The bazaar of Korca was one of the most reputed of Ottoman times in Albania. Indeed, the relevance of Korca as a market and traders' place started only after the decadence of the neighboring city of Voskopoje, but the bazaar became well known, mainly for the quality of clothes, the variety of spices, and the animals sold there (goats mainly). it was a noisy, busy place and very soon took the nickname of the bazaar of serenades.
Today it is a big market which keeps around a big square-also some old streets full of small shops, pretty much similar to eastern bazaars. In a parallel alley, there is also a large food market occupying a long street and two big covered naves. The whole area is bustling and colorful.
Walking in the part of food supplies, it is surprising the richness of spices: chillies, salep, chamomile, herbal teas. There are several kinds of mountain honey. Also, the reputed fasule, very big beans traditional from the region.
One of the sweetest corners in the bazaar is the two remaining caravansary. They are called han in Albanian, and keep all the atmosphere of very old times. The one is called Han Manastir. It has a small garden in the middle of the courtyard, with some old funerary steles and the remains of an old gate. The upper side is used as a store for shops. In the downtown, some shops of clothes and cleaning products, and a beautiful coffee shop. By passing by the coffee shop, some people called me. They were sitting
The other caravansary is the Han Elbasan. It has a pit in the middle and was reconstructed during communist times. It is a busy place perfectly integrated in the market, and people enter continuously looking for clothes or shoes in the small shops of the downtown. As if centuries pass more slowly in this area.
Korca was always a crossroads. It must be so taken into consideration where the city is, and its history, which extends over the current borders. A cosmopolitan air makes the city and the market. In the entire bazaar, it is easy to see posters and read in Greek and to listen people speaking in the Macedonian language.
