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Kastritsa: something for everybody near Ioannina

31/05/2020

Kastritsa: something for everybody near Ioannina

Ioannina is the capital of the region Epirus, in the northwest of Greece. The town in itself is worth a visit of several days, with its lively boulevard, the lake with the island with many monasteries, the castle and the history of Ali Pasha.
Around the town more sites are worth a visit: the stalagtites cave of Perama, the waxworks museum of Vrelli and the ancient theatre and oracle of Dodoni. These are all relatively known to the public; in this article I’d like to introduce you to an unknown cultural jewel near the town: Kastritsa.
Here you’ll find paleolithic caves, an inhabited nunnery, an archeological site, a climbing wall and in December a Christmas crib in a cave.

Kastritsa

The Kastritsa hill

South of Ioannina a hill rises out of the otherwise quite flat landscape along the lake. This is called Kastritsa, ‘small castle’, like the village on the eastern slope. On the western slope the Prodromou monastery (John the Baptist) is situated, inhabited by a couple of nuns. The hill also houses an important archeological site and a system of caves with remainders of paleolithic occupation

The Prodromou monastery of Kastritsa

The monastery is dedicated to the Birth of John the Baptist and was founded in the 12th century; the church’s katholikon is dated in the year 1196. During history the monastery was ruined and rebuilt several times. It has served several purposes: in 1854 it was head quarters to the Turkish army, in 1913 of the Greek army and from 1916 it became an orphany. In 1932 it became a monastery again and since then has been inhabited by nuns. In 1999 a chapel was built next to the church, dedicated to the Ascension of the Virgin Mary; 15 August is thus an important holiday here.
There are wonderful icons, painted in the 17th century, which the nun on service will gladly show you. A contribution in the nun’s hand is expected, to conserve the church. Your candle may only be lighted in the front passage, to protect the icons from soot. It’s not permitted to make photographs in the church.
It's a really worth a visit and very popular with the Greek. The Sunday morning mass is well attended and you’ll regularly come across a baptism.
Opening times: winter 7:00-13:00 en 16:00-17:30, summer 7:00-13:00 en 17:00-20:00. No mentioning when winter turns into summer… Decent clothing imperative. Photographs and more information (in Greek) is to be found on http://www.imioanninon.gr/main/?page_id=207.

Prodromou monastery of Kastritsa

Views and walks

If you’re not that religious or if you come out of opening times it’s still a marvellous place: from the shaded galery outside the walls you’ll have a splendid view over the lake and the town. Hint: go at sunset for a spectacular view on the red-coloured Mitsikeli mountain range.

Kastritsa views and walks

From the upper parking at the end of the asphalt road starts a path towards the archeological site. The gate is always unlocked but jammed: give it a good shove!

The Kastritsa archeological site

In stead of walking you may also return to the main road, turn right and proceed towards Kastritsa village. Just inside the village a side road veers uphill to the right to reach the parking next to the excavation. You immediately notice the piled ‘cyclopic’ walls, so called because the stones are so big that only a giant cyclope may have piled them. The terrain is always open, albeit with a small kiosk that suggests a future entry fee.
There is a circular walking path with lots of information panels in Greek and English.
From here the views are not only on the Mitsikeli, but also on the Lakmos, Peristeri and Athamania or Tzoumerka mountain ranges.

Kastritsa archeological site

Climbing wall and Christmas crib

The rocky wall with its holes and caverns is very suitable for climbing.
In the wall a cave was discovered with remainders of occupation in the Paleolithicum: 24.000-11.000 before Christ. Near the cave is an information panel; you can’t visit the cave itself.
In December you’ll find a live-sized Christmas crib in a smaller cave, at the side road to Kastritsa village.

Kastritsa climbing and caves

How to reach it?

From Ioannina center you’ll drive parallel to the lake to the southeast on the Ethnikos Anastasis. First you’ll pass the kernel Anatolí before you arrive in Katsiká. Past the church on your left hand side you’ll come across a small square and then a petrol station and a three-way junction. On the corner is a pole with lots of road signs. Veer to the left and follow the Kastritsas road.
First you’ll come across the information panel of the Paleolithic Cave of Kastritsa, past this you’ll see the side road to the right uphill to the monastery. If you want to go by car to the archeological site: proceed on the main road to the northeast which bends sharply to the right around the hill and in Kastritsa village take the right turn on every junction and thus climb the hill. Past some hairpin turns you’ve reached the parking next to the excavation.

Kastritsa: how to reach it