Kastoria

General Information on Kastoria

Kastoria, the capital of the prefecture with the same name, is one of Macedonia’s most picturesque cities and is regarded as one of the most beautiful Greek towns. Built on a promontory jutting into Orestiada Lake it is surrounded by mountains. The city has old areas, narrow lanes, magnificent Byzantine churches and stone mansions.

Kastoria has more than 70 Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches, dating as far back as the 9th century. Most of their walls are covered with exceptional frescoes. Its famous mansions of the 18th and 19th century are also worth seeing. They are usually three-storey edifices with large windows and enclosed balconies. Their interiors are spacious and sumptuously decorated with carved, wooden items and paintings. The inhabitants are mainly occupied in furs and embroidery. The city boasts a large number of very profitable fur and textile shops and factories.

History of Kastoria

Kastoria acquired its name probably from the Macedonian hero of Greek Mythology, Kastor, son of Zeus. According to other sources, the name “Kastoria” first appeared in the writings of Prokopios, a 6th century A.D. historian, referring to the lake. There are many opinions about the etymology of this name; most probably, it derives from the lake which was named after the beavers (=kastores) living there.

How to Reach Kastoria

Air: Kastoria’s Aristotelis airport is 10km south of the city. There are about 5 flights weekly to/from Athens.

Bus: From the central bus station of Kastoria, there are six daily buses to Thessaloniki (4 hours), five to Kozani (2 hours) and two to Athens (9 hours).

Weather in Kastoria

The landscape of Kastoria is mountainous and the climate is continental, with cold winters and hot summers. The temperature presents great variations between winter and summer, and during winter it is often below zero, so the lake surface freezes.