12 Best Things to Do in KASTORIA, GREECE (English) • Travel Guide PART 2 • The Poor Traveler Europe
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A product that has driven its business.
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A product that has driven its economy for the longest time.
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Kastoria was a city of furriers or those who make, repair, and sell fur garments.
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It is so embedded in the city's history that it is believed that the name itself came from the Greek word kastoras,
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which means beaver, a primary source of fur.
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For centuries, it had been a thriving industry.
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But the world is changing, especially over the past few years.
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While you still find fur stores, you'll find a lot of them.
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While you still find fur stores and workshops in all shapes and sizes, some family-owned and others much bigger in scale, it is not as vibrant as before.
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When we visited, we were told there were only 16 masters who could match skins, a delicate task that requires decades of experience.
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Some find income in other fields, and one promising sector is tourism.
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Set in the middle of a stunning lake in northern Greece, Kastoria may be a bit out of the way, or dare I say,
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off the beaten path.
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But those who go the extra mile are rewarded with a bombardment of unique experiences.
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And because it's not frequented by hordes of tourists, not yet at least,
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it can give you a more relaxed, more quiet, and more authentic experience.
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And visit as soon as you can.
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It's only a matter of time before more tourists find it.
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After all, the city is blessed with countless natural, cultural, and historical attractions.
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And we're going to show them to you!
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Right now, starting with Lake Oresteada.
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Because it is the heart of the Kastoria Regional Unit or Prefecture, Lake Oresteada is often called Kastoria Lake or Lake of Kastoria.
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But the name Oresteada was in reference to Oreades, the mountain nymphs in Greek mythology.
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But even today, there's something magical or mythical about it.
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Its banks are lined with trees that turn fiery,
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In winter, the lake freezes over.
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And in spring and summer, locals and visitors alike spend much time boating and admiring the view.
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The lake is fed by nine rivulets and bottom springs.
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Formed 10 million years ago, it has become home to over 200 species of birds,
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including silver pelicans, mute swans, mallards, and herons, making it a fantastic bird-watching site.
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There's also a spot where you can feed ducks.
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I don't know what these are.
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I'll never forget the moments I spent by the lake shore, even when I was just walking with friends with a cup of coffee on one hand.
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In a world of mass tourism, it's hard to find serenity, but it's something that Kastoria can give you in spades.
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One of the lakeside spots you shouldn't miss is this, one of the city's greatest natural wonders.
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One of the lakeside spots you shouldn't miss is this, one of the city's greatest natural wonders.
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So-called because of the myth that a dragon once dwelled inside.
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Also because inside it is a rock formation resembling it.
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You see, nature has carved this cave 300 meters into this limestone hill for millions of years.
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But it wasn't until the 1940s, after the adjacent road was opened, that locals discovered its existence.
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And when explorers and scientists mapped it, they found multiple miniature lakes, halls, tunnels, and corridors
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And when explorers and scientists mapped it, they found multiple miniature lakes, halls, tunnels, and corridors
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And when explorers and scientists mapped it, they found multiple miniature lakes, halls, tunnels, and corridors
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And when explorers and scientists mapped it, they found multiple miniature lakes, halls, tunnels, and corridors
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adorned with countless stalactites, stalagmites, and other rock formations.
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It also seemed to be untouched by any human species prior to its discovery.
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But they found bones of cave bear species that are believed to have become extinct 10,000 years ago.
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Don't worry, you don't need to trek hard to see it.
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The entrance is just by the road, and the visitors' trail is well-established, making exploring as easy as a walk in the park.
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If you walk northeast along the lake for 10 minutes, you'll stumble upon this historic site.
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Castoria has 72 churches and chapels.
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Many of them have roots that can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire.
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But one of the oldest is this monastery.
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Built in the 11th century, this monastic complex is believed to be built under Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
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as a tribute to the Virgin Mary after a commander,
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who fought the battle against the Normans in 1083.
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The main structure is this small timber-roofed basilica whose interiors are painted with centuries-old frescoes,
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one of which depicts the end of days or the apocalypse.
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Much of it is preserved, but the exterior paintings, which date back to the 13th century,
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have been badly damaged during the Ottoman occupation.
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In particular, the eyes of the figures were scratched out.
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Across the monastery stands a plain tree
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that is said to be over
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And it is massive, with a circumference measuring around 8.5 meters.
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And at 67 meters tall, it appears as a guard,
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a silent witness to the site's long, rich, and colorful past.
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When we first drove around the city, our attention was immediately captured
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by a couple of small rustic chapels that seemed to have frozen in time.
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Our guide Harris said that these are Byzantine churches,
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and that they have almost 80 of them here.
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I asked, 80 or 18?
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Perhaps too softly because I didn't get a clarification.
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But as we made it deeper into the city,
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we were greeted by a parade of centuries-old chapels, one after another.
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At one point during our stay, our count exceeded 18,
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telling us that Castoria's faith and past are best epitomized by its spread of 80 churches.
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eight zero that stand in its every nook and cranny they serve as not just religious but
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historic and cultural monuments some are grand some are simple some are open to the public
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some remain a private prayer house of local families that own them aside from the panahiya
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monastery that i mentioned earlier these byzantine churches include the following
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another postcard worthy but newly built church is the holy church of saint nicanor
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close to esperos hotel my friend says had a field day collecting flowers
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in an empty parking lot next to it
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all around the city you'll find spots where you could be at peace and hilltops
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where you could have fun on nuru yay!
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you could see how the lake surrounds the city almost entirely,
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creating a magnificent view that only a few urban centers can rival.
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But perhaps the most accessible is the Hill of Prophet Elias,
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named after miracle worker St. Elias or Elijah,
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the patron saint of tailors and fur traders.
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The most captivating structure here is this church, overlooking the city.
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But praying isn't the only thing you could do in the area.
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Within this complex, you'll find this lounge cafe.
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Offering an unparalleled and unobstructed view of Castoria.
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It was raining when we paid a visit.
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While we could only imagine how stunning this vista would be when bathed in sunlight,
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the gloomy atmosphere didn't dampen its beauty.
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If anything, it created, um, a mood.
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Yep, a perfect excuse to get comfortable in these couches next to the glass walls.
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And preferably with a cup of coffee on one hand.
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Or hot chocolate.
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We couldn't decide so we ordered,
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all three, classic hot choco, strawberry, and cookies and cream.
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Courtesy of Christos, who owns the place.
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It's such a gorgeous lounge.
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It would be a shame to miss it if you're in Castoria.
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This area is also along a popular walking trail that leads to the top of the hill.
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And if you follow it, you'll pass by a basketball court
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and these deer sanctuary where they keep rescued animals.
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Where does the trail lead to?
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Well, to this site.
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It gives you an even higher vantage point.
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In fact, from here, you could spot the Church of Prophet Elias in the foreground,
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the lake in the middle, and the peninsula in the background.
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We visited in spring, so the hillside is adorned with a blanket of yellow flowers,
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adding brightness to the scene.
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You know you're at the right spot when you see this meat house,
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which serves treats to carnivores from burgers to signature steaks.
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you'll find this stack of boulders.
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It's a perfect photo spot.
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Just please, please be careful when traversing these rocks.
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Not too far away lies the Mountain Theater,
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a small amphitheater which sometimes hosts performances.
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Let's go back down from the mountains and head outside the city.
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Just 20 minutes from Castoria proper, you'll find this Pilio,
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a historic village on the banks of Lake Orestiada.
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By historic, I mean really ancient.
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This Pilio's claim to fame is this archaeological site,
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which harbors the remains of a lakeshore community
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that dates back to the Middle Neolithic Age.
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That's around 5,260 BCE,
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making it the oldest lake settlement discovered in Europe.
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Back then, it was estimated to be home to about 3,000 individuals.
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In 1932, a group of fishermen stumbled upon it when a drought exposed
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some of their remains.
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Over the next decades, more artifacts were found,
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from bones to ceramics to the Dispilio tablet,
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a wooden plaque bearing markings.
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Today, a model of what the settlement must have looked like stand.
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It's an open-air museum that welcomes tourists from all over the globe,
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but most of them are domestic.
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When we visited, we shared the site with grade schoolers on an educational tour.
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There's also a shop by the exit, so don't forget to take home a souvenir.
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Further southwest lies neighboring Nestorio,
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another village with quite an eventful past.
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It is said to be founded by Nestor, son of King Agamemnon.
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Yes, this Agamemnon.
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Nestor fled to this site at the foot of the Gramos Mountain with his brother Orestes.
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Aside from the Neolithic finds, it is also widely believed to have hosted Alexander the Great
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when he was just a boy, learning the art of war.
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Like the city of Castoria, it has its share of old churches.
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But we chose to climb to this chapel called Church of the Holy Spirit.
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This small structure is perched on a picturesque cliff, allowing a gorgeous view of the village.
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You could even spot some of its landmarks, including the four-store Afcos Gramos Boutique Hotel Resort.
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This luxury hotel houses a restaurant serving sumptuous traditional Greek fare
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and a terrace overlooking the village.
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And of course, it offers accommodations too,
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especially when there's a wave of visitors flooding into the area.
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Why would tourists flock to this sleepy village, you ask?
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The answer? Two words.
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River Party is the biggest music festival in Greece,
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and it happens here, on the banks of Aliakmon River in Nestoria.
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For a few days in the summer, usually in August,
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50,000 music fans gather and celebrate.
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The music is played here, filling the usually tranquil village with melodies and cheers.
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But even when the party is over, this part of the river is quite scenic.
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When we visited, we were joined by architect Harris.
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His father built this stone bridge that has become an icon for the event.
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And when it was time to rebuild and reinforce it, he gladly stepped forward to do the job.
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He also showed and taught us how to do stone skipping properly.
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But I guess we just didn't have the knack for it.
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On the other side of the lake, deep into the mountains, and accessible via winding roads,
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you'll find this monastery, cradled in the municipality of Kleisoura.
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This is the Panayias Kleisouras Monastery, built in the 14th century.
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Aside from being a monastery, it also served as a fortress for a time.
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But it's perhaps best known among members of the Greek Orthodox Church
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as the home of St. Sophia.
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It is believed that the Panayia,
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or the Virgin Mary, appeared to her numerous times,
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and on one occasion instructed her to go to this monastery, and she did.
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She slept in the fireplace of its kitchen.
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She performed miracles which attracted believers to the site.
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But on May 6, 1974, she passed away and this monastery also served as her final resting place.
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Today, her relics are still kept here,
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and every May 6, a glorification ceremony is held in her honor.
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The church is a bit of a mystery because their visit coincided with the occasion.
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So we were able to witness the event this year.
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Back to the city center, we'd also love to show you another chapel.
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This one isn't among the 80 Byzantine churches as it was built more recently,
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at least compared to most churches here.
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This is St. Paraskevi Dragota Orthodox Church,
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tucked in a residential corner just a couple of blocks from the lake.
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It wasn't part of our original itinerary, but our host Sonia wanted us to see her absolute favorite spot in the city.
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She said that while she frequented the vicinity, she had never been inside the church.
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She would only admire it from the outside and watch the candle that had been kept lit by the families taking care of the church.
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We spent a few minutes here and were headed for the lake.
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But the caretaker was apparently watching us.
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Before we could leave, he offered to give us a tour.
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He opened the church to us.
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According to him, it was built in 1899.
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Yes, over 120 years ago.
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It has undergone a lot of changes over the past century, but the original columns remain standing.
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He led us across the nave, past the iconostasis, and into the sanctuary where the columns can be found.
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He also let us admire and film the interiors including the artworks.
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Such a lovely historic church.
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This is what we love about the church.
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It's not just about Castoria.
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Its every corner is filled with unexpected finds.
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From unassuming but age-old structures like this, to picturesque parks, to scrumptious food.
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Speaking of food,
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I already said it in our previous video, but I'll say it again.
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Out of all the places we visited in the Balkan region, this is where we had some of the best meals that raised our palate.
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Every single ingredient,
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from the much-bragged-about Florina peppers to the succulent lamb chops is high-quality and its freshness is undeniable.
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Some of the traditional dishes you should sink your teeth into include samrades, which are pickled cabbage stuffed with minced meat and rice.
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Every family has its own take on it, so don't be surprised if it tastes different in different places.
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Another local staple is the Castorian giant beans.
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These massive beans, while thin-skinned, must be soaked in water.
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Soaked overnight to achieve the right softness.
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They are then baked usually with herbs, tomatoes, and meat.
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One of our favorites is the baggio, which is brined cheese prepared Saganaki-style.
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Some restaurants serve it with fried egg, others fry it to a crisp.
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Regardless of the cooking method, the slight saltiness of the cheese always shines through.
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And these are just the appetizers.
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For main course, there's not much seafood here, and the go-to is a platter of various meats grilled to perfection.
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Lamb, beef, chicken, pork, and sometimes wild boar, souvlaki, kebab, sausage.
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It's a meat-fest!
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For dessert, I noticed that many households and restaurants serve fruit confit or candied fruits,
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which is a way of preserving cherries, oranges, and many other fruits in sugar.
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Even this signature cake that we were served in Cristalopihi near the border with Albania was topped with candied citron or lime.
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It's a sweet treat!
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That you shouldn't miss!
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In our next video, we'll be showing you more places to visit in Greece.
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