Discover Dispilio: Lakeside Settlement and Commemorative Culture

Dispilio appeals to travelers interested in the history of Neolithic settlements and local commemorative culture. The focus is on the Archaeological Collection, dedicated to the lakeside settlement of Dispilio, and the annual Paparrodeia. Also important for planning your trip: visits to the collection are available on request. Kastoria complements these local themes with its own cultural and landscape highlights.

The Neolithic Lakeside Settlement and Its Way of Life

The Archaeological Collection of Dispilio explores the organization, economy, and technology of the Neolithic lakeside settlement of Dispilio in Kastoria, as well as the way of life of the farmers and herders of the time. Its themes range from how a settlement was organized to the economic and technological foundations of daily life. Together, these different aspects offer insight into the way of life of the Neolithic community, rather than focusing on just one subject.

Visits to the Archaeological Collection are possible by arrangement with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kastoria. Please contact the Ephorate in advance to arrange your visit. If the collection is an important reason for your trip, make sure to include this request in your plans.

Commemorating Major Ioannis Paparrodou

The annual Paparrodeia are dedicated to commemorating Major Ioannis Paparrodou. At the 2026 event, a flag-raising ceremony and a memorial prayer were held at the monument to Major (Artillery) Ioannis Paparrodou. This provides a recurring occasion for remembrance alongside the archaeological focus. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the dates for the event in the year you intend to visit.

Dispilio Along the Lake Tour

On the Lake Tour described by the Municipality of Kastoria, the route passes the lakeside settlement in the village of Dispilio and includes a visit to it. This offers a different perspective from the collection’s thematic approach: along the route, the lakeside settlement is a place to visit, while the collection focuses on its organization and the way of life of its inhabitants.

Kastoria: A Distinct Cultural and Landscape Setting

The wider destination of Kastoria offers further, distinct themes. The city of Kastoria is built amphitheatrically on a stretch of land enclosed by Lake Orestiada. Lake Kastoria is classified by the Greek Ministry of Culture as a natural monument of particular beauty and is included in the European Natura 2000 network for environmental protection. In Kastoria, a short circular route around the lake passes plane trees, old mansions, and churches, with views of the calm waters of Lake Orestiada.

Kastoria’s museums also have their own distinct focus. The Folklore Museum of Kastoria is housed in the Nerantzi Aivazi Mansion in the traditional Doltso district and presents the life of an aristocratic family from Kastoria. The Costume Museum, housed in the Emmanuel Brothers Mansion, also in the Doltso district, displays authentic costumes from across Greece, including elaborately crafted costumes from Kastoria. The Museum of the Macedonian Struggle of Kastoria displays possessions left behind by descendants of Macedonian fighters, uniforms, photographs from the early and peak periods of the Macedonian Struggle, and historical maps; the oldest dates from 1550.

Visitors interested in historic buildings in Kastoria will find a range of examples. The Papaterpou Mansion on the waterfront promenade has been dated to 1880. The Tsatsiapa Mansion in the Apozari district was built in 1754 and is the only surviving three-story mansion in the city with a rectangular floor plan and a pronounced horizontal axis. The wider destination of Kastoria also offers the Dragon Cave, with a 300-meter visitor route through ten halls and seven small freshwater lakes. Its features include stalactites, stalagmites, and paleontological finds such as cave bear bones around 10,000 years old.

The calendar may also play a role in choosing when to travel: the Kastorian Ragoutsaria custom takes place in Kastoria every year on January 6, 7, and 8. Dispilio and Kastoria therefore offer different highlights—from the Neolithic lakeside settlement and local commemorations to museums, architecture, and landscapes across the wider destination.

Discover more destinations: Vogatsiko, Kato Nestorio, Aghia Triada, Aposkepos, Kastoria, Áyios Zakharías, Nea Kotili, Argos Orestikón.

Back to the wider travel guide: Kastoria.