Tsamis Hotel

Odd chapel

by JLBG

Roadsides in Greece are dotted with small chapels with a burning lamp and a few pictures to honor some saint. Amazingly, this one was not set on the roadside but in the middle of an oat field. I wonder why??

Taxiarchis church (by the cathedral)

by StefanosS

The inscription over the entrance says it was built by the "king Symeon Paleologos" (probably a prince renovator), during the last dynasty of the Byzantine Empire. Its wallpaintings are of the same period. Although, the original church seems to be of the 12th century AD. It is dedicated to the Archangels. There is one more church with the same name at some other part of the city.

Panagia Mavriotissa

by siaki68

8 km from Apozari, (the north side of the town) is the monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa. The church, built in the 11th century, has very beautiful murals, very well preserved. The visitor can go there by taxi, but if the weather is good, I would suggest them to go by foot. The walk is magnificent: a path beside the lake, full of plane trees, willow-trees and stubbles, watching the birds dive into the lake and the fishermen with their unusual boats. No other sound than the bird’s trills and the sound of the soft breeze!

Kastoria, fur capital on the lake

by Panos1111

"Main points of interest"

Kastoria is a beautiful little town on the Kastoria lake, and probably the fur capital of the wordl, actually built on a peninsula protruding in the lake.Well worth a visit.
Walking around the peninsula is very pleasant (no buildings, beautiful nature, just trees and the lake), and recommended (must be 10 km to go to the other side of the base of the peninsula and town) and you pass by a mildly interesting church/monastery.

The main things to do in town are:
1.to walk on the lakefront on the main side of town, there are also lots of cafes and some nice restaurants there
2. to walk around the old area with the impressive kastoria mansions, most 3 or 4 centuries old; this is an area near the center, walkable, 45 minutes is plenty of time.
3. to visit some of the many byzantine churches, some are much nicer than others, ask your hotel or consult a travel book or other VT pages (sorry I dont remmeber the names of the better ones); they are small and/but impressive, a must
4. to visit a couple of folklore museums and traditional houses
5. use the town as the base for excursions to nearby places like the Prespa lakes
6. browse the shops for furs and fur items although I am not for fur trade
One day or evn half if pleplanned is plenty.