Kastraki, Trikala

Kastraki (Greek: Καστράκι) is a village in Kalabaka municipality, Trikala, Thessaly, Greece.[1] It is located just northwest, within walking distance, of the main town of Kalabaka.

Kastraki
Καστράκι
Kastraki is located in Greece
Kastraki
Kastraki
Coordinates: 39.71135°N 21.69084°E / 39.71135; 21.69084
CountryGreece
Administrative regionThessaly
Regional unitTrikala
MunicipalityMeteora
Elevation
275 m (902 ft)
Community
 • Population1,023 (2021)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
View of Kastraki village from above
View of the Meteora rocks from Kastraki

The village had a population of 1172 as of 2011.[2] The administrative village occupies an area of 47.9 km2. Its elevation is 275 metres above sea level.[3]

Etymology

The name Kastraki is derived from the word kastro, or Byzantine castle. The castle was built by Andronikos Palaiologos and stood until 1362. The castle is in ruins today.[4]

History

During the early 1700s, Kastraki was formed from an amalgamation of hamlets called Rouxiori, Agia Paraskevi, Rigilavo, and Triskiano. These hamlets were founded by migrants from northern Epirus (i.e., southern Albania) who were fleeing from the Ottomans.[4]

Description

The village has a central plaza and church, as well as various hotels and restaurants (tavernas) that cater to international tourists. An extensive network of trails connects Kastraki to various rocks and monasteries. The town of Kalambaka is a 20-minute walk away via the main road.

Rocks

Various rocks of the Meteora rock complex surround the village of Kastraki.[5]


Rocks in the north


Rocks in the east
  • Agio Pneuma (Άγιο Πνεύμα), site of the historic Hermitage of St. George of Mandila and Monks' Prison
  • Kumaries (Κουμαριές)
  • Toichos Alpha (Τοίχος Α)
  • Toichos Beta (Τοίχος Β)
  • Toichos Gamma (Τοίχος Γ)
  • Toichos Delta (Τοίχος Δ)
  • Surloti (Σουρλωτή)
  • Modi (Μόδι), site of the historic Monastery of St. Modestus
  • Alysos (Άλυσος) / Altsos (Άλτσος) / Alsos (Άλσος), site of the historic Monastery of the Apostle Peter's Chains


Rocks in the south
  • Pyxari (Πυξάρι), site of the historic Hermitage of Saint Gregory the Theologian (Ασκηταριά Αγίου Γρηγορίου του Θεολόγου), Hermitage of St. Anthony, and Hermitage of Chrysostomos.[6] The Monastery of St. Apostoles (Μονή Αγίων Αποστόλων) is also nearby.
  • Badovas (Μπάντοβας), site of the historic Hermitage of St. Nicholas of Badovas
  • Ambaria (Αμπάρια)

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kastraki (Kalambaka).
  1. "Kastraki". GeoNames. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  2. ELSTAT. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός". www.statistics.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  3. "Μετέωρα: Ικριωματικά καταφύγια" (PDF). Δημοκρίτειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θράκης (Τμήμα Αρχιτεκτόνων Μηχανικών). December 2019. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  4. Provatakis, Theocharis M. (2006). Meteora: History of monasteries and monasticism. Athens: Michalis Toubis Publications S.A. p. 108. ISBN 960-540-095-2.
  5. OpenStreetMap.
  6. Map of Monasteries, Meteora. Baedeker, PlanetWare.
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