Monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa

The Monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa takes its name from Panagia, meaning “Most Holy” and referring to the Virgin Mary, and Mavriotissa, literally “of Mavrovo,” the former name of the present-day village of Mavrochori, located near the monastery. Situated on the shores of Lake Orestiada, the monastery was founded in 1082 and is associated with the Byzantine reconquest of Kastoria following its occupation by the Normans. Inside, visitors can admire frescoes dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, depicting saints, icons, and Byzantine emperors. Although some were damaged during later Ottoman invasions, many of the frescoes remain remarkably well preserved to this day.