Kastoria – Prespa, 20 Area attractions

1. Lake Orestiada or lake Kastoria

Located in altitude 630 m., above sea level and extent 28,6 km² is 11^or largest lake in Greece. Bounded by mountains Voio, Triklario, Verno (North) and Lookout. Powered by the waters 9 streams in the region, and mainly Xeropotamos, underground ypolimnes and rainwater. Surplus lake waters flowing out of the stream Gkioles the Aliakmon river, at South.

The lake has a depth of 1,4-12 m. and temperature 22^The C. It is a fishing ground for locals, with freshwater fish such as trout, the carp etc.. OR lake Kastoria It is classified by the Ministry of Culture, as Monument Natural Beauty. The perimeter of the lake is approximately 30 km. You can walk or cycling, lakeside, under the willows and sycamores.

2. Old Town Kastoria

The beavers built, lakeside, western shore and the peninsula formed. The area Doltso It is the old quarter of the city, with stately mansions and cobbled streets. Kastoria is famous for its Byzantine churches, the gounaradika and of course the lake. singles Justinian wall, the isthmus of the peninsula and fortified walls in the city (9^th -10^th c.).

3. Prophet Elias Church, Kastoria

The church of Prophet Elias is built on the hill known as "the balcony of Kastoria". The view, the lake and the city of Kastoria is stunning.

4. Byzantine Museum of Kastoria

Located on the highest point of the city, in the old Xenia area.

Address : Square Tank Kastoria, tel. : 24670 26781, 24670 88200, www.bmk.gr. You will see Byzantine icons, the temples of the region (9^th – 14^th c.), ecclesiastical objects, sculptures, mosaics etc..

5. Kastoria Folklore Museum (Mansion Nerantzis Aivazi)

You will see old objects from everyday life of residents, the "krevata", the "good mezzanine" (living room), the loom, the mixer, the cellar, a fur laboratory representation etc.. On the wall is a mural with a nostalgic landscape from Istanbul. The house has a ground (katoi), 1^The floor (in total 11 rooms), and a large yard. old objects gathered from the daily life of residents. In the "summer daily room"You will see a representation of a fur workshop, with the 1^or machine for fur, a restored fresco and a beautiful painted wardrobe. Doxato called spacious room 1^th floor. In this room, every Sunday, sat the local rulers and Metropolitan area, who had his own place of honor, and discussing. In the "reception room», women sat. Also when a girl reached marriageable age and become the matchmaking, here the male relatives greeted the groom. On the wall, from a window, the girl watched the groom, while her mother, a hole. On the wall is a mural with a nostalgic landscape from Istanbul.

Address : Captain Lazou 10, Doltso Kastoria, tel. : 24670 28603, daily, except Monday : 10 a.m. -4 pm.

6. Museum of Costume – mansion Emmanuel

The museum has a collection of authentic traditional costumes, and collection of Kastoria jewelery and coins.

Address : Byzantium 13, Kastoria, tel. : 24670 28913

7. Macedonian Struggle Museum – mansion cubits

housed in mansion cubits, which was the residence of Anastasios Pichion, Macedonian Greek fighter. built in the 18^The century. his father, Filolaou Pichion and exemplifies Macedonian architecture. The two-storey building is listed, by the Ministry of Culture, Monument with great historical value.

You will see descendants relics Makedonomachon, photos from the early phase and the period of the Macedonian Struggle, Macedonian fighters uniforms and traditional costumes Kastoria. The ground floor has a library, reading and video room.

open : Tuesday - Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Sunday 11:00 am-3:30 p.m., Closed on Monday. Information, tel. : 2467 021144. Address : cubits 2, Doltso, Old Town Kastoria

8. Church of Our Lady Koubelidiki (11^th c.)

Located within Justinian walls the city of Kastoria and is one of the most important Byzantine monuments of Macedonia. It took its name from the shape of the dome, (Turkish : dome) and is the only domed church in Kastoria.

It was built probably in 1020 and used to be known as "Virgin Skoutariotissa». The church is cruciform with a dome trikochos, splint and exonarthex. The inner wall is mainly 13^th century. (1260-1280), as the Trinity, in the narthex arch. External frescoes are from 1496 while in mid 17^th century. The church was renovated with new wall painting.

Address : Koubelidiki square, Kastoria

9. Aquarium "Ecumenical Patriarch"

It is the largest in the Balkans, fish and microorganisms from the lakes and rivers of Greece

Address : Zalongou 3, Kastoria, Open Tuesday-Sunday : 9 a.m. -5 p.m., tel. : 24670 80229

10. lake Settlement – Archaeological Dispilio -Oikomouseio

Reconstruction of the prehistoric lake Housing, from the Late Neolithic Period (inside 6^th millennium-in 4^th millennium BC).

THE Neolithic Settlement in the dispilio discovered the 1932 and is considered the oldest in Europe.

The ecomuseum includes 8 pile huts, from a natural material, presenting the daily life of residents. You will find useful items (copies) Neolithic Period, as earthenware, bottles, bowls, tools etc..

Address : dispilio (7km from the city of Kastoria).

Entrance : 4 euro, a guided tour in the area.

11. Monastery Mavriotissa

The church is single-aisled, with narthex and a wooden roof. built in 1082 A.D. the Byzantine Emperor, Alexios Komninos, on the foundations of an older church. named Mavriotissa the neighboring village Mavrovo or Mavrochori. In the middle of 16^th century. added the Chapel of St. John the Theologian. Outside the temple frescoes are from 1260 and show the "Root of Jesse", the Virgin Mavriotissa, Dimitrios Saints & George and Alexius’ Komninos. The frescoes inside are of 12^th c., like the Second Coming and the Baptism. The monastery is dedicated to the Assumption and is male. Information : we lead. Archimandrite. Nektarios Kakoulidis, tel. 24670 22714.

Address : 4 km east of the town of Kastoria

12. Mavrochori -Museum Wax

The Mavrochori It is built next to lake Kastoria, the east coast, opposite the town of Kastoria. The village is known for its Yacht Club Mavrochori (NOM) conducted including rowing races on the lake. You will see the small private Wax statues museum, the folklore exhibition, which includes a dummy main street of the village, garden etc.. Information, tel. : 2467 074870.

Access : It is, about 13 km, the city of Kastoria.

13. Cave Dragon

Named Cave of the Dragon as according to legend, goldmine cave was guarded a dragon, which when breathed was produced in the mouth of fires and poisoned vapors.

The cave features spectacular stalactites and stalagmites, 7 underground lakes, 10 rooms (the greater dimensioned 45CH17 m.) and 5 siranges.I temperature inside the cavern is 16-18^The C and humidity 90%. Cave found paleontological bones "Bear of the Caves" (Ursus Speleaus), who lived in Europe before 10.000 years

Entrance : 5 €.

There is a tour inside (megaphones). open : Tuesday -Kyriaki, 9 am-5 pm, tel. : 24670 26777, www.spilaiodrakoukast.gr. Address : Sougaridi, Kastoria (3 km north of the city of Kastoria, near the church of St. Nicholas, and after the Monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa).

14. Nymfaio Florina - Nikios School

The Nymfaio It is a mountain village, with altitude 1.350 and designated, from 1978, as "preserved traditional village"^. It belongs to D. Amyntaio of Florina.

Sightseeing stands out Nikios School built in 1928 a donation of wealthy tobacco merchant from Nymfaio, Jean Nicot (1875-1930), projects Swedish architects. The tower clock is Swiss.

Until 1941 the building opened in Imigymnasio and up 1980, primary school. It features a library, showroom, conference center and serves as the Information Center of the Brown Bear.

Information: tel. : 23860 41500, www.arcturos.gr

15. Korestia villages, between Kastoria – Florina

The brick villages were built in 19^The century. and abandoned during the Civil War (1946-1949). They consist of the villages: sprat, Kraniona, Loose, Melas, Makrochori, Mafrokampos, Agios Antonios etc.. In the area clashed with the Makedonomachoi Bulgarian guerillas.

The 1904, at the village Melas, former Statista slain hero of the Macedonian Struggle, Pavlos Melas. The house where he was killed (at 13 October 1904, after the Ottoman enterprise extract), turned into Pavlos Melas Museum. in Korestia villages bricks of the houses are made of mud and straw and roofs, from wood, reeds and tiles.

The deserted villages were setting for the films'The Suspended Step of stork» (1991) Th. Angelopoulos, «Deep soul» (2009) Pantelis Voulgaris and "Pavlos Melas» (1974) Philip Fylaktou.

Address : valley Ladopotamos, on the route between Kastoria -Florinas. From Kastoria follow the road to the village Aposkepos, 5 km, and after the old road to Prespa. In about 10 km, you will find the bridge of Ladopotamos after 4 km in village Gavros, in New Settlement.

16. National Reconciliation Park (TELL)

The TELL Located in altitude 1.450 m. and began 2012 in order to highlight the natural wealth, history and culture of the metropolitan area of Grammou. It features a library, with 1200 volumes, and permanent exhibitions like : «Grammos: Itineraries History" and "Grammos: Journeys in Nature», with pictures of the flora and fauna of Grammos. Within the VRS operated café and guesthouse restaurant 12 Room, from Cooperative Nestori Women, under the firm "flavors Grammou» (tel. : 24670 21853, Visit by appointment).

Address : meadows Kotyli, Nestorio, Kastoria, 50 km SW. Kastoria, to the village Pefkos www.grammos-pes.gr

17. Prespa National Park (EMCO)

By word Prespa understood the small and Prespa, and the wider basin. OR small Prespa Located in altitude 857 m. and the Prespa in 852 m. Surrounded by mountains Varnountas (eastward) and Triklario or Wasp (southerly), and north of Xerovouni or Suva mountain and Galicica (the mountain that separates Lake Ohrid or Ohrid from the Prespa).

OR small Prespa It lies mainly in Greece (about 43,5 km²), while a small portion, the west, belongs to Albania (less than 4 km²). The part of Albania, due to the decrease of water level, tends to disappear.

OR great Prespa belongs to Greece and FYROM, now Northern Macedonia and communicates with the underground Lake Ohrid. The area 4 national park : the Prespa National Park Greece, the Albanian Prespa National Park and 2 National Parks Pelister and Galicica, of Northern Macedonia.

previously the small and Prespa They are communicating with each other but today separates one strip, length 3,5 km, known as great Plain. at Prespa a large beach formed, the place called Kula Prespa, the westernmost point of the bus. at small Prespa formed mainly wet meadows, such as wetland Vromolimni and mire, like neck and Platy.

The river of St. Germain, culminating in Prespa, lives and reproduces the Prespa endemic trout (Salmo peristericus), a species in danger of extinction and many other fish species reofila. The Prespa fish reproduced on the edge of the pond and in places with low vegetation. Have been observed 23 Fish species, 9 of which are endemic, words are only here for this and are protected by European and national legislation. The Prespa ranked among 12 important wetlands in the Mediterranean, because of their rare fish fauna. At Prespa You will also come across many species of aquatic birds such as duck, nesting in small Prespa.

In the Prespa National Park areas are divided into bands, such as :

A. Zones Absolute Nature Conservation,

B. Zones of Nature Protection,

C. Eco-development zones and

D. Positions with protected natural formations and landscapes or details Landscape.

18. Islet Saint Achilles

THE Saint Achilles or Chailli is an island in the lake Mikri Prespa, at an altitude 853 m.

With 21 residents are 2^The inhabited island in lake of Greece, after the island of Ioannina. The floating bridge leading to the island has a length 630 m., width 3 m. and is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists.

Sightseeing is Basilica of Saint Achilles (11^th c.) and post-Byzantine Chapel Royal Purple Lady (authorities 16^th c.), with exquisite frescoes. OR Mary Purpura celebrated on 21 November, a great feast. The locals wear local costumes and dance traditional dances, ahead of Basilica of Saint Achilles.

OR Basilica of Saint Achilles built after the 983 or 986, the Tsar of Bulgaria, Samuel, to house the relics of Saint Achilles, Bishop Larissa (4^th c.). The relic had the "get" from Larissa Bulgarian troops, after the capture of the city. The church is three-aisled type middle Byzantine basilica with narthex. internally, the 3 naves separated by 2 high pessostoichies with bows. It was Episcopal church, from 1018 up early 15^th, as evidenced by the imposing stairs that are in front of the large semicircular arch. On the island of Saint Achilles will look to move freely, pigs, cows etc..

Address : Saint Achilles, small Prespa, 65 km from Kastoria and 60 km from Florina.

19. fishermen Prespa

The fishermen or Nivitsa (name that had until 1928) It is proclaimed traditional settlement of N. Florina is located on the south shore of Prespa.

Sightseeing is Hermitage of the Virgin Merciful or St Peter (1873), with beautiful frescoes (Access by boat) and Hermitage Metamorphosis , 13^th century. (Access by foot).

In the taverns you will taste fresh fresh-water fish of Prespa. The local fishermen with their boats will show you around the lake.

Address : 59 km ΒΔ. Florina.

The country road to Agios Achillion, Fishermen and Vrontero passes near the lake.

20. Agios Germanos, Municipality of Prespa

mountain village, of Law. Florina built at an altitude 1.040 m. Located Greek border – FYROM, now Northern Macedonia, foothills of terms Varnounda.

During the Ottoman period, The name of the village was "Germany" but the 1926 renamed Saint Germain, the homonymous church.

Sightseeing is Church of St. Germain (11^th c.) which was dedicated to the memory of Patriarch Germanos Istanbul, who was deposed during the Iconoclasm and became a local Saint of the area and the traditional Watermill St. Germain.

The Byzantine church is cruciform with a splint and cylindrical dome. The frescoes date from the 11^The and 13^The century. The 1882 It was attached to the western wall of the old church a great basilica, also dedicated to St. German. According to local tradition houses the relics of St. Germain, to the area of ​​the north arm of the cross. celebrated on 12 May, where a festival in the village square.

The traditional Watermill St. Germain Prespa It is a ground floor stone building (1930), with wooden roof. He served as a watermill (for grinding grain), as fulling (for washing fabrics) and mantani (to produce the weavers).

After its restoration won the Award Europa Nostra 2016, a European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage.

The Watermill of St. Germain is open to visitors Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 pm.

Information : Marianna Vlassis, Company SPP, tel. : 6947 692357, 2385051211.

Access : Located on the road to Prespa National Park, 54 km from Kastoria and 48 Km from Florina.

USEFUL INFORMATION -EKDILOSEIS -GIORTES

• Kastoria Fish Feast, come true, each year, the 2^The ten days of July, in the city of Kastoria in square Apozari
• Ragoutsaria, 3days Carnival events, Kastoria
• International Fur Exhibition Kastoria,May in Kastoria
• «Nyfopazaro», fair with stalls for shopping, Holy Thursday, Kastoria
• «Prespeia», in August, the small island Saint Achilles, of small Prespa (information : http://prespeia.gr )
• satirical Carnival, in the Mavrochori
• RIVER PARTY, 5days events in banks of the River Aliakmon, at the village Nestorio. organized the 1^The Weekend of August (information : https://nestorio-riverparty.gr). The Nestorio It is built on the northeast slopes of Grammos, in altitude 890 m., and is 28 km from the city of Kastoria