Kastoriá (Kastoria) in Greece

Kastoria is a city in northern Greece in the periphery of West Macedonia. The town's population is estimated as some 20,660 people. It is situated on a promontory on the western shore of Lake Orestiada, in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains.

Churches, monasteries, bridges, manors, morals and customs comprise the rich, cultural landscape of Kastoria. Material elements, in combination with the soul and the habitants’ special culture have created the famous Kastorian Culture, which we invite you to get to know through this digital journey. It is more than certain that it will guide your steps to your next trip at Kastoria Prefecture.

This place and its people have many virtues. Nature and human willingness have always formed the financial parameters of the region. Forests, fields, animals, but above all human creativity. People of Kastoria are since the Byzantine era among those who control the fur trade around the world. They are the greatest manufacturers and traders of fur products in the Balkans and their art goes back many centuries. Other sectors of the region’s economy are agriculture, farming and the exploitation of the forest resources.

The natural environment of Kastoria Prefecture is special and diverse. The lake, the rivers and the mountains create a kaleidoscopic landscape that offers strong emotions to the visitors. Each one separately is an attraction for all tourists that visit this place throughout the year, but at the same time they are quite important biotopes for the entire Balkan and Greek ecosystem.

The first pages in the book of Kastoria’s history on this planet date back millions of years, as testify the fossils discovered at Oinoi and Nostimo site. Moreover, eight kilometers away from Kastoria are findings of a large pre-historic settlement, one of the most ancient laky settlements in Europe. The place has played a significant role in the Classic and Roman years, while it blossomed during the Byzantine era and was characterized by the fights of its inhabitants in the modern years, peaked by the Macedonian war and World War II.

PREHISTORY

The fossils at Oinoi of Kastoria were discovered by students of Oinoi High School and the Director of the High School, Mr. Plevris Georgios. They are located at Flatsata hill, superficially, just upwards from the schools, scattered at several spots. They are marine fossils of the Cretan period (100 million years) and mainly belong to the species of Pecten beudanti, Aviculopecten tenucollis, Neithea pterioida and others.

One of the just thirty one fossil forests on a global level, lies in Kastoria, at Nostimo region at the SW part of the Prefecture. Fifteen to twenty million years ago a wild, subtropical forest with lammergeyers, chestnuts, oaks and palm trees would lie there. The forest was fossilized after a large volcanic eruption and left behind it even a shark’s tooth from a prehistoric sea that covered the current regions of mountains and plains. A museum at Nostimo hosts an exhibition with all rare findings.

A laky settlement at Dispilio indicates that the region was inhabited since the Neolithic era. The prehistoric settlement is located 8 kilometers outside Kastoria, at “Nisi” location and was discovered by chance in 1932. Its early phase is estimated to date back to 5,500BC and is one of the most ancient laky settlements discovered in Europe. The huts they made were circular and rectangular and were supported on pile drivers. This served as a frame to raise the level of the houses because some were built inside the lake and some others, depending on the fluctuation of the water level were sometimes in the lake and other times on the cost.

There were also huts built near the lake. It is estimated that three thousand people lived there. They were perfectly organized and very disciplined and they gathered food, bred pets, went fishing and made tools and everyday commodities. Moreover, they knew how to write and play music. A wooden sign is among the significant findings from the excavations, as also are the flutes made of bird bones – one of the most ancient musical instruments discovered in Europe – as well as a boat made of a single-piece timber.

An ecological museum operates in the region since 2000 and an exact reconstruction of the laky settlement has been attempted. Tree trunks were used for the frame of the huts, branches and rope for the walls, while the lime-cast is made of the lake’s mud for every hut, whose roof is covered by hays. Inside the houses of this special settlement are objects of everyday use, exact replicas of the findings discovered during the excavations. The exhibits include earthen pottery, such as bottles, cups, fruit plates and cooking pots as well as tools made of firestone or bones. The original findings are exhibited at the museum operating at Dispilio village.

Another neolithical settlement was also found at Avgi region, very close to the lake settlement of Dispilio. The settlement is dated to 5,500 BC. The findings include many tools, pots, a stamp made of clay, jewels, a flute made of bone as well as human-like figurines. People in this settlement would cultivate grains and legumes, while they were getting their raw materials by trading products with other settlements.

CLASSICAL ANTIQYUTY

The wider region of Kastoria is identified to Ancient Orestida, a significant urban center, with active participation in the historical developments. Its inhabitants were the Orestes Makendoi, as Herodote calls them in his manuscripts. The Roman historian Titus Livius mentions that in the 5th century, a city named Kilitron existed at the site of Kastoria. A century later, Procopius of Caesarea, in his work “About buildings” mentions that there is a lake named “Kastoria” in Macedonia. Among the findings that came to light in the recent excavations are included inscriptions, heapieces, even a pottery workshop.

The period of Classic Antiquity was significant for the region. One of the most important classical works discovered in Macedonia, was found at Pentavryso and depicts the face of a woman.

At the region where today lies Argos Orestiko used to be the center of the Roman years. The city was named Dioklitianoupoli and was founded by Emperor Diocletian (284-305) and was ruined by the Ostrogoths by the end of the 4th century AD.

The city was conquered by the Romans in 197 BC. A peculiar local independence was formed there. Excavations in the region revealed a paleochristian church and two houses inside the city’s walls. Apart from the walls, several graves and another two paleochristian churches have come to light. The walls of Dioklitianoupoli were 2,700 meters long, while the city would occupy a total space of 400,000 sq.m.

BYZANTINE PERIOD

The walls erected by the Byzantine emperors, the tens of churches of that period that still survive in the city of Kastoria and other locations around the Prefecture and the monasteries testify the brilliant history of the city during the Byzantine era. Historians argue that the city could on its own narrate the history of the Byzantine art.

In 550AD, the city was named Ioustinianoupoli, to honor Emperor Justinian who turned it into a powerful fortress, constructing a double fortress, parts of which survive to this day.

Thanks to its significant position on a military aspect, the city was vindicated and occupied by the Bulgarians (923), the Pechenegs (969) and others. Basil II, the Bulgar-Slayer liberated the city in 1018 and then made it a base for his military operations.

In 1082 Kastoria was conquered by Voemoundos, son of the leader of the Normandians. In 1089 it passes again under the Byzantine domination, thanks to Alexios I, Comnenus who brought peace as well as economic and cultural blooming to the region. Like most Byzantine cities in the years of the Comnenus ruling, Kastoria is blooming in the 12th century. Tens of monuments and manors are constructed during that time by important families that maintain relationships with Constantinople and with the greatest artistic workshops of the region.

The wall paintings at the interior of the churches and the manors of that time can be characterized as small miracles of art, a proof of the high cultural level and the economic prosperity of their possessors.

Cultural life in Kastoria never stopped, even during the tough years that followed Byzantium. In the troubled times of the 13th and 14th centuries, till the Turkish occupation, Sebians and Albanias conquered the region. The city passed from the Albanian ruling to the Turkish domination during the kingdom of Mourat I.

TURKISH OCCUPATION

In the 15h century Kastoria was one of the largest cities of the Balkans. The Christian population was larger throughout the Turkish occupation and the Greek element would always shadow the features of the conqueror. Monuments continued to be built and the Greek language continued to be used, while the desire for freedom never faded away. Kastorian merchants continued their activities both in Greece and abroad and the fur processing and trading bloomed.

Throughout the Turkish occupation, Kastoria has been a center of Hellenism, with the fights it gave but also the schools that operated in the region. Many Great Teachers of the Greek Nation taught there.

Kastoria, a national center among the most active ones, was the birthplace of many heroes. On December 10, 1797 Rigas Velestinlis and his group were arrested in Trieste. He was accused that he tried to rise the Balkan countries against the Turks. Three Kastorians were members of his group, the Emmanuel brothers (Panagiotis and Ioannis), who were executed in a tragic way by strangulation and Georgios Theochatis, who was persecuted by Austria thus avoiding death, since he also had the Austrian nationality.

The Kastorians participated in the War of Independence of 1821 and 1878, while they were finally liberated by the Turks on November 11, 1912.

MACEDONIAN WAR

One of the most glorious pages in the modern Greek History is the Macedonian War. Attempts to liberate Macedonia started in 1821, at the same time with the revolt in southern Greece. Unfortunately, this revolution, as also those of 11854, 1877 and 1896 failed to liberate the region. The region of Kastoria has been the core for the preparation and action of the armed liberating Macedonian War.

In 1900, Bishop Germanos Karavaggelis, an inspirer and crusader of the national idea, starts his patriotic action in Kastoria. The Bishop maintained unaltered the love for the nation and Christianity, helping in the failure of the conversion plans of the foreigners. Ion Dragoumis (1878-1290) who joined forces with the Bishop, played a very significant role.

In the spring of 1903 the Greek ambassador established at Monastiri the Macedonian Friends Society. At the same time two other bodies get together. One is the “Nea Filiki Etaireia” [New Society of friends], founded by Anastasios Picheon in Kastoria, and the other is established in Koresteia.

A year later, in the spring of 1904 the Macedonian Komitato is founded in Athens, which created army troupes with people from Macedonia, Crete, Peloponnese etx, leaded by army officers.

On August 27, 1904 the first section, with 80 men and leaded by Pavlos Melas, an officer of the Greek army, passed the borders and entered Macedonia. Pavlos Melas, together with Germanos Karavaggelis and Ion Dragoumis organized the Macedonian War and inspired the people that faught for Macedonia. The early death of Pavlos Melas did not affect the spirit of the men. His successors continued fighting. Teaches and priests were sent to the Macedonian villages and helped by giving information and recruiting men. The Greek army had to fight against both the Bulgarian partisans and the Turks.

The Macedonian War was tough and lasted till 1980, when modern Turks revolted again the Sultan and imposed the Constitution. The Constitution stipulated Equality, Brotherhood and Freedom to the people of the Ottoman Empire, irrespectively to their race and religion. The Macedonian War ended. The armed sections, Greek and Bulgarians, dissolved. Kastoria was liberated on November 11, 1912 and was unified to the rest of Greece.

MODERN HISTORY

The residents of Kastoria took part in both World War I and II. The Prefecture was under the German occupation like the rest of the country and was liberated in 1944. During the civil war, 1946-1949, unfortunately on the mountains around Kastoria were written some of the darkest pages of the Greek history.

TAXI

TAXI OF KASTORIA tel: 24670-82100, 82.200

ARISTOTELIS AIRPORT Argos Orestiko tel: 24670/44.330,21.650, 21.660, 42.515

OLYMPIC AIRLINES OF KASTORIA tel: 24670/ 23.125

TOURISM OFFICES

VRETTAS THOMAS Maniaki of Kastoria tel: 24670/81.374
CONVOY 11 Grammou str, Kastoria tel: 24670/81.592
EMMANOUILIDES TRAVEL 7 11th November str., Kastoria tel: 24670/29.170
MOUZA EFSTRATIA 2 Amida str, Kastoria tel:24670/26.855
STILIADIS TRAVEL 1 Ptolemeon Str, Kastoria tel: 24670/86.957
GOLDEN EAGLES TOURS 31 B Papareska st, Kastoria tel: 24670/25.137 fax: 24670/27.966 FOURKIOTIS NIKOLAOS 3 Mitropoleos str, Kastoria tel: 24670/29.921

CAR RENTAL

PATSIOPOULOS IOANNIS Dispilio tel: 24670/85.447
TOMAZO 147, Grammou str, Kastoria Tel: 24670/84.000

POLICE DEPARTMENT OF KASTORIA

IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION 25 Grammou str, Kastoria tel: 24670/22.100 ADMINISTRATOR tel: 24670/83.214
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ORDER tel: 24670/83.422
SECURITY DEPARTMENT tel: 24670/83.616
TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT tel: 24670/83.500
MUNICIPAL POLICE Skaperdio Municipal House Kastoria tel: 24670/22.858
FIRE DEPARTMENT 102, Grammou str tel: 24670/22.199

As always when it comes to Greece be a bit careful when driving. People tend to not respect STOP signs, speed limits or red lights.

Hospitals

KASTORIA HOSPITAL End of Mavriotissa Street Tel exchange: 24670/55.600-5

TREATMENT CENTER FOR CHRONIC DISEASES Airport, Argos Orestiko tel: 24670/44.233

HEALTH CENTER OF ARGOS ORESTIKO Aliakmonas End Tel Exchange: 24670/41.090

Kastoria actually has two recommended seasons of the year to visit. With it's location surrounding by mountains you'll find many ski resorts around the village in ½-1½ hours of drive. Kastoria is well known for its winter tourism. Moreover, the hotels tend to be fully booked around New Year since many Greeks come here to celebrate.

One of the reasons Kastoria is also very popular during winter is because of “Ragoutsaria”. It is a 3 day celebration from 6th to 8th January that goes all the way back to the ancient Dionysian rituals. Men and women, young and adults disguise themselves and stream into the streets of Kastoria singing and dancing. The town echoes to the sounds of traditional tunes and rhythms, as groups of folk musicians head for the centre of the town together with the locals.

However, Kastoria is also a beautiful place during the spring and early summer, especially when all the outside cafés open up along the beachwalk.

By air

By air to Argos Orestiko, 15 km away from the Kastoria city center. Airlines are only available through Athens.

Or by air to Thessaloniki, and then 2 hours travel to Kastoria by car (or bus).

By car

By car from Thessaloniki you start driving towards Athens. After the first toll post you'll see an exit for Veria, take that and then continue until you see an exit for Kastoria (~140 km). Then follow the signs. The road is mainly highway except for a 30 km part of single lane roads. The drive takes about 2 hours from Thessaloniki.

Bike

You can rent double seated 4 wheel bicycles by the beach walk.

Foot

Kastoria is a small town where yoiu can easily walk around.