Kastania: Stone Bridges and Village History

Kastania lies at an altitude of 880 metres on the western foothills of Mount Gyftissa, which is 1,750 metres high. Stone bridges connect the different parts of the village; two-storey stone houses, fountains and churches shape its appearance. If you are looking for a holiday destination with a visible architectural history, you will find several tangible points of interest here, from bridges built in different years to a carved wooden iconostasis. Kastania is 28.7 kilometres from Konitsa; this figure is intended as a guide.

Stone Bridges and Stone Houses

Kastania’s four single-arch stone bridges include the Gkalina Bridge, built in 1936; the Rachi Bridge, dating from 1895; the Mitsaion Bridge, dating from 1845; and the Malnitsa Bridge, built in 1934. The Malnitsa Bridge is outside the village. The Mitsaion Bridge is the oldest and highest-built bridge in Kastania. It was built in 1845 on the site of a predecessor bridge destroyed in 1835. This structure therefore reveals two clearly distinct phases in the history of the bridges.

The bridges are not just historic structures; they also connect the different parts of the village. The houses in Kastania are two-storey stone buildings with courtyards. Low stone benches stand by the entrances. Together with the fountains and numerous churches and chapels, they create a village landscape in which stone recurs as both a building material and a defining design feature.

Churches, Chapels and Village History

The parish church of Agios Nikolaos is the village’s focal point. It dates from 1926 and has a carved wooden iconostasis made by Charalambos Skalistis from Tourno. The chapel of Agios Dimitrios is much older: dating from 1670, it is one of the oldest chapels in the village. The two-storey primary school is also part of Kastania’s architectural history; it dates from 1894.

Fountains, along with seventeen churches and chapels, form a protective ring around the village. This arrangement makes the religious buildings an essential part of the village structure, rather than just individual sights. On a walk, you will also come across the distinctive Gkasiou family house, also known as Gkosiadiko. At the highest edge of Kastania stands the small chapel of the Holy Apostles, marking the end of the circular route. It marks the end of the route; three fountains stand beside it, symbolising the village’s three parts.

Ai-Giannis and Agia Paraskevi

For the Ai-Giannis festival on 24 June, a church service followed by a celebration with food and local dances, accompanied by local musicians, has been described. For Agia Paraskevi on 26 July, a church service followed by a celebration and local dances in the village square has been described. The two dates have different emphases: food and music are part of the programme described for the Ai-Giannis festival, while the celebration in the village square is the focus of Agia Paraskevi. If you would like to plan your trip around one of the festivals, check the details for the relevant year locally.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Kastania, your preferred travel dates may also play a part: would you like to plan your stay around one of the festivals, or is the village architecture your main focus? The bridges, houses and historic churches give the village its own distinct character; the two festival dates add specific events in June and July.

Discover more destinations: Paliochori, Vovoúsa, Klidonia, Delvinaki, Ravenia, Elati, Milea and Fourka.

For the broader travel overview: Ioannina.