Amazing city with ancient landmarks, mysterious sights and the best furs in Europe
Kastoria is rightfully considered to be one of the most attractive cities of the Western Macedonia. It’s situated in the north of Greece at a height of 3000 metres above sea level. The population is not more than 13 thousand people. The historical part of the city is located on a small peninsula on Lake Orestiada. Having a history dating more than twenty centuries back, nowadays the city is one of the most popular winter tourist Greek resorts and the European capital of fur.
History
The first settlement on the territory of the modern city Kastoria appeared in the VIII century BC. A Roman historic Titus Livius mentioned this settlement under the name of Celetrum. The word “Celetrum” derived from the Greek word meaning “attract” or “charm”. Maybe this region appealed people with its picturesque landscapes in those days already.
Celetrum changed its name into Diocletianipolis during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian. Raids of the Bulgarians, Pincenates, Normans and others made Emperor Justinian relocate the town into Lake Orestiadaor Kastoria that gave the town a current location and name.
A very longstanding period from the XIV century till 1912 is known as the Ottoman period of Kastoria. Being the part of the Ottoman Empire, Kastoria used broad powers of autonomy thanks to its citizens’ financial soundness. Fur industry was the core source of well-being. Thanks to furriery, at the end of the XIX century Kastoria became one of the main centres of Greek national liberation movement.
Byzantine Kastoria
The town is also called the Byzantine treasure of Greece. A great many ancient orthodox temples that were constructed in the distant XI century are survived to our days. These magnificent examples of the Byzantine architecture preserve unique wall-paintings of the Middle Byzantine style and portable icons of the KritSchool of iconpainting manner. Temples, wall paintings, icons and Ottoman period grand manors are eyewitnesses of Kastoria prosperity and continuity of its millenary cultural traditions.
Fur Production
In the North Greece winter temperature often falls below freezing. That is the main reason why citizens of Kastoria started using beaver fur for sewing warm clothes. The city was famous for its furriers over the sea even in the times of Byzantine Era. There was even a district of Kastorian fur craftspeople in Constantinople, the capital of Bizantine, who worked only for capital grand people. During the times of Ottoman Era Kastorian fur coats were so much popular that one sultan had to limit fur production. On the territory of a modern Kastoria more than 300 skinneries work and carry on traditions of fur production. At the present time the city continues attracting a great amount of tourists who wish to buy its big-name gorgeous furs.
Lake Village
In 1932 the remains of a dead lakeside village were found accidentally 8km far from Kastoria. Scientists think that this settlement refers to the middle of the sixth millennium BC and the quantity of its inhabitants was not less than 3000 people! Such kind of settlement is considered to be the oldest one in Europe. Nowadays an open-air museum works on the place of this lakeside village. It exhibits lots of reconstructed archeologicalfinds that were found there including musical instruments and a monolithic wooden boat.
Dragon Cave
While Greece has a countless number of different myths and legends, Kastoria has its own one. It tells about a fabulous tsar Kastor and the gold-bearing cave guarded by the Dragon. The Dragon was killed, Kastor took all the gold and the cave was forgotten for thousands of years.
Some local enthusiasts disclosed this very cave in 1940 trying to find golden treasures. No, of course there wasn’t any gold there, but it hasn’t stopped the Kastorians to benefit from the cave. The Dragon Cave with underground lakes, halls and stalactites of a unique form was opened for visiting in December 2009. Now it’s one of the main sights of the city.
Unique phenomenon of Lake Orestiada
Apart from divers flora and fauna, Lake Orestiada has one more very special thing. Local citizens tell that every year before the Day of the Dormition of the Holy Virgin, water of Lake Orestiada becomes dark and cold and fish swim over the surface of the lake. Scientists still can’t give scientific rationales for this unusual and really mysterioius phenomenon.
In spite of the fact that Kastoria is situated by the side of the lake, swimming in it is not accepted. That’s why if you’re going to visit the city there is no need to buy a new bathing costume. But you can enjoy riding a boat along the coast of the peninsula. Furthermore the point of boat departure is not far from the Dragon Cave!
The nearest seaboard is 150km away. That’s why it’s fairly difficult to find fresh seafood in Kastoria taverns. But the local cuisine will be a welcome surprise for you. You’ll find a great diversity of meat, dairy products and freshwater fish there.
From Athens:
By plane: from Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport to Aristoteles;
By bus: from the bus station KTEL Kifis. Busses to Kastoria go 3 times a day: in the morning, at lunch time and in the evening;
By car: along the highway E75 to Lamia, further along the guidance signs of Trikala, Kalambaka, Grevena, Kastoria (the road is sufficiently difficult and it's better to use the GPS).
From Salonika:
By bus: from the bus station Macedonia that is in the west of Salonika. Busses to Kastoria go from 11am till 12pm about every two hours;
By car: along the highway E90 till the exit to Kastoria, further along the guidance signs.
