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kastoria
In Western Macedonia, between
Vitsi and Grammos mountains, we find the city of ancient "Orestida". In the middle of the basin that forms
between these two mountains, we find the well known lake
of Orestias and the city of Kastoria which is situated on
the lakes’ peninsula.
A city of approximately 15.500 residents, which is closely
bind with it’s mythical past and it’s centuries of history,
and which today is full of life and progress. Kastoria is
considered one of the most beautiful, traditional and picturesque
cities of Greece with a rich history. It is accessible by
road from every part of Greece and by air from Athens.
Kastoria is one of the most
interesting cities of Western Macedonia, with history lost
in the depths of centuries. Here we find many prehistoric
and archaeological discoveries (Prehistoric lake settlement
in Dispilio, Armenohori etc). Its’ name originates from
mythical Macedonian hero: Kastora, son of Zeus. The surrounding
geographic area, coincides with the ancient Macedonian kingdom
of Orestias, populated by the Orestes, with capital Argos
Orestiko. From here the Macedonian kings started to join
the other small kingdoms together, and eventually formed
the Big Macedonian kingdom with capital, in the beginning,
Eges (Vergina), and Pella later. Philippos, and Alexandros
later, united their kingdom with the rest of Greece.
During the Roman years Kastoria
had the same fate as the rest of Macedonia, but regained
glamour in the years of Byzantium. It was the city of Byzantines "Titoularios" and of architecture, that developed
into an important religious, commercial, artistic and military
centre. Belgian Byzantinologue Gregoire said that : "the
city alone can write the history of Byzantine Art".
The fortresses of Ioustinianos and Vasilios Voulgaroktonos,
demonstrate the interest that Byzantine emperors had for
the city its self and for its strategic position. During
the Post Byzantine years a lot of benefactors and mentors
of the Greek generation oriented from Kastoria. It had active
implication in the preparation of the revolution of 1821,
where it participated by sending soldiers. In the 19th century
it took part in revolutionary movements against Othman Empire
and played an important role during the Macedonian war against
Turks and Bulgarians. In 1912 joins with the rest of Greece
that has already been liberated.
The 75 Byzantine, Post Byzantine
and newer churches are witnesses of the city’s superior
cultural and social level. One can see “Triklites” basilicas
as the ones’ of Saint Stefano, Saints Anargiri, Saints Taxiarhes,
and “Monoklites” as Saint Nicolaos of Kasnitzi, Panagia
Mavriotissa and “Trikoghes” as Panagia Koumpelidiki. All
are built excellently from local materials, with rich alternation
in forms and colours that arise from the material itself
and the craftsmen sensitivity. The outer walls are adorned
with ceramic details. The frescos in the interiors are compositions
with great expressiveness and interpret the metaphysic aspects
of Christianity and of the Greek-Christian spirit.
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