The Holy Monastery of Kastritsa is one of the most important monasteries in Epirus and is located on Kastritsa Hill, about 12 kilometers southeast of Ioannina, at an elevation of 757 meters, offering a breathtaking view of the city and the lake.
The area is of particular historical interest, as the summit of the hill preserves the remains of an ancient acropolis identified with Tekmona, an important city of the Molossians, while at its foot lies a cave with traces of human habitation dating back to the Paleolithic era.
The monastery was founded in the 12th century and is dedicated to the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. Its old katholikon is a remarkable architectural example, featuring 17th-century frescoes and a wood-carved iconostasis of exceptional artistry.
Today it functions as a women’s monastery, preserving its religious and historical character, while the complex also includes a newer church dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.