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.OVERVIEW
Situated at the western end of Macedonia in the far north of Greece, Kastoria regional unit captivates you from the very first moment, having lots to offer all-year-round. Its capital is the homonymous city of Kastoria, famous thanks to the production and trading of high-quality furs. The absolute trademark of the city is Lake Orestiada, a place of unique beauty, estimated to have been formed 10,000,000 years ago. The area of the Kastoria regional unit roughly corresponds to the ancient Greek region of Orestis of Upper Macedonia. One-of-a-kind landscape, lakes and mountains, rich history, archaeological finds, old architecture, Byzantine churches, traditions and customs, unforgettable cuisine, all are interesting tourist attractions. The Vitsi ski center, at Vitsi peak on the Vermio Mountain, offering breathtaking view, the small picturesque village of Nestorio which comes alive every year with the vibrant and energetic River Party, a meeting point for thousands of campers and music lovers, all these and many more make this beautiful corner of Western Macedonia a perfect destination for anyone loving off-the-beaten-track travel.
.AT A GLANCE
Regional unit’s capital: Kastoria Regional unit’s area: 1,720 km2 Regional unit’s population (2021): 46,048 Density: 27/km2 Time Zone: UTC+2 Climate: Continental climate, characterised by cold winters and hot summers.
.ADMINISTRATION
The regional unit Kastoria is subdivided into 3 municipalities.
.MUNICIPALITIES
KASTORIA NESTORIO ORESTIDA
.MUNICIPALITY OF KASTORIA
Area: 763.3 km2 Population (2011): 35,874 Density: 47/km2 Website: https://kastoria.gov.gr/
.HISTORY
Kastoria’s rich history goes back many centuries. It has been identified with ancient Celetrum, which was captured in 200 BCE by the Romans after its inhabitants surrendered to Sulpitius during the Roman war against Philip V of Macedon. The city was first mentioned in 550 AD, by Procopius, a prominent late antique Greek scholar and historian. There are several theories about the origin of the name Kastoria. The dominant of these is that the name derives from the Greek word κάστορας (kástoras, meaning “beaver”), an animal that has long been the basis of a local fur trade. Over the centuries, the town was conquered and ruled by various groups. The city fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1385 and they retained control until the First Balkan War (1912), when Greece took it. During the Ottoman times, Kastoria attracted a multitude of people from across the Balkans and beyond, resulting in a in a multicultural community. Greeks, Turks, Albanians and Jews were living in the same town shaping its identity. Today, Kastoria is known for its furs, its majestic Macedonian landscape and many Byzantine churches,
.POINTS OF INTEREST
Lake Orestiada: Declared a monument of beauty by the Ministry of Culture in Greece, Orestiada is home to at least 150 bird species, such as pelicans and storks. A stroll around the lake is considered as one of the most idyllic in the country. Offers breathtaking views, it is also a photographic heaven.
Dolso and Apozari districts: They are considered two of the most picturesque corners of the town. Cobbled streets, splendid mansions (built between the 17th and 19th century by the rich fur traders) and Byzantine churches exude an aristocratic aura. Many buildings have been converted into museums.
Dragon Lair’s cave complex: Situated on the shore of Lake Orestiada, the Dragon’s Cave features seven underground lakes with an impressive wealth of stalactites and stalagmites, 10 chambers and five tunnels. Those are true artwork of nature that takes millions of years to create. It is the only cave in Greece with fresh-water lakes.
Dispilio: Near the modern village of Dispilio, At the site Nisi, an artificial island in Lake Orestiada, lies is an archaeological site, officially the oldest Neolithic settlement in Europe. It was discovered by accident, at the southern section of Kastoria’s lake, during the dry winter of 1932, which lowered the level of the lake and traces of wooden stakes were revealed.
Aquarium of Kastoria: An innovative aquarium that houses fish and other freshwater organisms of Greece, indigenous, endemic and foreign. It is the largest aquarium in the Balkans.
.GASTRONOMY
You should not miss to try sarmades (rolls with herb flavoured pork) with sauerkraut (sour cabbage), meatballs with makalo (mixture of flour, tomato juice, garlic and spices, passed through a pan), armiopita (fermented cabbage pie), Kastoria feta cheese (D.P.O.), chestnuts, mushrooms, apples (P.G.I).
As for sweet delicacies, there are “Lalangites” (donuts), rice pie and pumpkin pies.
.FEASTS, FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Ragkoutsaria (Carnival): Every year on 6, 7 & 8 January the town acquires a special festive atmosphere. “Ragkoutsaria” is a revival of the ancient Dionysian celebrations seeing locals donning costumes and dancing in the streets, drinking wine. Competitions, parades, masquerades, live bands.
Kastoria International Fur Fair (KIFF): Held annually the fair is organised by the Kastorian Fur Association and attracts visitors from all over the world. Fur processing and trade in the region date back centuries and the industry there has weathered numerous storms.
.SHOPPING
Make an investment in fur coats, fur accessories, bags, leather goods and fur pelts.
.RELIGIOUS SITES
Kastoria originally had 72 Byzantine and medieval churches, of which 54 have survived, providing useful insight into trends in Late Byzantine styles of architecture and fresco painting.
Holy Monastery of the Virgin Mary Mavriotissa: Located by the lake and dating back to the 11th century it is one of the oldest and most beautiful monasteries in the area, known for its impressive murals, depicting Byzantine Emperors.
Doltso: Taxiarchon and Agion Anargyron churches.
Apozari: Agiou Stefanou, Agiou Panteleimona and Esodion Theotokou churches.
.KEY MUSEUMS
Folk art museum: Preserves folk traditions from the local area.
Costume Museum: It is housed in a magnificent mansion of 1750, which belongs to the Emmanuel Brothers, prominent personalities who participated in the organization of the 1821 revolution. Men’s, women’s and children’s costumes, textiles and jewelry will give you a glimpse of Kastoria through history.
Monuments Museum: A private museum that displays scale models of the monuments of Kastoria.
Byzantine Art Museum: Portable icons, dating back to a period spanning from the 12th until the 18th centuries from temples from around the city. Byzantine sculptures, murals, paintings.
.ACTIVITIES
Go hiking and cycling, or rowing, Water skiing and sailing. In the winter, the Vitsi ski center, located around 25 kilometers from Kastoria, at an altitude of 1610 m., inside a dense beech forest, awaits ski and snowboard-lovers. There are 4.1 km of slopes available. 3 lifts transport the guests. The skiing season starts in December/January and lasts until March, depending on the amount of snowfall.
.ACCOMMODATION
There are excellent accommodation options, from restored mansion houses to modern hotels with pools and spas.
.TRANSPORT
Kastoria has a small domestic airport (Aristotelis Airport) with flights mainly to/ from Athens. The city is 593 km from Athens and 226 from Thessaloniki. You can reach it by car or intercity coaches (KTEL).
TO DO & TO GO
