KORCA

A proud, cultured town high in the Albanian hinterlands, Korça is a world away from Tirana. It has quite a few good sights, including an excellent icon museum, a bustling bazaar, a fantastic Byzantine-era painted church, a top-rate beer brewery and a great beer festival. 

Korça (pronounced KOR-cha) is known for its pretty girls, its tradition of serenades, and good food. The city is close to Greece in more than one way. Locals cross the border to nearby Kastoria and further afield to Thessaloniki and Athens for the latest fashion, religious festivals, education, jobs and family visits, and many of them are fluent in both Greek and Albanian. 

Every summer, the Korça Beer Festival attracts thousands of party-minded beer-lovers from across the Balkans and Europe; the 2013 edition is from 14-18 August.