Built in 1573 and dominating the Old Bazaar skyline despite the lack of a minaret, the impressively awesome Ali Pasha Mosque has seen many architectural changes over the centuries and serves as a fine visual reminder of the mighty Ottoman Empire that once ruled over Ohrid. At the time of going to press the building was closed to the public and undergoing reconstruction work, something that in true local style has sparked a scandal as the work uncovered the remains of a church that once stood on the same spot and that’s caused outrage among the (Christian) ethnic Macedonian community. A reopening date remains unknown.
