Kastoria, Most Beautiful city In The Northwest Options

[Megas Melbourne]

North of Thessaloniki, we have alot of mountains to deal with. You cannot possibly cut tunnels throughout all the hills. you have to work with nature as well. The Egnatia Odos Highway, has cut most travel times by many hours fromall points north of Thessaloniki. Unfortunately, not much attention is given to the north, north east and west, and quite a few people are suffering for it. Kastoria lost alot in the time of the breakup of Yugoslavia, and they probably will never recover. Add that to the decline of the fur trade, and we have the makings of some very tough times ahead. Kastoria was such a bustling place. Now although still a great place to be in, has been relegated to practically a large-sized village. Thank god for the trade schools, otherwise what is a shitty economy, will get even more shittier.

Yeah fur trade has been down for a while, if not for the rich Russians going to buy furs there, the industry would be non existent. Unfortunately, for us Kastorians, we relied far too heavily on this industry alone.

[Trajkov]

Not much else industry-wise, for the exception of farming; Which is also a dying art, as the new generations are not taking to it for their own reasons. Most likely because it is heavy work for very little pay. Besides, the local products are shipped south less what is held for the local market. The trade schools give some life to the town during the year, but the tourism is needed as well. This aspect is promoted by the local Kastorian tourism boad, but not by the Greek government. This is what they think of us in the north, Makedonia, is good enough to feed the rest of Greece; But the Greek government does little if any to promote tourism to all parts north of Thessaloniki, and leaves the promotion of tourism in those areas to the local tourism officials, who in-turn do not have sufficient funds to properly promote their regions and need spplementation from the national tourism board. This is something that is expected, but will not happen.

[RED SHERIFF]

i have been talking about similar things for ages.

i just believe that the greek tourism ministry and the private business people associated with tourism take the easy option and just constantly push the islands and athens.

they always portray greece as ancient ruins and sunny beaches..to a degree that should be the number 1 focus.

but they should also start promoting the rest of the country there are other places that many tourists would love to visit if they knew about them..
i have had english people rave about places like xanthi and kefallonia yet nobody ever talks about them.

others i speak to love nafplio again very little in travel brochures. i have mentioned before that here in australia you find nothing in travel packages that include thessaloniki.

greece has a great climate and great diversity if only the people responsible could see the bigger picture and explore possiblities the sky could be the limit

[Trajkov]

No disrespect intended, but fellas I have opened this thread to promote Kastoria. The comments of the tourism board are welcomed,;But can we keep to the subject and not go off on to Eipeiros or the seven islands as Sheriff had previously mentioning of Kefalonia.

Kastoria was used as a city of exhile, and is why they the have so many pre and post Byzantine churches. For instance: Panagia H Mauriotissa, is a former monastery that has 2 old churches dating to the 10th and 11th centuries AD. Tjhe total amount of churches within Kastoria proper approaches the 80 count mark. In Kastoria we have: rowing, sailing, skiing on water and on snow, miles of walking and bicycling trails, and ofcourse plenty of fishing.

This post has been edited by KASTORIANOS: Oct 11 2008, 07:21 AM

[greekgooner1984]

I am driving out to Rhodes next Wednesday to pick up my mum and bring her back to the uk for the winter. I am going through Patras on the way out but on the way back intend to get the ferry from Igoumenitsa. Was thinking of going to Kastoria for a day before we leave just to see somewhere different in Greece. I've been all over apart from that north west corner, so i'm looking forward to hopefully visiting the area. Any recomendations about what to see there, or where else in the area i should go. Will be 1st week of November, how will the weather be then.

[Trajkov]

Sorry, I took so long to respond. The weather is cool this time of year. The city is snall so you can go anywhere on foot for the most part. If you haven.t gone yet, you can go to the churches of Profitis Ilias, Agios Grorgios, where you can get excellent views of all of Kastoria amd the lake as well as all the villages that surround it along the hills. The pictures above are from the church of Profitis Ilias, at the top of the village of Aposkepos. Within the city, there are over 80 churches whi are byzantine and post Byzantine. If you go to the monastery of the Panagia Mauriotissa, you can see its' wonders at it dates to the10th and 11th centuries a.d. If you go to the Doultso square, you can enjpy 2 nearby museums, and walk alng the lakeside back dpwn torwards caffeteria row or Odos Megalou Aleksandrou. Enjoy the city.

[Trajkov]

Σαν σημερα, 11 Νοεμβριου και ετος 1912, η Ιστορικη πολη της Καστοριας απελευθερωθηκε απο την μποχα των Οθομανων, μετα απο 500+ χρονια υπο σκλαβιας. Χρονια πολλα σε ολλους τους Μηναδες, και ζητω η Καστορια, πιο ομωρφη πολη της Βοριας Ελλαδος.

[alex1821]

greets to kastoria. I've never been there, but my father has travelled a lot there because of his business (he is also a gounaras). I know also some people from Kastoria... seem to be nice place, although opadika it seems like a graveyard.

[Trajkov]

Here is another one that I have found