Kastoria Folklore Museum
Located in the imposing Nerantzis Aivazis mansion, right in the heart of the traditional Doltso neighbourhood, the Kastoria Folklore Museum is designed to take you on a journey through time. As you walk through its rooms, you feel as though you have stepped into an 18th-century household. The exhibited wall paintings, wood carvings, textiles, and furnishings narrate the life of a Kastorian aristocratic family—their habits, festivities, and everyday life. On the ground floor, you will see the stone-paved inner courtyard and auxiliary spaces, while in the backyard (avgati), which once had direct access to the lake, you will discover the traditional kitchen (hagiati), a water well, and a traditional wooden Kastorian boat. On the mezzanine, you will find the daily winter and summer room, while the fur-processing workshop stands out, featuring authentic tools as well as the city’s first fur-sewing machine. Upstairs, the formal reception room with its loft and the liakotó (covered balcony) will briefly put you in the shoes of past householders. The visit culminates in the enchanting kiosk-doxato, with its colourful stained glass—a space once filled with family gatherings and celebrations, and today one of the museum’s most atmospheric highlights, sure to leave you with a lasting impression of Kastoria’s elegant past.
