The Siatista of today

SIATISTA

KNOWING THE TOWN

Imposing, built in the 900 metres, Siatista is unique. The history great and attractive, present in each step you do. Her unique mansions testify the acne and the prosperity of 17th and 18th century, not only in the economy but also in the art, the history and culture.


MANSIONS

The mansions of city (above fifty, from which open to the visitors) built as castles impress with their internal decor: carved in wood ceilings, multicoloured fireplaces, astonishing bitro, all real word of art. Only for her mansions, Siatista it’s worth to visit her. Weindicatively report: Poulkos, Manousi, Maliongka, Tzonou, Kanatsouli and Nerantzopoulou (where in the bitro you can see verses inspired from the Omiro) and the mansion Dolgkira, with rich folklore material (restored and furnished, it travels you in the past) and the visiting traditional residence of Tsiotsiou – Nterou.


CHURCHES

In the temple of Saint Friday (1677) you will admire the decorated with gold carved in wood chancel screen and splendid murals, while in the splint ginaikonitis you can see between the saints the forms of ancients wise men (Solonas, Platonas, Thoukididis, Ploutarxos, Aristotle, Sibyl, etc) and this witness many for the educative level of Siatistian.
You can also see the churches of Saint Minas, Prophet Ilias, Saint George, Saint Nikanoras, Saint Christoforos and the two enoriakous temples of Saint Nikolaos and Saint Dimitrios with very tall belfries.
In Mikrokastro dominates the monastery of Virgin Mary, very beautiful with unique atmosphere. 


LIBRARY

‘Manouseia” library hosts unique publications and manuscripts from the 16th century and is accommodated in the “Koukoulideio” Intellectual Centre of the city next to the Town Hall (impressive buildings, following the architecture of Macedonia).
MUSEUMS

In Paleontological museum you can see discoveries of region: apolithomenous tusks, departments of mammoth, rhinoceros, various rocks and mining. The Botanic museum functions for 20 years, is unique in his species in Greece, and includes above 700 tables of flowers and plants, and above 500 infrequent butterflies and reptiles from the region of Bourinos, where the nature lover finds his paradise).
In the ecclesiastical museum the visitor familiarizes itself with the ecclesiastical art and the same time comprehends the relation of Siatista with the known centres of production of work of art, as Kastoria, Eptanisa, Venice.


VISITING CELLARS

Everyone can visit the traditional cellars (known as katoia), that they unfold in the city, and find information about the secrets of siatistian wine, as well as know the famous “iliasto” wine that is produced with traditional and biological way.


AN ENORMOUS MARKET IN FUR AND SKIN

Siatista has a great history of hundreds of years in skin and fur, and continues today to be the top in the sector of furs with her exceptional craftsmen that are acquaintances in the all world, but also willing explaining in the visitor the all stages of production.
In the leather clothing, Siatista has been valorised in the market for the exceptional quality, the enormous variety and for the astonishing prices that begin from very low.

THE POPULAR TRADITION IS PRESENT ALL PER YEAR

Siatista is one from the places of Greece that in the all duration of time live up customs with history of many centuries and which are only met here.
“Kladaries”: on 23 December Siatista celebrates the “Kolianta”. Big fires turn on in the all city and create a unique spectacle for siatistian and visitors, with the escort of traditional aim from orchestras with cupreous, siatistian wine and rich titbits.
“Mpoumpousiaria”: on 5 and 6 January Siatista is submerged by disguising. The eve of 6 January the squares and the streets fill with maskarades and orchestras with cupreous, while on the same day of the big feast is realised the big parade of chariots and disguised.
Parallel the shops of city draw local and visitors in the rythms [glentioy]. “Dekapentauugoustos”: the custom of kabalarides pilgrims of Virgin Mary assembles each year many of visitors. It has his roots in the years of ottoman domination, when the feast of Virgin Mary gave the occasion in the enslaved residents of region to live one day of freedom, while unwritten privilege it appears it had been given by their Turkish.
Today the custom is maintained inalterable by the deterioration of time and revives each year with the same passion, the same mirth, the same faith in the tradition.
On the decorated horses Siatistian in the morning of 15 August go for adoration to the monastery of Virgin Mary, to Mikrokastro. They return the midday and it receives them the all world while they march. It follows dance in squares or home up to the morning.

ACCOMMODATION, FOOD, AMUSEMENT

Siatista today can give everything in the visitor that will want to know and explores the city ,or even uses it as base for campaigns in Kastoria, Florina and Grevena (that abstain from 15 until 35 minutes). There are four modern hotels that they can cover each demand and provide  all the comforts (“ARXONTIKO”, “IBERIS”, “SIATISTA”, “SIATISTINO ARXONTARIKI”).
Also at length of Central Street there are a lot of proposals for food, local specialties or selectively local roasted meats. In the all city you can find many of coffees, bar and clubs for amusement.

INFORMATION FOR THE VISITOR

In the square of Chora functions the kiosk of information of Municipal Enterprise of Culture, Environmen, Tourism and Sports of Siatista and in the entry of city functions the kiosk of tourist information from where you can ask informative material, you can visit  the mansions, the churches and the museums of Siatista (tel. 24650 22254). You can also ask information in the Town Hall of Siatista (tel. 2465021280 / 2465350100) and in the  Municipal Enterprise of Culture, Environmen, Tourism and Sports of Siatista (tel. 24650 22800).

BENEFACTORS AND DONORS

Siatista elected a lot of and big benefactors, who built schools, churches, the town hall, tourist hotel, centre of health, intellectual centre etc. left bequests offering entire fortunes for the service of their compatriots and social total.
Siatista has to present, we can we say, a originality in the subject of benefaction: Benefactors and her donors stood with particular sensitivity to their mother country and adorned her with institutions and buildings, for which she can be proud more perhaps by each other city.