950 and has been working uninterruptedly since
Education
The first school, a Greek language school, in the city was established in 1724 with the support of residents of nearby Vithkuq.This school was destroyed during the Greek War of Independence but it reopened in 1830. In 1857 a Greek school for girls was operating in the city.During the 19th century various local benefactors such as Ioannis Pangas donated money for the promotion of Greek education and culture in Korçë, such as theBangas Gymnasium. Similarly, kindergartens, boarding and urban schools, were also operating in the city during this period. Under these developments, a special community fund, named the Lasso fund, was established in 1850 by the local Orthodox bishop Neophytos, in order to support Greek cultural activity in Korçë.
At the end of the 19th century local Albanians expressed a growing need to be educated in their native language. The Albanian intellectual diaspora from Istanbul and Bucharest initially tried to avoid antagonism towards the notables of Korçë who were in favor of Greek culture. Thus they suggested the introduction of Albanian language in the existing Greek Orthodox schools, a proposal which was rejected by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. As a result, the first Albanian language school was established in 1887 by the Drita (English: Light) organization and funded by notable local individuals. Its first director was Pandeli Sotiri.] Naim Frashëri, the national poet of Albania played a great role in the opening of the school. As a high-ranking statesman in the ministry of education of the Ottoman Empire he managed to get official permission for the school. The Ottoman authorities gave permission only for Christian children to be educated in Albanian, but the Albanians did not follow this restriction and allowed also Muslim children to attend. As a result, the school was closed in 1902 by the Ottoman authorities.
Students and teachers of the Greek Urban School (1897), one of the several institutions sponsored by the community Lasso fund.
The school was followed by Albania's first school for girls in 1891. It started by Gjerasim Qiriazi and was later run by his sisters, Sevasti and Parashqevi Qiriazi, together with Polikseni Luarasi (Dhespoti). Later collaborators were the Rev. & Mrs. Grigor Çilka and Rev & Mrs. Phineas Kennedy of the Congregational Mission Board of Boston.
When the city was under French administration in 1916 (the Republic of Korçë), Greek schools were closed and 200 Albanian and French language schools were opened. A few months later Greek schools were reopened as a reward and result of Greece's adhesion to theEntente alliance, part of which was France, although the decision to reopen them was in contradiction to the wishes of the population.Particularly relevant was the opening in 1917 of the Albanian National Lyceum.
The city is home to Fan Noli University, founded in 1971, which offers several degrees in the humanities, sciences and business. The University includes a school in Agriculture, Teaching, Business, Nursing, and Tourism.
After the collapse of the Socialist Republic, part of the local communities expressed a growing need to revive their cultural past, in particular with the reopenning of Greek schools. In April 2005 the first bilingual Greek-Albanian school opened in Korçë after 60 years of prohibition of Greek education. In addition, a total of 17 Greek language institutes are functioning in the city.
At the end of the 19th century local Albanians expressed a growing need to be educated in their native language. The Albanian intellectual diaspora from Istanbul and Bucharest initially tried to avoid antagonism towards the notables of Korçë who were in favor of Greek culture. Thus they suggested the introduction of Albanian language in the existing Greek Orthodox schools, a proposal which was rejected by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. As a result, the first Albanian language school was established in 1887 by the Drita (English: Light) organization and funded by notable local individuals. Its first director was Pandeli Sotiri.] Naim Frashëri, the national poet of Albania played a great role in the opening of the school. As a high-ranking statesman in the ministry of education of the Ottoman Empire he managed to get official permission for the school. The Ottoman authorities gave permission only for Christian children to be educated in Albanian, but the Albanians did not follow this restriction and allowed also Muslim children to attend. As a result, the school was closed in 1902 by the Ottoman authorities.
Students and teachers of the Greek Urban School (1897), one of the several institutions sponsored by the community Lasso fund.
The school was followed by Albania's first school for girls in 1891. It started by Gjerasim Qiriazi and was later run by his sisters, Sevasti and Parashqevi Qiriazi, together with Polikseni Luarasi (Dhespoti). Later collaborators were the Rev. & Mrs. Grigor Çilka and Rev & Mrs. Phineas Kennedy of the Congregational Mission Board of Boston.
When the city was under French administration in 1916 (the Republic of Korçë), Greek schools were closed and 200 Albanian and French language schools were opened. A few months later Greek schools were reopened as a reward and result of Greece's adhesion to theEntente alliance, part of which was France, although the decision to reopen them was in contradiction to the wishes of the population.Particularly relevant was the opening in 1917 of the Albanian National Lyceum.
The city is home to Fan Noli University, founded in 1971, which offers several degrees in the humanities, sciences and business. The University includes a school in Agriculture, Teaching, Business, Nursing, and Tourism.
After the collapse of the Socialist Republic, part of the local communities expressed a growing need to revive their cultural past, in particular with the reopenning of Greek schools. In April 2005 the first bilingual Greek-Albanian school opened in Korçë after 60 years of prohibition of Greek education. In addition, a total of 17 Greek language institutes are functioning in the city.
DARDHE
Dardhë is a community in the municipality of Drenovë in the Korçë District, Korçë County, Albania and a well known ski area of Albania since the 1920s. In 2012, the first ever ski tow in Albania was opened at Bigell Ski Resort near Dardhe
A Greek school was founded in the village in 1810 by Ikonomou Isidoros,while at the beginning of the 20th century Greek education was flourishing with the establishment of additional schools: a girl's school (1901-1902) and a middle level school. In the school season of 1901-1902 a total of 150 pupils attended the Greek schools, which were sponsored by the local community fund, as well as the local Orthodox Church.[5] The first Albanian school opened in 1917, with the initiative of Leonidha Çika, starting with initially 20 pupils, and with financing from the Vatra, which will sponsor the new school in 1924 that is still in place today.
Dardha has historically suffered from heavy emigration. Many families of the area would become the first Albanian community in USA, and Romania as well. People from Dardha have given an immense contributor to Albanian American organization. Sotir Peçi, Josif Pani, Gjergj Konda etc. would start the society "Besa-Besë", "Kombi" newspaper, and the unification of the Albanian American societies into a single federation, Vatra, with Sotir Peçi as one of the initial founders.
A Greek school was founded in the village in 1810 by Ikonomou Isidoros,while at the beginning of the 20th century Greek education was flourishing with the establishment of additional schools: a girl's school (1901-1902) and a middle level school. In the school season of 1901-1902 a total of 150 pupils attended the Greek schools, which were sponsored by the local community fund, as well as the local Orthodox Church.[5] The first Albanian school opened in 1917, with the initiative of Leonidha Çika, starting with initially 20 pupils, and with financing from the Vatra, which will sponsor the new school in 1924 that is still in place today.
Dardha has historically suffered from heavy emigration. Many families of the area would become the first Albanian community in USA, and Romania as well. People from Dardha have given an immense contributor to Albanian American organization. Sotir Peçi, Josif Pani, Gjergj Konda etc. would start the society "Besa-Besë", "Kombi" newspaper, and the unification of the Albanian American societies into a single federation, Vatra, with Sotir Peçi as one of the initial founders.