GENERAL INFORMATION (www.kastoriahotels.org [http://www.kastoriahotels.org])
The Prefecture of Kastoria is situated at the western end of Western Macedonia in Greece. It borders the prefectures of Florina, Grevena, Kozani and Ioannina, and Albania, on the west side.
According to the latest census, the population of the prefecture is 53,483 inhabitants, while the city has 20,636 inhabitants.
Kastoria is connected with Athens International Airport by "Aristotle" Airport, located in Argos Orestiko.
Access to the Prefecture is now easily and comfortably through the Via Egnatia. Alternatively it can be used by the old highway.
The city of Kastoria is built on two hills at 620m altimeters in the. peninsula that penetrates the beautiful lake, which has been declared "Monument of Natural Beauty" and maintains a rich flora with rare and endangered species of waterfowl and raptors.
It is worthy to walk on the pebbled shores of the lake and admire the natural beauty, the white swans and the rich birdlife.
We recommend you to round the peninsula by car, and even better to walk, and enjoy a magnificent lakeside path with trees next to the lake with swans, the picturesque fishermen, traditional boats and, if you're lucky, teams rowing.
Make a stop in the middle of the path, where is the Monastery of Panagia Mavriotissas and the chapel of St. John with frescoes of the 11th century.
Go up to the Prophet Elias to enjoy the unique panoramic view of the lake and the city of Kastoria.
Walk to the narrow cobblestone streets of traditional communities and Doltso and Apozari and admire the imposing mansions of Kastoria of the 17th and 18th century.
History
There are findings showing that the region has been inhabited even since the Neolithic era. The city has always been an important hub for Western Macedonia throughout time. Its strategic location vastly contributed to the cultural and economic development of the region.
Prehistory
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 lava and volcanic ash that covered, at a certain point in time, the forest led to its fossilization. The findings are impressive. Tree trunks 5-10 meter long with a diameter of 50-80cm, where one can still see the bark and rings. Among them, the only fossilized palms found in continental Greece.
The prehistoric settlement of Dispilio is one of the oldest lake settlements ever discovered in Europe and it gives us a full overview of an early civilization with admirable achievements.
The settlement's inhabitants used to live in huts they built inside the lake, on pile platforms. They were organizing and using space in a unique way. The 3.000 people, living there, were fishing, hunting, cultivating the earth, breeding animals, constructing tools and utensils, and they were acquainted with writing and music.
Among the important findings of Dispilio, prevail a wooden inscribed board, a fishing boat made of a single piece of wood and several bird-bone pipes among the oldest ones found in Europe.
A Neolithic village was also discovered in the area of Avgi, 7km away the lake settlement of Dispilio. This settlement dates back to 5.500BC. The people, living in the settlement, were cultivating cereals and legumes and breeding sheep, goats, pigs and cows.
Classical Antiquity - Roman Times
The Roman historian, Titus Livius, says that in the 5th century BC, a city called Kilitron was lying at the current location of Kastoria, while in the 6th century BC, Prokopius from Caesarea mentions that there is a lake in Macedonia called Kastoria.
The broader region is identified with ancient Orestida, inhabited by the Orestes "Makednoi", as Herodotus calls them. Orestida, despite the fewness of findings, seems to have been an important urban center with active participation in the developments and the artistic trends of the time. An important tomb relief found in Pentavriso, as well as other recent discoveries from the classical times (epitaphs, helmet, pottery) verify the fact that there are still a lot to learn about this period.
The relief from Pentavriso depicts the calm face of a woman and it is one of the best classical works-of-art ever discovered in Macedonia.
Byzantine Era
When the Roman State divided (396BC), the region became part of the Eastern Roman State and then, of the Byzantine Empire. Due to its strategic location, the city had many troubles and used to be, that time, the "apple of discord" for many.
In 550 AC, Justinian renamed the city into Justinianoupoli and turned it into a powerful fortress, surrounding it with a double castle, residues of which have survived to date. From 927 to 969 AC, the city was occupied by the Bulgarians. Bulgarians have been expelled by the Petsenegi, with the support of the Byzantines. In 990 AC, the Bulgarian Tsar, Samuel, conquered Kastoria during his raid in the Greek territory.
When liberated in 1018 by Basil II Voulgaroktonos (Bulgar-slayer), the city became the base for the following military operations of the Emperor. From 1082 to the fall of Constantinople, it was occupied by the Francs. In 1204, it is conquered by the Normans, the Albanians, the Crusaders, the Serbs and finally the Turks. The occupation of Kastoria by the Turks took place in 1385 and lasted five centuries, until 1912.
Turkish Domination
In the years of the Turkish domination, the region managed to preserve its national consciousness and religious faith and to develop into one of the most important commercial and cultural centres in the Balkans.
It was also a pole of reinforcement for the pre-revolutionary movements that prepared the grounds for the revolution of 1821, as well as for the liberating movements of the 19th century. The situation significantly improved for the conquered people of Kastoria after 1528, when the region became a "hassi", which means property of the Sultan.
The city was full of craftsmen, saddlers, goldsmiths, tailors and famous furriers. Since the 17th century, the furriers had been promoting their products outside the borders of the Ottoman Empire, thus gaining wealth and prestige.
On the other hand, arts and letters flourished during that time. The exceptional architecture and painting works preserved date back to that period.
Macedonian Struggle
Kastoria was the region where the liberating Macedonian Struggle started (1904-1908). The fight against the Bulgarians was organized here, under the leadership of Pavlos Melas who died in 1904. His death raised the awareness of all Greeks, thus triggering new developments.
The house of the Macedonian fighter is in Melas village and it is now a museum exhibiting memorials of the Macedonian Struggle.
Another eminent personality of that time was the Metropolite Germanos Karavaggelis, who did his best to enhance the religious faith and led the Macedonian fighters to many victories against the komitaji (guerillas).
The day when the city was finally liberated from the Turks, Serbs and Bulgarians was the 11th of November 1912, when the cavalry major, Ioannis Artis, entered the city as a victor.
Modern Times
The residents of the region participated in the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) as well as in World War I (1914-1918) and II (1940-1945). During the Civil War (1946-1949), Kastoria was again the center of developments, since the surrounding mountains were the theatre for some of the most outrageous pages in Greek history.
The Prefecture of Kastoria is situated at the western end of Western Macedonia in Greece. It borders the prefectures of Florina, Grevena, Kozani and Ioannina, and Albania, on the west side.
According to the latest census, the population of the prefecture is 53,483 inhabitants, while the city has 20,636 inhabitants.
Kastoria is connected with Athens International Airport by "Aristotle" Airport, located in Argos Orestiko.
Access to the Prefecture is now easily and comfortably through the Via Egnatia. Alternatively it can be used by the old highway.
The city of Kastoria is built on two hills at 620m altimeters in the. peninsula that penetrates the beautiful lake, which has been declared "Monument of Natural Beauty" and maintains a rich flora with rare and endangered species of waterfowl and raptors.
It is worthy to walk on the pebbled shores of the lake and admire the natural beauty, the white swans and the rich birdlife.
We recommend you to round the peninsula by car, and even better to walk, and enjoy a magnificent lakeside path with trees next to the lake with swans, the picturesque fishermen, traditional boats and, if you're lucky, teams rowing.
Make a stop in the middle of the path, where is the Monastery of Panagia Mavriotissas and the chapel of St. John with frescoes of the 11th century.
Go up to the Prophet Elias to enjoy the unique panoramic view of the lake and the city of Kastoria.
Walk to the narrow cobblestone streets of traditional communities and Doltso and Apozari and admire the imposing mansions of Kastoria of the 17th and 18th century.
History
There are findings showing that the region has been inhabited even since the Neolithic era. The city has always been an important hub for Western Macedonia throughout time. Its strategic location vastly contributed to the cultural and economic development of the region.
Prehistory
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 lava and volcanic ash that covered, at a certain point in time, the forest led to its fossilization. The findings are impressive. Tree trunks 5-10 meter long with a diameter of 50-80cm, where one can still see the bark and rings. Among them, the only fossilized palms found in continental Greece.
The prehistoric settlement of Dispilio is one of the oldest lake settlements ever discovered in Europe and it gives us a full overview of an early civilization with admirable achievements.
The settlement's inhabitants used to live in huts they built inside the lake, on pile platforms. They were organizing and using space in a unique way. The 3.000 people, living there, were fishing, hunting, cultivating the earth, breeding animals, constructing tools and utensils, and they were acquainted with writing and music.
Among the important findings of Dispilio, prevail a wooden inscribed board, a fishing boat made of a single piece of wood and several bird-bone pipes among the oldest ones found in Europe.
A Neolithic village was also discovered in the area of Avgi, 7km away the lake settlement of Dispilio. This settlement dates back to 5.500BC. The people, living in the settlement, were cultivating cereals and legumes and breeding sheep, goats, pigs and cows.
Classical Antiquity - Roman Times
The Roman historian, Titus Livius, says that in the 5th century BC, a city called Kilitron was lying at the current location of Kastoria, while in the 6th century BC, Prokopius from Caesarea mentions that there is a lake in Macedonia called Kastoria.
The broader region is identified with ancient Orestida, inhabited by the Orestes "Makednoi", as Herodotus calls them. Orestida, despite the fewness of findings, seems to have been an important urban center with active participation in the developments and the artistic trends of the time. An important tomb relief found in Pentavriso, as well as other recent discoveries from the classical times (epitaphs, helmet, pottery) verify the fact that there are still a lot to learn about this period.
The relief from Pentavriso depicts the calm face of a woman and it is one of the best classical works-of-art ever discovered in Macedonia.
Byzantine Era
When the Roman State divided (396BC), the region became part of the Eastern Roman State and then, of the Byzantine Empire. Due to its strategic location, the city had many troubles and used to be, that time, the "apple of discord" for many.
In 550 AC, Justinian renamed the city into Justinianoupoli and turned it into a powerful fortress, surrounding it with a double castle, residues of which have survived to date. From 927 to 969 AC, the city was occupied by the Bulgarians. Bulgarians have been expelled by the Petsenegi, with the support of the Byzantines. In 990 AC, the Bulgarian Tsar, Samuel, conquered Kastoria during his raid in the Greek territory.
When liberated in 1018 by Basil II Voulgaroktonos (Bulgar-slayer), the city became the base for the following military operations of the Emperor. From 1082 to the fall of Constantinople, it was occupied by the Francs. In 1204, it is conquered by the Normans, the Albanians, the Crusaders, the Serbs and finally the Turks. The occupation of Kastoria by the Turks took place in 1385 and lasted five centuries, until 1912.
Turkish Domination
In the years of the Turkish domination, the region managed to preserve its national consciousness and religious faith and to develop into one of the most important commercial and cultural centres in the Balkans.
It was also a pole of reinforcement for the pre-revolutionary movements that prepared the grounds for the revolution of 1821, as well as for the liberating movements of the 19th century. The situation significantly improved for the conquered people of Kastoria after 1528, when the region became a "hassi", which means property of the Sultan.
The city was full of craftsmen, saddlers, goldsmiths, tailors and famous furriers. Since the 17th century, the furriers had been promoting their products outside the borders of the Ottoman Empire, thus gaining wealth and prestige.
On the other hand, arts and letters flourished during that time. The exceptional architecture and painting works preserved date back to that period.
Macedonian Struggle
Kastoria was the region where the liberating Macedonian Struggle started (1904-1908). The fight against the Bulgarians was organized here, under the leadership of Pavlos Melas who died in 1904. His death raised the awareness of all Greeks, thus triggering new developments.
The house of the Macedonian fighter is in Melas village and it is now a museum exhibiting memorials of the Macedonian Struggle.
Another eminent personality of that time was the Metropolite Germanos Karavaggelis, who did his best to enhance the religious faith and led the Macedonian fighters to many victories against the komitaji (guerillas).
The day when the city was finally liberated from the Turks, Serbs and Bulgarians was the 11th of November 1912, when the cavalry major, Ioannis Artis, entered the city as a victor.
Modern Times
The residents of the region participated in the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) as well as in World War I (1914-1918) and II (1940-1945). During the Civil War (1946-1949), Kastoria was again the center of developments, since the surrounding mountains were the theatre for some of the most outrageous pages in Greek history.