Overlooking the Lake Orestiada and under huge mountains is located Kastoria, a region in the western end of West Macedonia, in Greece. Kastoria, with its beautiful landscapes and historical beauties, is really worth discovering.
The Byzantine Museum of Kastoria
The Byzantine Museum of Kastoria was initially inaugurated in 1989 but renovated, reorganized and enriched in 2018 under the NSRF – ROP Macedonia 2014-2020 programme. It contains one of the richest collections of Byzantine and post-Byzantine art in Greece, including panel icons, sanctuary doors, frescoes etc.
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http://www.bmk.gr/en/
The Doltso District
Placed in the southern lakeshore side of the city of Kastoria, Doltso is one of the most picturesque districts of Kastoria. Walking around the cobbled streets loom the beautiful, traditional mansions of the 18th and 19th centuries, examples of the local architecture and Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches. Nowadays, the Neratzi-Aivazi, the Picheon and the Emmanouil mansions host the Folklore Museum, the Museum of Macedonian Struggle and the traditional Costume Museum in Kastoria.
https://www.discoverkastoria.gr/place-city/kastoria/
https://kastoria.pdm.gov.gr/
Lake Tour
Starting the route from the coastal road of Kastoria (M. Alexandrou), the first point of our route is the majestic Papaterpo Mansion – 1880. Continuing along the coastal road we reach the tip of the peninsula of Kastoria and we meet the Point of the Throwing of the Cross. Continuing we observe alternations of Neoclassical buildings, eclectic houses and traditional mansions (Stefanis, Skoutaris mansion-1770, Tzifras, Bassaras mansion-1750 etc.), in order to reach the picturesque Doltcho Square and the Apostles’ Core, where we can get a taste of the life of old Kastoria. Continuing on the coastal road we pass by the Cave of the Dragon, we meet a few meters further down the Church of Agios Nikolaos, built on the rock of a cave, while continuing the picturesque route through the plane trees, we find ourselves at the Monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa, the historic monastery of the 11th century, to stop and climb up to Agios Sotiras, from where we can admire the view of the northern beach from above. Then we cross the district of Apozari, starting from the imposing Tsiatsiapa Mansion-1754 and climbing up the cobbled alleys we find the Church of Agios Loukas and the Christopoulos Mansion almost opposite each other. Either by following the lakeside road in the company of the dew and the shade of the plane trees, or by strolling through the alleys via Christopoulou Street (Byzantine Church of St. NIKOLAOS Tzotza, Church of St. Lukas, Taxiarches of Apozari, Neoclassical of Economides, Dais etc.) we will end and complete the small tour of the lake of Kastoria at the walls of the Town Hall, a remnant of the old strong fortification of the city.
https://www.discoverkastoria.gr/place-city/kastoria/
https://kastoria.pdm.gov.gr/
The Dragon Cave
Situated on the lakeside road in the northern part of the city, the cave was initially discovered in the 1940s. According to local myths it was a gold mine guarded by a dragon. It nowadays stretches over 300 meters containing significant geological formations such as stalactites and stalagmites, seven small underground lakes, bridges and tunnels.
https://www.discoverkastoria.gr/place-city/kastoria/
The Monastery of Virgin Mavriotissa
The church is situated approximately 4km southeast of Kastoria near the shore of the lake, surrounded by century-old plane trees. It was built in the 11th century during the rule of the Byzantine emperor Alexios Komnenos after he recaptured the area from the Normans. The church is well-known for its decoration with wall paintings on both sides of the walls that date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. In the 16th c. a chapel, dedicated to Aghios Ioannis Theologos was added to the south wall of the church.
https://www.bmk.gr/
The Apozari District
Placed in the northern lakeshore side of the city of Kastoria, Apozari presents all of the traditional architectural and cultural elements of the Byzantine periods. The restorated Sapountzi and Tsiatsiapa mansions are indicative of the history of 18th century, whereas the church of Aghios Nikolaos Tzotza dated in the 14th c. and the church of the Presentation of Virgin Mary of Tsiatsiapa dated in the 17th c. are fine examples of the economic and cultural flourishing of Kastoria during the Byzantine and post-Byzantine era.
https://www.discoverkastoria.gr/place-city/kastoria/
https://kastoria.pdm.gov.gr/
Aquarium of Kastoria
The Aquarium of Kastoria named “Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew” opened its doors to the public, after almost two years of preparation, on July 3, 2012, after the opening ceremony performed by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, during his official visit to Western Macedonia (in whose honor as “Green” Patriarch, the aquarium was named in his honor). It is the first freshwater aquarium of the Balkans, hosting endemic and native fish species of the rivers and lakes of Greece, as well as a large number of alien species living in the lakes of Greece. The aquarium consists of 49 tanks with a capacity of 1 to 1.6 cubic meters, a simulation of Lake Kastoria and a simulation of the Aliakmon river. Each tank is treated as a separate circuit with mechanical filters and water oxygenation mechanisms. In terms of fish species, the aquarium is home to 56 species of freshwater fish, while organisms such as water turtles, crawfish and Tritons make their presence felt. In large numbers, carps (Cyprinus carpio), Pikes or Chubs (Leuciscus spp) and Roaches (Rutilus rutilus). Of particular interest to the visitor are the Stone Crawfish, an endangered species in Europe as it is included in the Bern Convention for the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna. Also the Oxyrhynchus is a species that particularly attracts the attention of the visitor because of its rarity and its significant economic value (known for the production of black caviar), as well as its particular external form, with its characteristic pointed snout and shark-like shape. It is a species listed in the Red Book of Threatened Species and is endangered. The main volume of fish in the aquarium was caught with the help of local professional and amateur fishermen, while the endemic species were caught with the decisive help of the Institute of Inland Waters of ELKETHE using scientific methodology and methods.
https://www.discoverkastoria.gr/place-city/kastoria/
The Lake settlement of Dispilio
The Dispilio Lakeshore Prehistoric Settlement is situated near the city of Kastoria on the south shore of Lake Orestiada. It was discovered in 1932, when the wooden stakes of the extensive lake settlement were revealed. Ongoing archaeological inquiries have brought to light along with wooden structural elements, thousands of Neolithic artifacts, such as figurines, stone jewelries, tools, jars and ceramics.
https://kastoria.pdm.gov.gr/
https://www.discoverkastoria.gr/place-city/kastoria/
The Archaeological Μuseum in Argos Orestiko
The Archaeological Museum is located in Argos Orestiko, which during antiquity belonged to Ancient Orestis, an important region of Upper Macedonia. The museum’s permanent exhibitions include a variety of archaeological artifacts such as marble and stone reliefs, figurines, jewelries, weapons etc. dated from 1100BC to 300 AD.
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The Aghios Georgios in Omorfokklisia
It is located at the mountainous village Omorfokklisia, at the southwestern part of the Municipality of Kastoria. The main church of Aghios Georgios was built in the beginning of the 13th century, serving as part of a monastery, whereas the narthex, the bell tower and chapels were added a few years later. It is well known for its frescoes and hagiographies that date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, as well as for the unique, big sized, wooden relief of Aghios Georgios of the 13th c., placed at the south arch of the church.
https://kastoria.pdm.gov.gr/
https://www.discoverkastoria.gr/place-city/kastoria/
Tsouka Monastery near Aghia Anna
Aghia Anna is a village near Nestorio in the regional unit of Kastoria, situated at the northeastern slopes of mount Grammos. Its proximity to Aliakmon river and a waterfall provide the area with natural beauty. The Monastery of Tsouka that stands above the massive waterfalls, near the cliff and between rocks, was built in the 13th c. according to the dedicatory inscription. The monastery was dedicated to the archangels Michael and Gabriel.
https://kastoria.pdm.gov.gr/
http://www.nestorio.gr/
Info
Nestorio 520 51, Greece
Abraam’s Vineyards
Kostas Kapourgas and Anestis Haitidis are childhood friends. The love of the former for his place, but also the admiration he had for his resourceful grandfather Abraam, was an explosive combination, which, when fermented with the passion of the oenologist Anestis for wine, led to the creation of one of the most mountainous vineyards of Europe. The purpose is the production of wines of low intervention resulting in an absolute expression of the mountainous Terroir. A beautiful location, but also ideal for the production of wines with cool climate characteristics. In the middle of a natural high altitude triangle formed by three mountains: Grammos, Vernos and Askios, all of them over 2000 meters above sea level, the temperature in winter often reaches - 20°C. with the day/night temperature differences exceeding 20°C from spring to harvest, particularly expressive wines are created. The elms, oaks, walnuts, pears, apple trees and cornelian trees that are in and next to the vineyard, provide unique biodiversity and complement the perpetual breeze and the great slope of the mountain, providing ideal conditions for an organic cultivation of minimal intervention. The soils are light with sand, calcium and clay. Apart from the usual dangers of the vine, blackbirds, bears and wild boars compete along with damage with frost and hail.
https://smoe.com.gr/portfolio_page/abraams-vineyards/
The Bridge of Kousioumplis
According to oral evidence, the bridge was built at the end of the 18th century, or at the beginning of the 19th century. Its total length is 33 meters, its width is 2.4, its bow span is 14 and its height is 8 meters. On the keystone, the middle stone of the arch that holds the bridge upright, there is a carved head. Also, its reading is helped by a series of stone zones, the arcades.
https://kastoria.pdm.gov.gr/
http://www.nestorio.gr/
