Voskopoja (former Moskopoje - 14th century) became one of the most developed and prosperous cities in the European part of the Ottoman Empire between the 17 and 18th century. Testament to this are the first Printing House in the Balkans in 1720, the Academia of Voskopoja founded in 1744, the famous Basilicas, the painted house walls by the famous Albanian painters including David Selenica and the Zeografi brothers.

Although located in a rather isolated place in the mountains of southern Albania, the city rose to become the most important center of the Aromanians. In its glory days (1760s), it is said that it had a population surpassing 60,000 and was the second most important city of the Balkans in regard to population and prosperity.

At the second half of the 18th century, Voskopoja was ruined and turned again into a village as it had been originally. The pillaging of the town, especially of its treasures, of the records and manuscripts of its churches continued even during the World War I and II. Voskopoja remains to this day as an abundant storehouse of art works. During the 16th -18th centuries there were built 24 churches, but now remained only eight ones. Some of them are "Shen Mihali" (1726), "Shen Athanasi" (1724), "Shen Ilias", "Shen Marias", monastery of "Shen Joan Prodhromit" (1632) with "Shen Kolli" church (1721).

Voskopoja is today just a small mountain village located 21 km west from Korce at an altitude of 1160 meters.

Voskopoja in Photos

Weekend in Korce - 44 pictures from Korce, Voskopoja, Balkan Prespa Park, 10/2008

Country of Flying Saucers - everyday life in Albania - Voskopoja, 09/2008