Geographical position
Vithkuqi is located southwest of the city of Korça (26 km). The mountain climate of this tourist attraction, cold in winter and cool in summer, is quite a healthy climate. The population consists of 965 inhabitants and 230 families. The surface of the area is 195 km 2 and the average height is 1230 m. The highest point is Rrungaja 1750m. The relief is folded and varied. Vithkuqi is surrounded by mountains and hills completely covered with trees and bushes.
Background
Vithkuqi is an ancient Illyrian settlement. Although little explored, it dates back as an inhabited center from the first iron period to the 2nd century BC. Proof of this are the forts that were placed to protect the territory, such as those of Boshanj, Bellovoda and Leshnja, as well as the mounds in the old neighborhoods of Vithkuq: Qyran and Qyrshas. In the documents it is mentioned as a residence in the Principality of Muzakaj, as early as the 15th century, but the most important document is that Vithkuqi has been a residence since the 12th century, because at this time the first church in Vithkuqi was built, that of St. Thanasit, which dates back to 1162. In the Ottoman regime, Vithkuqi was registered as a myrk property and later a waqf of Mirahor Iljaz Bey (1484-1504).
The first cadastral registration of 1568-1570 gives data that Vithkuqi had the densest population and 343 Christian families are registered. In the 17th-18th centuries it was known as a developed city and at the height of its prosperity there were 24 neighborhoods with a population ranging from 12,000-15,000 inhabitants. In addition to the first church (Church of Saint Thanas), there are also 17 other churches, 3 monasteries and a metropolitan center. There was a school, according to the data, equivalent to that of Voskopoja. In the years 1781-1819-1823, the town of Vithkuqi suffered three major destructions, which reduced it to a small village with only 13 families. Around 1856, Vithkuqi recovered and emerged as a village with 150 houses and the three neighborhoods of today. The population of Vithkuq migrated all within and outside the country, forming many villages with an entirely Vithkuq population (Mandrica in Bulgaria, Lehova in Greece, etc.).
Customs and traditions
The people of Vithuqukare are loving, kind people, with an inherited culture, but also imported from Europe, especially from America. Living in vithukuk families is very good, because the family environment is warm, clean, nicely arranged and cooks very well. The characteristic dress of men and women was very beautiful. The women of Vithukke work very beautifully and with finesse the wool, which, in addition to clothing, is used to make carpets, rugs, etc. Hospitality, generosity, and warmth are the atmospheres that the Vychkukars create for their guests.
Traditional holidays
In Vithkuq, family and traditional holidays that have a more religious character are organized very nicely, such as: Saint Peter’s Fair on June 29 and Saint Nikhodhim, which is also the festival of the “Vithkuqare Brotherhood” association on July 10.
Typical dishes
It is a pleasure to have on the table the roasted meat of Vithkuq and the dairy, which have a special taste and go very well with the characteristic local drink, plum brandy. In these cases it is very good to listen to the Vithkuq folk song that has been preserved despite foreign influences, or to watch the Vithkuq boys and girls dancing the Dado dance, which is only danced in Vithkuq. We have all tried or heard it called in the Pazar: “Nuts, Vithkuqi tea”, which are popular in the entire Korca region.
The cultural-historical monuments of Vithkuq
The main monuments of the village are the churches. The first church was built in Vithkuq in 1162. It is about that of Saint Thanas. After that many other churches were built (18 churches). All of them have their values, but the most magnificent are: Monastery of Saint Peter, Monastery of Saint Kolli, Saint Mina and the Metropolis of Saint Mill. Of these churches, 8 churches are today well-maintained or rebuilt from the ground up: Saint Peter, Kozma Damianov or Qimitiri, Saint Kostandin, Vangjelizmoi, Saint Milli, Saint George, Saint Dëllia, Saint Mary. St. Nicodhimi was also built as a new church. A special importance as a monumental, historical and religious work is the church of Saint Peter, which was built in the century. XVIII, around 1764-1773. It consists of wonderful frescoes with about 2000 paintings, all made with the contribution of the vithukukari themselves and built by the vithukukari masters who had worked in Venice, such as: Dhima Dukasi, Hari Venetiku, Dine Krekasi, Vaso Sumbulla, Kule Deti, etc. . The designer of the church was the carpenter Than Lena together with his son Gjike Lena. It should be mentioned that in this monastery there was a famous library in which books that were printed in the Voskopoja Printing House were stored, among them the “Logical Treatise of Kavaliot”. Next to Saint Peter is a church of a special nature, that of Kozma Damianoi, in which the remains of the dead were kept. Also, to be mentioned is the church of Saint Mill of Vithkuqi, which, apart from its rare beauty, preserves inside the treasures of the frescoes painted by the Zografs and Shpataraks, who also painted most of the churches. Important monuments in Vithkuq are also the bridges, which were in abundance on all the streets of Vithkuq, but the most special ones are: Ura e Liasi (of the Lias neighborhood) and the one at the entrance of Vithkuq., Ura e Zoto. In Vithkuq there are many taps, some of which are built with a rare skill, such as: that of Nasto Kroi, Michuci, Kurtiq, Arra e Thate, etc. Vithkuqi is also mentioned for natural monuments such as: Bliri i Saint Peter and Poplar i Saint Milli.
What can you do in Vithkuq?
– Visit the churches of Vithkuq
– Explore nature trails
– Walk in the village
– Don’t leave without tasting the organic traditional foods of the area and brandy
– Climbing the mountain