West Macedonia · Museum, Exhibition & Collection

Byzantine Museum of Kastoria

Who we are

The Byzantine Museum of Kastoria is located at the highest point of the city, in the area of the old Xenia. The Museum, following the recent renovation of the building within the framework of the NSRF 2007-2013, has been reopened since October 2016 and houses its new permanent exhibition. It is a unique thematic museum of icons, since its collections consist mainly of portable works of religious painting from the Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods. In the three halls, arranged around a central atrium, the artistic production found in Kastoria is presented in an equal number of thematic sections: "Byzantine Kastoria", "Post-Byzantine Kastoria", "the post-Byzantine artistic workshops". The exhibition includes portable icons of every kind, such as processional, despotic, devotional and epistyle icons, as well as sanctuary doors of the templon. Many of them are of rare iconography and painting. A few detached wall paintings, coins and jewellery complete our knowledge of the flourishing local society and art of the period. Information panels with illustrative material directly related to the exhibits compose small, charming human stories that illuminate unknown aspects of the Byzantine and post-Byzantine castle-town, with the founders of the churches, local officials, noblewomen and renowned artists as protagonists. At the same time, through modern digital applications, the visitor discovers in an interactive way the numerous monuments of the city, while learning the secrets hidden in the technique of making a Byzantine icon. The new exhibition highlights the importance and radiance of Kastoria within the framework of the Byzantine Empire, as well as in post-Byzantine times, and showcases the unique wealth of its icons. At the same time, it offers the visitor the stimuli to understand the conditions that favoured the particular artistic flourishing of the region. The exhibition is in open dialogue with the churches of the historic centre, from which these precious icons mainly originate. Thus the museum becomes the starting point for a tour of the neighbourhoods and the cobbled streets of the Byzantine castle, a journey through space and time, in Kastoria, the city that is an "open-air museum".

The Byzantine Museum of Kastoria was inaugurated in 1989 and operated in its original form until June 2013. Until then it housed a "temporary exhibition" of 35 portable icons, which occupied one of the three exhibition spaces. This exhibition, owing to its temporary character, presented significant shortcomings and weaknesses, mainly in interpretive material and approach, with the result that it failed to convey both the importance and renown of the famous medieval city of Kastoria and the uniqueness of the wealth of its splendid icons. For these reasons, the then newly established 16th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities, in collaboration with the competent Directorate of Museums, Exhibitions and Educational Programmes of the Ministry of Culture, drew up a museological - museographic study, which was approved by the Central Archaeological Council in 2010. The study, applied in the new exhibition, combined with the Museographic maturation study - Proposal of internal rearrangements for the functional and aesthetic upgrading of the spaces of the Byzantine Museum of Kastoria, was included as a project within the framework of the "NSRF Macedonia-Thrace 2007-2013" by Decision 4728/4-12-2012, with a total budget of 1,870,000 euros. The Museum's new exhibition material focuses mainly on portable icons and sanctuary doors of the iconostasis, amounting to seventy-five (75), supplemented by four (4) sections of detached wall-paintings and fifty (50) objects of minor arts. The inclusion of the material was reconsidered and exhibited on the basis of the following directions, identical with contemporary museological and museographic practice: -Connection with the socio-economic context of the period that allowed the creation of the icons and the system of values they served. -Emphasis on the uninterrupted radiance of the city of Kastoria, which, despite its peripheral character, flourished both in Byzantine and post-Byzantine times (9th-19th c.). -Creation of a museum oriented exclusively to Byzantine and post-Byzantine icons, which documents their unique character in Kastoria and the multifaceted function of icons in general in the world of Byzantium, while ranking among the most important collections of icons in the world. -Organization of the exhibition of icons-relics in direct combination with the churches from which they originate, which will become the occasion for an archaeological walk in Kastoria, a city considered par excellence an open / living-museum city. - Creation of a museum that is modern and "friendly" to the average visitor while at the same time preserving its scholarly character.

Managing authority: Ephorate of Antiquities of Kastoria
Accessibility statement: Available

General information

Address: Dexamenis Square, Postal code 52100, Kastoria (Prefecture of Kastoria)
Opening hours: Winter opening hours (November - March): Daily, except Tuesday, 08.30 - 15:30. Summer opening hours (April - October): Daily, except Tuesday, 08.30 - 17:00.
Tickets: Ticket price: 10 euros. Reduced: 5 euros

How to prepare

An accessibility statement is available — review it before your visit.

Contact & help

Contact: Museum: Telephone: +30 24670 88200 Fax: +30 24670 29748 E-mail: info@bmk.gr Ephorate of Antiquities of Kastoria: Telephone: +30 24670 26781 Email: efakas@culture.gr
Website: https://www.bmk.gr

How to get here

By private car, on foot, 300 m from the "Olympion" stop of the Kastoria urban buses

Accessible parking spaces: 1
Drop-off area
Accessible parking

Entry / exit points (1)

Main entrance to the building
Building infrastructure

Is there a beveled edge before it?
Suitable (up to 26 degrees for a length not exceeding 4 cm, or up to 45 degrees for a length not exceeding 2 cm, or 90 degrees for a length not exceeding 1 cm)
Is there a door?
Stays open during operating hours
Adequately served by a dedicated boarding / alighting area suitable for people with disabilities
Yes
Does a tactile guide path lead to the building?
No
Is it preceded by an elevator, platform lift or other lifting device?
Platform lift
Is it preceded by a ramp?
On the left side of the building there is an entrance ramp
Preceded by a step
Main staircase before the entrance to the building
Cross slope
Suitable
At the entrance, are there obstacles preventing wheelchair passage?
Carpet
Longitudinal slope
Suitable
Offers adequate protection from the weather
Covered
Clear opening
Suitable
Is it easily identifiable?
Yes
Is it preceded by a sidewalk with an unsuitable road–sidewalk connection for wheelchair users?
Yes (explain)
Clear passage height
Suitable
Informational signage for visitors is provided outside
Yes, but it is not accessible for people with disabilities (e.g. without Braille or raised lettering)

Map

Open in Google Maps

Checkpoint, inspection elements and outdoor routes.

What you can see & do

Activities & facilities

Restrooms
Ticket office
Gift shop
Parking

Special facilities (5)

Ticket office / Reception

Tickets - Information

With an information leaflet in Greek and English in Braille
Beneficiaries
- Blind people with a white cane
- People with other visual impairments
- People with a guide dog
Wheelchair available for visitors
Beneficiaries
- People with disabilities/absence of upper limbs
- people with difficulty walking / prolonged standing
- wheelchair users
- other (people with allergies, children, etc.)
Materials for visiting children with autism
Beneficiaries
- People with intellectual
- cognitive or psychological disabilities
Visitors' guestbook
Beneficiaries
- Other (people with allergies, children, etc.)

Building

Museum building

There are exhibits with QR codes. Audio description of the exhibit in Greek and English
Beneficiaries
- Blind people with a white cane
- People with low vision
- People with other visual disabilities
- Other (people with allergies, children, etc.)

What you should know

Barriers to be aware of (2)

Building

Museum building

Screenings without sign language or audio description

Type / category of obstacle
Other
Glass surfaces without marking strips

Type / category of obstacle
Other

Detailed inspection data

Accessible parking spaces: 1
Accessible WC
Ramp
Lift / elevator
Drop-off area
Accessible parking

Outdoor areas

Accessible parking

Visitor parking spaces

There are dedicated parking spaces for vehicles of people with disabilities, but there is no additional large dedicated space for professional van-type vehicles with integrated lifts: They do not have suitable dimensions (at least 4.50 x 6.60 m)
How many visitor vehicle spaces are there in total?: 15
Average distance: Less than 300m
Routes from the parking spaces to other points: for wheelchair movement (surfaces, clear widths, ramps, etc.)
How many visitor parking spaces designated specifically for people with disabilities are there?: 1

Infrastructure

Building

Museum building

Overall, within the building there are accessible areas where staff are present and the public can communicate / interact with them: Yes, and they are trained to assist people with disabilities
Access to toilet facilities is not an issue?: No
The building has toilets for the public but no accessible toilet for people with disabilities according to national specifications/guidelines: No
The building has toilets for people with disabilities and they are sufficient as required by law for this case, because…: There is at least one on each floor
Generally, heating in the building is adequate at all hours of use/visit: Yes
Generally, the lighting within the building is suitable at all hours of use/visit: Yes
In general, air conditioning/ventilation inside the building is appropriate at all hours of use/visit: Yes
Is vertical access not an issue?: No
In general, inside the building there are sufficient/appropriate routes, emergency exits and/or other means: Yes
Is access to separated spaces/rooms not an issue?: Yes
How many separate floors/levels does it have?: 1
It is…: Other (specify)
The areas open to the public occupy the following floors / levels: Ground floor
How many separate entrances/exits does it have?: 1
Guide dogs are allowed entry: Yes
Overall, the corridors and circulation routes have clear widths: Over 150 cm
Overall, the corridors and circulation routes have suitable clear heights: Yes
There are bridges in the building: No bridging needed / present
There is furniture and/or equipment within the 90 cm clear width: No
On a level (e.g. floor) of the building that is otherwise accessible, there are points, spaces or areas that cannot be reached independently, comfortably and safely by wheelchair users (e.g. main spaces, reception, rest, toilet and service areas, areas with automatic machines, etc., balconies/terraces and other spaces open to the public): With unsuitable bridging and/or slopes > 5%, With ground irregularities
Guide dogs are accepted and staff understand that they should not interact with the dog: Yes
An automatic guided-tour system is used and its design ensures accessibility for…: None
Audiovisual media are used and their design ensures accessibility for…: Deaf people / sign-language users
Is there posted and/or available informational material provided to the public?: Yes
All (small) exhibits and their labels are always placed at heights suitable also for wheelchair users (e.g., within a height zone of 75 to 135 cm): Yes
There are exhibits or other objects hung on walls in a way that is dangerous for people with vision disabilities: No
There are areas/levels with exhibits that meet the appropriate specifications for wheelchair access: Yes
Exhibits are also available in tactile form for blind people: None
Digital stations are used: None
The signs, labels, exhibit captions, etc. are accompanied by equivalent alternative formats/solutions for people with visual disabilities: Yes
Educational/informational activities, screenings and/or live presentations are organized in spaces and with a design that ensures accessibility for…: None
(If available) The posted and/or available informational/informative material is also available in alternative/accessible formats: In Braille print

Barriers to be aware of (2)

Obstacle

Screenings without sign language or audio description

Type / category of obstacle: Other

Obstacle

Glass surfaces without marking strips

Type / category of obstacle: Other

Special facilities (1)

Special facility

There are exhibits with QR codes. Audio description of the exhibit in Greek and English

Beneficiaries

Blind people with a white cane
People with low vision
People with other visual disabilities
Other (people with allergies, children, etc.)

Restroom (WC)

Accessible toilet

If there is a mirror, is it suitable for use by wheelchair users: Yes
Includes..: Area with toilet bowl and washbasin, Baby care area
The lighting is adequate: Yes
The door is of type…: Opening inward
What type of washbasin does the toilet have?: For exclusive use
Are the fire alarms perceptible in all areas of the sanitary space?: Yes, audible
Is it easily identifiable?: Yes
Is it a standards-compliant accessible toilet?: Yes and it is signed accordingly (with the International Symbol of Access and the "WC" symbol, on a wall next to them and/or on the doors of the accessible toilets)
All surfaces are of non-slip, homogeneous, stable, wear-resistant material: Yes
The clear width of the free interior space between the sanitary fixtures is: 200
Can it be used only at specific times?: Yes (provide details)
The clear interior length of the free space between the sanitary fixtures is: 140
Is it…: Free
Is the space kept clean and well ventilated?: Yes
Is there a telephone or other emergency notification system?: No
If there is a soap dish, towel holder or hand-drying system, are they easy to use and located at suitable positions and heights for wheelchair users: Yes
Are there grab bars on the toilet bowl?: Yes
The door opens easily from…: people with mobility problems (e.g. opens outward, requires no particular force and has easy-to-use handles and opens/closes with a closed fist), wheelchair users (e.g. can be fixed in the open position, with handles at a suitable height < 90 cm)
Is it…: Interior
Is wheelchair access ensured?: Yes
The clear opening of the door is: 90
Has suitable handles: Yes, on more than one side
Does it have an emergency lighting system?: Yes
Not used for other purposes: Yes
Is it a standards-compliant accessible toilet…: Unisex
Is it…: Mixed (men-women)
Is there a clear space under the washbasin to fit a wheelchair?: Yes
Is it a standards-compliant accessible toilet…: With independent entrance
Does it have a suitable clear opening for the intended use?: Yes
Outside the door there is clear level space for maneuvering a wheelchair: Yes
Is it…: Entrance unobstructed
There is free space on one side of the basin of width: 120

Restroom (WC)

Public toilet

Includes..: Space with toilet bowl, Anteroom with washbasin(s)
Is it easily identifiable?: Yes
Can it be used only at specific times?: Yes (provide details)
Is it…: Free
Is it…: Interior
Is wheelchair access ensured?: No
Is it…: Men and women separate
Is it…: Entrance unobstructed

Stairs

Stairs to the basement (toilets), 7+4+4+4 steps)

Does it have a riser (front face)?: Vertical
It is a staircase with a stairlift: No
Is it…: Main
Is it interior and…: Fixed
Is it…: Interior
The (minimum) opening of the stairs is (in cm)…: 125
They are clearly legible: No
The (minimum) depth of the steps is (in cm)…: 31
The (maximum) height of the steps is (in cm)…: 18
The width of the stairs: Yes
Are the surfaces: No
Is it easily identifiable?: Yes
At the stair landings, there is informational signage for visitors: Yes, but it is not accessible for people with disabilities (e.g. without Braille or raised lettering)
Is it standards-compliant?: No
The depth (tread) of the steps is constant from the start to the end of the stairs: Yes
The height of the steps is constant from the start to the end of the stairs: Yes
Is there a standards-compliant alternative for wheelchair access?: None
Includes conical and/or curved steps: No

Entrance / exit

Main entrance to the building

Is there a beveled edge before it?: Suitable (up to 26 degrees for a length not exceeding 4 cm, or up to 45 degrees for a length not exceeding 2 cm, or 90 degrees for a length not exceeding 1 cm)
Is there a door?: Stays open during operating hours
Adequately served by a dedicated boarding / alighting area suitable for people with disabilities: Yes
Does a tactile guide path lead to the building?: No
Is it preceded by an elevator, platform lift or other lifting device?: Platform lift
Is it preceded by a ramp?: On the left side of the building there is an entrance ramp
Preceded by a step: Main staircase before the entrance to the building
Cross slope: Suitable
At the entrance, are there obstacles preventing wheelchair passage?: Carpet
Longitudinal slope: Suitable
Offers adequate protection from the weather: Covered
Clear opening: Suitable
Is it easily identifiable?: Yes
Is it preceded by a sidewalk with an unsuitable road–sidewalk connection for wheelchair users?: Yes (explain)
Clear passage height: Suitable
Informational signage for visitors is provided outside: Yes, but it is not accessible for people with disabilities (e.g. without Braille or raised lettering)
Adequately served by a dedicated accessible parking space for private vehicles: Yes
Bears suitable informational signage regarding accessibility to the building's spaces: No
Adequately served by disability-friendly public transport: No

Stairs

Step before the main entrance

Does it have a riser (front face)?: Vertical
Handles / handrails: Present and standards-compliant
It is a staircase with a stairlift: Yes
Is it…: Main
Parapets / railings: Present and standards-compliant
Is it interior and…: Fixed
Is it…: Outdoor
The (minimum) opening of the stairs is (in cm)…: 300
They are clearly legible: No
The (minimum) depth of the steps is (in cm)…: 30
The (maximum) height of the steps is (in cm)…: 17
The width of the stairs: No
In the case of stairways that are part of the existing network with tactile guidance paths for the blind, are there tactile warning surfaces at the start, end and changes of direction of the stairs?: Not part of such a network
Are the intermediate landings of adequate dimensions: Yes
The lighting is adequate: No
Are the surfaces: Yes
Is it easily identifiable?: Yes
At the stair landings, there is informational signage for visitors: Yes, but it is not accessible for people with disabilities (e.g. without Braille or raised lettering)
Is it standards-compliant?: No
The depth (tread) of the steps is constant from the start to the end of the stairs: Yes
In the case of exposed side/rear surfaces, are these always "covered" so as not to pose a risk to people with visual impairments and white cane users?: Yes
The height of the steps is constant from the start to the end of the stairs: Yes
Is there a standards-compliant alternative for wheelchair access?: Present and standards-compliant
(If available), the alternative wheelchair access is via…: Side ramp

Ramp

Entrance ramp

It has an appropriate handrail: Yes, double at heights of 70 and 90 cm.
Is it…: Outdoor
At all levels/stops…: the ramp floor is exactly at the same level as the landing floor (difference <2 cm)
Has standards-compliant slopes:: 5% (2.9°) for a section up to 10 m.
The lighting is adequate: No
All surfaces are of non-slip, homogeneous, stable, wear-resistant material: Yes
Is it easily identifiable?: Yes
Is wheelchair access ensured?: Yes
Is there a standards-compliant alternative?: Present and standards-compliant
Is it…: Permanent
Is it intended for emergency evacuation?: Descending
On all levels/stops, there is informational signage for visitors: Yes, but it is not accessible for people with disabilities (e.g. without Braille or raised lettering)
Has a width that allows two wheelchairs to pass each other: No
Is standards-compliant:: Yes, but it lacks appropriate signage
(If available), the alternative wheelchair access is via…: Side platform lift for wheelchairs
Has non-compliant cross slopes on the ramp and/or landings: No
In the case of exposed side/rear surfaces, are these always "covered" so as not to pose a risk to people with visual impairments and white cane users?: No
In the case of a ramp that is part of an existing network with tactile guide paths, are there tactile warning surfaces at all entry-exit points?: Not part of such a network

Lift / elevator

Stair platform

Is it…: Outdoor area
Is it…: Outdoor
Is it accessible and standards-compliant?: Yes, but it lacks appropriate signage
Is it easily identifiable?: Yes
Is there a standards-compliant alternative?: Present and standards-compliant
In case of a stair platform lift: Yes
Intended for emergency evacuation: No
(If available), the alternative wheelchair access is via…: Side ramp
In the case of a vertical lifting platform: No
In the case of a vertical lifting platform: No

Services

Ticket office / Reception

Tickets - Information

Includes…: Reception/information desk, Ticket offices / cashiers, Ticket check points, Other (specify…)
The lighting is adequate: Yes
At all points with high desks/counters/service windows: No
Is there a dedicated quiet area nearby?: No
Any printed material provided to inform service users is also available in…: Braille
Is it…: Inside the building
Can the public be informed about the existence, content and accessibility of the service before visiting the site?: No, no such information is provided
Is the space kept clean and well ventilated?: Yes
Are the points where services are provided easy to locate?: Yes
At all points with desks/counters/service windows with transparent partitions, is a microphone/speaker system installed?: No
Is wheelchair access ensured?: Yes
Are alternative ways of service provided for people with disabilities?: None, because they are not needed
Sign language assistance is available: No
There are systems, devices or other equipment for the public, without suitable design for specific categories of users with disabilities: No such systems / equipment
There are dedicated points/staff to assist people with disabilities: No