Korca Cathedral

The Resurrection Cathedral in Korca was completed in 1995 on the site of an earlier cathedral demolished in 1968, when Albania declared itself an atheist state and religious buildings across the country were destroyed or converted. The new building is large, in a Byzantine revival manner with a central dome, arcaded facades and a tall bell tower, painted inside with a full scheme of frescoes done since its completion, and it stands on a square in the middle of a city that was historically an important Orthodox centre and a place where the first Albanian-language school opened in 1887. Its interest is partly architectural and partly what it represents, since the reconstruction of religious buildings in the 1990s was a visible marker of the change in the country.

What you actually see

• A Byzantine revival cathedral - central dome and arcaded facades.
• A full modern fresco scheme - painted since the 1995 completion.
• The rebuilt-after-demolition story - the earlier cathedral destroyed in 1968.
• The city square setting - the building at the centre of Korca.

When to go

April to October for the city generally; the cathedral is open year round outside services. One hour. Korca winters are cold and snowy. Modest dress is expected.

Honest expectations

The building is modern, from the 1990s, which surprises visitors expecting something old. The frescoes are recent. Photography inside may be restricted. It is one building and an hour is generous.

Nearby

The Korca old bazaar is a short walk; the Medieval Art Museum is nearby.