Kastoria Things to Do Tips by StefanosS

At the lakeshores there are a lot of parks and squares. You may walk around on paved paths and admire the unique natural beauty of the lake, at all times of the year. In the lake, two ships offer sightseeing. Setting off from Kastoria and from Mavrochori, they execute sightseeing trips in the lake, where you may admire the unique natural beauty of the landscape and the unique fauna and flora.

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The style of Kastoria lakeboats is peculiar, keeping the same shape as the one found at the nearby pre-historic settlement of Dispilio! Its main characteristic is the shape of the prow and stern, being raised higher than usual. Its length is about 5.50 to 6 meters, while its width is about 1.20 to 1.30 m. Lately, some modification has been made to the stern, in order to attach an outboard motor.

English traveller Leake, who visited Kastoria in 1805, in his book "Travels in Northern Greece", gives a detailed description of the lakeboats along with two sketches.

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A cross-shaped church of the 11th century, with a cupola disproportionately big to the small building. Wallpaintings, dated much later than the original church, are very spoiled. It is in the middle of a wide square, near the top of the old city hill. It was locked, and we had to ask for the key, but we didn't.

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This church is built on the slopes of the old city hill and watching the north part of the lake. It is a three aisle basilica with a strange architectural structure and beautiful brick decoration. The wallpaintings of the 13th and 14th century are quite interesting. We were lucky to find open this church, bearing my name.

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The inscription over the entrance says it was built by the "king Symeon Paleologos" (probably a prince renovator), during the last dynasty of the Byzantine Empire. Its wallpaintings are of the same period. Although, the original church seems to be of the 12th century AD. It is dedicated to the Archangels. There is one more church with the same name at some other part of the city.

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The peninsula on which Kastoria is built has the shape of a mushroom and the city is built on its stem. Following the beautiful and romantic road around the "head" of the mushroom, you will find the old Mavriotissa monastery. It is well restored and has interesting murals of the 13th and 16th century AD. Under the nearby giant plane-trees you can have a meal, a coffee or a cold soft-drink watching the lake.

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