KastoriaKastoria

The Prefecture of Kastoria is located at the west The Prefecture of Kastoria is located at the west end of Western Macedonia, bordering with the end of Western Macedonia, bordering with the

prefectures of Florina, Grevena, Kozani and prefectures of Florina, Grevena, Kozani and Ioannina, as well as with Albania, to the west. Ioannina, as well as with Albania, to the west.

The city of Kastoria unfolds amphitheatrically 620 The city of Kastoria unfolds amphitheatrically 620 metres above sea level. It is built on a peninsula metres above sea level. It is built on a peninsula that penetrates Orestiada Lake, in the shade of that penetrates Orestiada Lake, in the shade of

the impressive mass of Grammos and Vitsi the impressive mass of Grammos and Vitsi Mountains. According to the last census, the Mountains. According to the last census, the

population of the Prefecture is 53.483 inhabitants, population of the Prefecture is 53.483 inhabitants, 20.636 of whom live in the city. 20.636 of whom live in the city.

Kastoria is connected with Athens by air, through Kastoria is connected with Athens by air, through the “Aristotle” International Airport at Argos the “Aristotle” International Airport at Argos Orestikon. The Prefecture is nowadays easily Orestikon. The Prefecture is nowadays easily

accessed via Egnatia Highway. Alternatively, one accessed via Egnatia Highway. Alternatively, one can always use the old national road. can always use the old national road.

KastoriaKastoria

KastoriaKastoriaThe present chained with The present chained with

the pastthe past

TrekkingTrekking

Tour around the lake.

Ski centersSki centers

The facilities of two ski centres serve the needs of the The facilities of two ski centres serve the needs of the ever-increasing fans of winter sports. The ski centre ever-increasing fans of winter sports. The ski centre of Vitsi is at the borders of the Prefectures of Kastoria of Vitsi is at the borders of the Prefectures of Kastoria and Florina, 22 km from the city of Kastoria. and Florina, 22 km from the city of Kastoria.

Located 1.610 m above sea level, in a unique Located 1.610 m above sea level, in a unique landscape with picturesque settlements, dense beech landscape with picturesque settlements, dense beech forests and rare fauna and flora, the ski centre has 3 forests and rare fauna and flora, the ski centre has 3 lifts and 5 slopes. All slopes have a common starting lifts and 5 slopes. All slopes have a common starting point and they are served by the same lift. The point and they are served by the same lift. The central slope is 1000m long, the side north-eastern central slope is 1000m long, the side north-eastern one is 2.500m long and the side north-western one is one is 2.500m long and the side north-western one is 1.300 m long. 1.300 m long.

The ski centre of Vigla (Pisoderi) is at the junction of The ski centre of Vigla (Pisoderi) is at the junction of the Varnountas and the Vernos ranges, … km from the Varnountas and the Vernos ranges, … km from Kastoria. Its 5 lifts and 10 slopes cover the needs of a Kastoria. Its 5 lifts and 10 slopes cover the needs of a large number of skiers of all skill levels. On the top of large number of skiers of all skill levels. On the top of the ski centre, the view to Prespa Lake is really the ski centre, the view to Prespa Lake is really fascinating.fascinating.

Rowing in the lakeRowing in the lake

Rowing is closely Rowing is closely associated with the associated with the life of the city, life of the city, since many national since many national and international and international watersport events watersport events are held in the lake. are held in the lake.

Sport activities in the river Sport activities in the river and the lakeand the lake

Rafting in Nestorio. Rafting in Nestorio. Descent from the Descent from the Aliakmonas River Aliakmonas River springs.springs.

Mountain Biking

Sport TourismSport Tourism

At Argos Orestiko, there is an airfield to meet the At Argos Orestiko, there is an airfield to meet the needs of the most demanding fans of modelism.needs of the most demanding fans of modelism.

For the fans of speed and adventure, there are moto-cross tracks at Asproklissia and Chiliodendro.

The small tour around the The small tour around the lakelake

the lakeside roadthe lakeside road

The lakeside road is asphalted but The lakeside road is asphalted but it is very narrow. Huge sycamores it is very narrow. Huge sycamores and willows bow on the lake. At the and willows bow on the lake. At the beginning of this tour, you can see beginning of this tour, you can see the Byzantine chapel of Agios the Byzantine chapel of Agios Nikolaos, which is surmounted on Nikolaos, which is surmounted on the rock. As we move on, we meet the rock. As we move on, we meet walkers and companies fishing with walkers and companies fishing with canes. Beautiful pictures revealing canes. Beautiful pictures revealing the ever-refreshed relation of the ever-refreshed relation of people with thepeople with the lake. lake.

This tour is ideal for those who This tour is ideal for those who want to closely enjoy the lake. want to closely enjoy the lake. The best way to enjoy the The best way to enjoy the landscape is to make this tour landscape is to make this tour on foot or by bicycle. Leaving on foot or by bicycle. Leaving the two-way road passing from the two-way road passing from Doltso, the traveller has 7 Doltso, the traveller has 7 idyllic kilometres ahead, by the idyllic kilometres ahead, by the lake. lake.

The small tour around the The small tour around the lakelake

Panagia MavriotissaPanagia Mavriotissa On the plateau, in front of the On the plateau, in front of the

Monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa, Monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa, stands a 900-year old sycamore stands a 900-year old sycamore tree, that has been classified as tree, that has been classified as nature monument. There we find nature monument. There we find vendors selling their products vendors selling their products (legumes, walnuts, pickles, tea) to (legumes, walnuts, pickles, tea) to the passer-byes. The visit to the the passer-byes. The visit to the monastery fills us with a feeling of monastery fills us with a feeling of tidiness and humbleness. tidiness and humbleness.

The wall paintings dating back to The wall paintings dating back to the 12th century are on the the 12th century are on the internal and the external walls of internal and the external walls of the katholikon as well as in the the katholikon as well as in the chapel of Agios Ioannis Theologos. chapel of Agios Ioannis Theologos. The figures of the hagiographies, The figures of the hagiographies, lightened by the scanty candlelight lightened by the scanty candlelight and the reflection of fire burning in and the reflection of fire burning in the stove, take a new dimension. the stove, take a new dimension.

The small tour around the The small tour around the lakelake

Fishing in natureFishing in nature As we move on, the same As we move on, the same

dense vegetation prevails on dense vegetation prevails on both sides of the road and both sides of the road and there are many kiosks ideal for there are many kiosks ideal for picnic. The blue labels placed picnic. The blue labels placed by the Amateur Fishermen by the Amateur Fishermen Association warn us now and Association warn us now and then “ Fish without being then “ Fish without being illegal, my friend amateur illegal, my friend amateur fisherman”. Quietness is often fisherman”. Quietness is often interrupted by the birds interrupted by the birds dipping into the water and dipping into the water and flying out of the reeds. Ducks, flying out of the reeds. Ducks, pelicans, herons, cormorants pelicans, herons, cormorants find shelter and plenty of food find shelter and plenty of food in the lake. in the lake.

Traditional boatsTraditional boats

A A type of boat is the canoe, which is small and is used for shallow type of boat is the canoe, which is small and is used for shallow fishing. It is really impressive that such a boat, made of a single fishing. It is really impressive that such a boat, made of a single wood trunk, has been discovered in the Neolithic lake settlement of wood trunk, has been discovered in the Neolithic lake settlement of

Dispilio.Dispilio.

The Mansions The Mansions “Arhontika”“Arhontika”

In Apozari and Doltso, the districts where the glorious past of the city is still present, stand the majestic mansions of Kastoria. They were built in the 17th and 18th century and they are the indisputable witnesses of the economic and artistic prosperity of that time, when the furriers expanded their activities outside the borders of the country.

These extraordinary architectural works were made by the hands of “maïstores” (masters) from Macedonia and Epirus, traveling in the Balkans and Minor Asia.

Mansions called Mansions called “Arhontika”“Arhontika”

The traditional houses of The traditional houses of KastoriaKastoria

. .

The process of building is The process of building is characterized erratic. Becomes characterized erratic. Becomes use of stones in their natural use of stones in their natural form that is surrounded by form that is surrounded by ceramic mortar. ceramic mortar.

The main provision of The main provision of structure is constituted by structure is constituted by horizontal orders of stones horizontal orders of stones that are separated that are separated between them with double between them with double or more lines of stonesor more lines of stones

Stone bridgesStone bridges

The stone bridges are masterpieces of traditional architecture and an integral part of the landscape of Kastoria. The bridge of Zouzouli is surrounded by dense forest and high peaks, away from any road or any pathway.

The Bridge of Kousioumplis is located between the mountains of Voios and Smolikas on the river of Zouzouli. It used to link the villages of Zouzouli and Eptachori and it was built in the late 16th century.

ChurchesChurches

The eighty churches date back to the 9th to the 14th century. They are built inside and outside the city walls and they are masterpieces of Byzantine art.

In the area of the Cathedral, we find Taxiarches Mitropoleos, a three-aisled vaulted basilica, with wall paintings dating back to the 10th century.

Hagiographies Hagiographies The byzantine artThe byzantine art

It is not exaggerating to say that a tour around the churches of the region is enough for having an overview of the different expressions of the whole Byzantine art.

From the early Byzantine period to the beginning of the Turkish Domination, the city of Kastoria had a ceaseless artistic production of high quality. The intense building activity of this period led also to the parallel flourishing of the art of hagiography, as it was expressed through wall paintings and portable icons.

PrehistoryPrehistory

Near the village called Nostimo (on the south-west side of the prefecture), we find the Fossilized Forest. 15-20 million years ago, the rivers’ deposits formed a huge delta, where a wild subtropical forest with beeches, chestnuts, oaks and palms developed.

The restructuring of this prehistoric settlement initiates, in the most effective way, visitors into the life of humans in Neolithic age.