Kastoria Travel Guide

 
by GyuriFT
  •   Kastoria
    by GyuriFT
  •   Kastoria
    by GyuriFT
  •   Kastoria
    by GyuriFT
  • Narrower passage
      Narrower passage
    by JLBG
  •   Things to Do
    by GyuriFT

Explore Kastoria

Things to Do  

Strolling around the lake

Strolling around the lake, Kastoria

 elsadran Says:  There are two options if you want to enjoy the lake. One is to go around the promontory, that is to make the small round. The best way to do it is on foot. It is only 7 kilometers and I suspect the locals have done it many times. On the way you will meet people walking,... 

The fur industry

The fur industry, Kastoria

 elsadran Says:  The fur industry has been the most profitable occupation for the people of Kastoria. It has developed since the Byzantine period when many young men came to learn the skill and their trade had spread to faraway places, being the major factor of the flourishing economy of the... 

“arhontika” - Kastoria

“arhontika” - Kastoria, Kastoria

 elsadran Says:  Old mansions have been restored and stand proudly in their beautiful gardens. Most of them were built in the 17th and 18th centuries. They are called "arhontika" and they are found mostly on the promontory along the lakeside road, in Apozari. They usually have two storeys... 

Lake Orestiada

Lake Orestiada, Kastoria

 elsadran Says:  The lake, with its lakeside forest, has been declared “Monument of Natural Beauty” and is protected by the programme “Nature 2000”. It preserves more than 200 species of birds, some in danger. It also has interesting flora like the hydrophilic trees, and of course a lot of... 

Park along lake Orestida

Park along lake Orestida, Kastoria

 JLBG Says:  A very pleasant park stands along lake Orestida. It has well shaded areas and moreover, you can get a fresh beer at one of the tables showing on the left of the photo!If you visit in summer, it will give a pleasant rest after wandering in the streets of the old city for a... 

Carved door

Carved door, Kastoria

 JLBG Says:  The entrance into this house has a a very simple double wooden door. Each door has a triple diamond shape carving.The engraving on top (second photo) says that it was built in 1863. After the date, there is the letter “phi” and a 5. Does that means 5th of February 1863? May... 

Narrower passage

Narrower passage, Kastoria

 JLBG Says:  In the narrowest passages, the corbelled part of the house nearly touches the front of the house on the other side! It is convenient when it is raining or snowing not to get wet! In some cases, like on the photo, the logs that sustain the corbel are masoned and not... 

Stork in Kastoria

Stork in Kastoria, Kastoria

 JLBG Says:  As the sharpness of the photos are greatly reduced for VT, you might have not noticed on the first photo of the previous tip that there was a stork standing on its nest, right in the center of Kastoria. This is not really a surprise as lake Orestida and nearby area covered... 

Not really moucharabieh

Not really moucharabieh, Kastoria

 JLBG Says:  n several Arab countries like Morocco, some of the windows are added by a wooden “moucharabieh”, an oriel window enclosed with carved wood latticework that allows to se outside without being seen. In Kastoria, some structure might at first sight considered as moucharabieh... 

Balkanic architecture

Balkanic architecture, Kastoria

 JLBG Says:  In the narrow passages of the old city, many houses have a typical Balkanic aspect with the second level corbelled and supported by long curved logs as can be seen on the first photo.The second photo shows that the tiled roofs that project largely over the passage.The third... 

Unknown church

Unknown church, Kastoria

 JLBG Says:  This is another of the 84 small Byzantines churches in Kastoria. On its southern side, it has a gallery with a twin double arch. Though this gives it a distinct style, I have not been able to find the name of this little jewel. Anybody knows ? 

Church of Hagios Nikolaos Kasnitzis ?

Church of Hagios Nikolaos Kasnitzis ?, Kastoria

 JLBG Says:  I feel this church might be the church of Hagios Nikolaos Kasnitzis. It is a small single-aisled church with 12th century wall-paintings. Unfortunately, as most of the 84 small Byzantine and post Byzantine churches in Kastoria it was locked and we could not visit the inside.... 

Taxiarchis church

Taxiarchis church, Kastoria

 JLBG Says:  The church of the Taxiarchis (Archangel) of the Metropolis stands amid modern buildings, near the cathedral. It was built in the 10th century as a small triple-aisled basilica with a narthex.It has wall paintings from 1360 on two sides. They are not in very good condition... 

Fur capital

Fur capital, Kastoria

 JLBG Says:  Since very long ago (may be for a thousand years!), Kastoria has been involved worldwide in the fur manufacture and trade. The guild of furriers of Kastoria was famous for ruling the trade and working for the fame of Kastoria’s furs. It was first awarded its power by... 

Hotels  

Limneon Resort Hotel

 24 Opinions

Chloe Hotel

 52 Opinions

Restaurants  

Krontiri: Good local Kastoria dishes

Krontiri: Good local Kastoria dishes, Kastoria

 Panos1111 Says:  Krontiri, on the main lake front.The main thing is that they cook local dishes and prepare local (Jastoria) sweets, which you can't find easily elsewhere outside Kastoria.Friendly staff (exceptionally friendly, I noticed because many were smiling, a rarity in Greece and were... 

Doltso: Traditional local dishes!!

Doltso: Traditional local dishes!!, Kastoria

 mardaska Says:  The restaurant is housed in a traditional mansion built in 1860. It is one of the most beautiful and best preserved houses in town. The menu has many local traditional dishes. I tried the "sarmades" (stuffed pickled cabbage) and the "makalo" meatballs. Both great!! 

Local Customs  

Ragoutsaria II

Ragoutsaria II, Kastoria

 mardaska Says:  The unusual Kastorian Carnival begins from the evening of January the 1st and is completed during the three day period of 6-8 January. It is a banquet of dancing, singing, music and scrumptious local foods, escorted by very good raki and wine. The last day the events climax... 

Ragoutsaria I

Ragoutsaria I, Kastoria

 mardaska Says:  Kastorians have maintained many of their local cultural traditions. One may see these elements alive during various events, organized by local organizations and associations. One of these events is the Local Carnival named "Kastoriana Ragoutsaria".Ragoutsaria are known by... 

Warnings and Dangers  

School warning signs.
JLBG profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

JLBG 6088 reviews
School warning sign
1 more image

I am always increasing my collection of school warning road signs. In Kastoria, I got two different ones, hand made following the inspiration of the painter!

The first one shows a big boy wearing a shorts and with amazingly swollen knees that must hurt him leading a thin waisted little girl with a ribbon in the hair.

On the second photo, the slimmer boy leads a girl with a pony tail

Written Oct 25, 2008

Related to:
 Study Abroad

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Off The Beaten Path  

Odd chapel
JLBG profile photo

3 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

JLBG 6088 reviews
Odd chapel

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??

Written Oct 25, 2008

Related to:
 Architecture

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Map of Kastoria