Kastraki, Trikala

Village in Greece

Community in Greece

Kastraki Καστράκι
Community
View of Kastraki from the Meteora rocks. In the distance is the Pineios River. Upstream is to the right. To the left is Kalabaka. The edge of Holy Spirit Rock is on the right. Surloti Rock is the second-to-last one on the left.
39°43′01″N 21°37′13″E / 39.716826°N 21.620197°E / 39.716826; 21.620197
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Thessaly
Regional unit	Trikala
Municipality	Meteora
Municipal unit	Kalabaka
Elevation	275 m (902 ft)
Population (2021)^[1]
• Community	1,023
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)

Kastraki (Greek: Καστράκι) is a village in Kalabaka municipal unit, Trikala, Thessaly, Greece.^[2] It is located on the northwest of the main municipal unit of Kalabaka. Kastraki takes advantage of a small valley opening into the southwest side of the Meteora massif. It is thus surrounded by precipices except on the west side, at the entrance to the valley. That entrance is flanked by two rock columns, one on each side, Agio Pnewma and Surloti. It has some elevation over the river, but not excessive. At the head of the valley stands a tall, thin rock, called Spindle Rock. Beyond it the massif does not allow for urban settlement. The monasteries are sprinkled on various tall precipices.

The village had a population of 1,023 as of 2021.^[1] 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

Dupiani (Δούπιανη)

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

^ ^a ^b "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
^ "Kastraki". GeoNames. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
^ "Μετέωρα: Ικριωματικά καταφύγια" (PDF). Δημοκρίτειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θράκης (Τμήμα Αρχιτεκτόνων Μηχανικών). December 2019. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
^ ^a ^b Provatakis, Theocharis M. (2006). Meteora: History of monasteries and monasticism. Athens: Michalis Toubis Publications S.A. p. 108. ISBN 960-540-095-2.
^ OpenStreetMap.
^ Map of Monasteries, Meteora. Baedeker, PlanetWare.