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Kastoria
On Omonia Square, the visitors make the first acquaintance of Kastoria's Byzantine Art. A little further we can visit Saint Nikolaos Kasnitzi, Taxiarches and Panagia Koumpelidiki. From the Omonia Square one is advised to visit Agios Minas Square from Valala street. There, one could find the Agios Stefanos and Agii Anargiri churches. “Ragutsaria” - the Kastorian Karnival, starts on 6th. January annually, and continues until the 8th. of January. “Boubounes” - bonfires, which are lit in the neighbourhoods, with dances around them. “Christopoulia” - which are a special celebration to the memory of the Kastorian poet. “Week of absent Kastorian” – is a special celebration to honor all the absent Kastorians abroad.
In Kastoria exist till today, the city wall of Ioustinianos, which was built in 535 AD. There are also 72 Byzantine and met Byzantine churches with rare wall paintings and paintings of holy icons that takes us back to the 9th. through 16th. centuries. Admirable in Byzantine art, are Panagia Mavriotisa, Koumbelidiki, Saint Stefan, Saint Anargiri, Saint Taxiarches, etc. If one is interested in the traditional architecture and charm of restored settlements, if one really wants to discover the secrets of old mansions, one has to descend from Agios Minas to "Doltso" or to "Apozari", passing through the narrow streets down of the mansions "Iliaki". At Doltso one can also see the Natzi, Basare, Em manuil mansions and the Nerant zi Aivatzi mansion, where the Folklore Art Museum of the city is now housed. At Apozari one can see the Tsiapapa and Broumidi mansions. Whichever road you take, you will have the opportunity to admire the famous Byzantine churches. One can visit the traditional settlement following the seashore, north or south. That way, one can see the lake with the original "boats" of Kastoria and the white swans. Taking a tour in the mansions, one must bear in mind that they were built on the 17th. and 18th. specimens of the urban architecture, which flourished in that period, because of the commerce and industry of Kastorian furriers. The impressive mansions with the stone made first floors, the small iron barred openings with iron wares and the wooden second floor where many "Itiaki" windows let the sunlight pass through, show us the way of living during the Turkish Occupation, when many of the merchants made wealth abroad. A rather unusual Macedonian style with Byzantine elements is finding its best expression in Kastorian Buildings. In the in territory the wooden curved ceilings, the decoration of colorful glass garret windows create a highly sensational atmosphere. Today the traditional settlement tied with the modern city, offers a unique in quality environment, combining historical and touristy interest.
Museums in the city provide equally high interest to tourists. In
the traditional settlement of Doltso in the mansion of Nerantzi
Aivatzi Greek Folklore Art Museum,which opens daily. The visitor can
see there, how everyday life of an old family of Kastoria was. The
exhibition contains objects of every day use in the house, clothes,
an old fur workshop, and fishing equipment in Avgati, and the
cellars for food and wine storing. Doxatos impresses the visitor
with its colorful beams of light passing through and the wooden
curved walls, its bedrooms and its kitchens. In the Byzantine museum
the exhibition contains Icons dated from the second half of the
12th. century through the 17th. century, representing the most
important schools of Byzantine and post Byzantine paintings. In the
same room several icons are being exhibited on the stage of
restoration, for the visitors to see and learn the restoration work
done by specialized professionals from the Ministry of Culture. The
Museum is opened daily. |
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Kastoria
due to the special combination of town, mountain and lake, is one
beautiful and fascinating city full of natural sights. Due to the
elaboration of fur, Kastoria succeeded to become known all over the
world.
- RAM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS -