Kastoria, Greece: attractions and photos

Greece is a sin to complain about the number of attractions, but there are areas in it that do not quite fit in the trails traversed by millions of feet. There is an amazing place in this country, where even winter is not Greek, but with real frost and snow. And here, on the peninsula, washed on three sides by a lake, is the city of Kastoria. Greece in the Middle Ages became famous as a country producing fur products.

So it remains to this day. In a city with only 17,000 inhabitants, there are numerous small shops and large factories producing fur coats, the largest fur center in Europe EDIKA.

City `s history

There is a beautiful legend that around 2000 BC. E. The city was founded by the mythical demigod Cecrop, who has a body of a man standing on two snakes instead of legs. At his command around Kastoria was erected a wall that received his name and protects the peninsula from attack.

According to another version, Kastoria (Greece) was founded in 840 BC. E. And received its name due to the huge number of beavers on the lake ("castoras" in Greek). Everyone is free to choose for himself, what to believe, but the wall really existed - on its ruins in 525, by the decree of the Byzantine emperor Justinian, the 1st was erected a tower with a fortress wall.

At that time (3rd-4th centuries AD) the city was a Byzantine bastion on its western outskirts. Since that time, many ancient monuments have been preserved, there are objects related to the Neolithic and Roman epochs. Thanks to the Byzantine culture in Kastoria, 70 temples were built and preserved to the present day, the oldest of which dates back to the 9th century.

Travelers wishing to learn more about what the ancient Kastoria (Greece) represented itself, expect the ethnographic and Byzantine museums. In the latter, for example, one of the largest collections of Byzantine icons of the 12th-14th centuries is collected.

This place is not suitable for those who like to spend their holidays on the beaches, because they are simply not there, and in the local lake it is not accepted to swim, although it is considered a good form to fish and feed waterfowl here.

Cave of the Dragon

Just 15 m from Lake Orestiada there is an entrance to the cave, reminiscent of the outline of the mouth of the dragon. Maybe that's why it is called Dragon, although there is a legend that once he lived here and guarded the entrance to the gold mine with a myriad of gold. So it is or not, it is unknown, but there is no gold beneath the arches of the cave, but there is an extraordinary beauty of stalactites and stalagmites of the most bizarre form.

There are a dozen rooms and 7 lakes with fresh water, and the cave itself goes down 600 m, of which only 300 meters are open for tourists. Speleologists do not let people go further in order to ensure their safety. To view the beauty, hidden from human eyes, it is possible from a floating bridge, from which a stunning view of the lakes and galleries of the cave opens. Here such a tourist attraction is the city of Kastoria (Greece). The feedback of those who have visited the caves of the cave, say that the ventilation and lighting of its arches allow you to stay there for a long time without harm to health.

Church of Panagia Mavriotissa

Built in honor of the victory of the Byzantine emperor Alexis the First Comnenus over the Normans in 1082, this church has survived and continues to function until our time. Today it is in the center of the city at the intersection of tourist routes, so it will not be difficult to notice it.

It was in the 11th century adorned with rich frescoes outside, now they left only small scraps. Something destroyed time, but something the Turks, who were not too ceremonious with Christian relics during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. Interior decoration is better preserved.

Once around the church grew a monastery, but today there is only one bell tower of the 13th century and a thousand-year-old plane tree, a witness of many events in the city. To make it more convenient to reach all the sights, you can stay at the Esperos Palace Hotel (Greece, Kastoria). It is located only 3 minutes from the center and offers its guests not only comfortable rooms, but also relaxation in a spa with a swimming pool.

Lake Orestiada

Situated at an altitude of 600 m above sea level, this picturesque lake is the "home" for numerous species of birds, mammals, amphibians and waterfowl. Not inferior to them in terms of the number of flora and underwater inhabitants, among them: catfish, carp, perch, line and roach. The local people have great success in fishing, to which tourists often join, organizing real competitions.

According to legend, the lake bears the name of Orestes - one of the heroes of ancient myths, beloved by the Greeks, but the pond itself is millions of years older than any of them. Today, you can go water skiing or rent a boat, feed cormorants, pelicans, wild ducks and swans. This is a favorite holiday destination for residents of the city of Kastoria (Greece).

Limnos Iquimos

How many more secrets does the earth contain? Sometimes they open up to people quite unexpectedly, as it was with the ancient village of Limneos Ikizmos. In the 30s of the last century, the waters of Lake Orestiada moved away and exposed unknown structures.

If Greece is called ancient, then what about the find, which was declared the oldest settlement in Europe? As it turned out, it was on an artificially created island on stilts and preserved to our days unique everyday objects of the Neolithic times, among which is a sign with unknown inscriptions.

On the site of the settlement, its exact copy is built, which became a museum in the open air, and in the huts you can see the very utensils, tools and tools.

Fur coats of Kastoria

Having visited these places, it is impossible not to pay attention to the main source of the city's income - fur products, known throughout the world, no less than its attractions.

Many local hotels, for example Esperos Palace 4 * (Greece, Kastoria), offer free accommodation provided they purchase a fur coat. This offer is readily enjoyed by tourists from the CIS countries, combining rest and shopping. Annually in May there is a grandiose exhibition of leather and fur products, on which more than 1200 factories represent their goods.

Since at this exhibition prices are from the manufacturer, in May the most popular route for tourists is Kastoria (Greece). Rhodes, beloved by many an island for recreation, which is located 1000 km from this city, is empty when the sale of fur coats and leather jackets begins. Such is the ancient and modern Kastoria.