Kastoria

Medieval & Byzantine Heritage

Kastoria is famed for its Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches, with over 50 surviving examples of sacred architecture — many hidden in alleyways or nestled into forested hillsides. These churches are treasures of iconographic art, dating from the 9th to the 19th centuries, and often still active for worship.

Key highlights include:

• Panagia Koumpelidiki (11th century) – the only church in Greece with a circular dome on a cube
• Agios Stefanos – notable for frescoes from the 14th century
• Agios Nikolaos Kasnitzi – with rare representations of biblical stories

Visiting these churches with a knowledgeable local guide offers deep insight into Kastoria’s religious and political history during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods.

Mansions, Museums & Historic Neighborhoods

Kastoria’s old districts of Doltso and Apozari offer an open-air museum of 18th–19th-century urban architecture. These neighborhoods were once home to fur merchants and wealthy tradesmen whose fortunes helped shape the city’s identity.

Walking through cobblestone alleys, you’ll find:

• Neoclassical mansions with ornate balconies and stone courtyards
• Folk art and embroidery collections inside homes-turned-museums
• Cozy wine bars and traditional tavernas tucked into restored buildings

The Folklore Museum in Doltso offers an intimate view into 18th-century Kastorian life, from costumes to tools. Pair this with a visit to the Monuments Museum for architectural scale models of key monuments and landmarks.

Museums of Legacy

Kastoria isn’t just about the past — it’s about how the past shaped a resilient identity.

At the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, housed in the mansion of Anastasios Pehion, you’ll discover stories of regional resistance, political turmoil, and national awakening from the 19th to early 20th century.

Other notable stops:

• Fur Exhibition Center (if open) – Kastoria has long been a global center for fur trade
• Byzantine Museum – includes a rare icon collection spanning centuries

These institutions help visitors understand how Kastoria transitioned from medieval stronghold to modern merchant town.