By Nicolas Bard

At a distance of 25 km from Kastoria we find Nestorio, a picturesque mountain village of Macedonia, built amphitheatrically on a slope of Grammos, at an altitude of 890 meters, and is divided into Ano and Kato Nestorio. Kato Nestorio reaches the banks of the Aliakmonas River, where the famous River Party takes place every summer. However, in addition to the music festival, the wider area has to show great monuments and great natural beauty.

Sights

Very close to Kato Nestorio were found relics of an ancient settlement, built on the southern slope of Castro hill. To the east of Nestorio and the military cemetery, at an altitude of 1,017 meters, there is a natural Acropolis that has been a defensive fort for raids against the area for centuries and is called “Castro” or “Kaila”. From there you will enjoy a seamless, panoramic breathtaking view, while in the chapel of the Holy Trinity there is a great festival every year of the Holy Spirit, with dances and songs.
If you are in the area, it is worth visiting the church of the Taxiarches, which is a three -aisled basilica built in 1858 and decorated with a remarkable wood -carved iconostasis, and the Assumption of the Virgin, which is the oldest church of the settlement (1816), with a characteristic polygonal , old icons and ecclesiastical books of the 18th and 19th centuries. Also of interest are the 19th -century stonemill with millstones in the two water mills, and the monastery of Our Lady of Tsoukas in the neighboring Agia Anna, which has been declared since 1961 as a historical and preserved monument.

The famous River Party

Every summer, and in particular at the end of July and in early August, the River Party is held in Nestorio, which includes music events in camp, with the participation of well -known artists. This institution started in 1978 by immigrant children, who came in the summers for vacations in their village and, having no other way of entertainment, organized small parties by the river. Over the years, this habit has been organized more and the River Parties institution has been created, which have since adopted many areas of our country. After all, who wouldn’t want good music, fun and carefree dives in the river, in the heart of summer? The Moto of last year’s event was, ‘Here we do not just create memories, but we write history” The only sure thing is that if you experience this experience, you will be unforgettable!

Routes

Finally, Nestorio begins the famous bear’s path, a long circular route in the forest, which aims to highlight the importance of the bear, as well as its ecological needs, coexisting harmoniously with man. The route, as designed, passes through the desert settlement of Ochets, which is one of the precursors of the residential cores of the Nestori area. The area is of great natural beauty, and is an ideal destination for hikers and nature lovers.