Built on the slopes of Askio Mountain at an altitude of 3,000 feet, Siatista boasts the characteristic beauty of Northern Greece’s mountain towns: rich nature, spectacular stone architecture and a long history depicted in its buildings and streets. Siatista’s alpine setting attracted people from across Northern Greece trying to escape Ottoman prosecution, thus transforming the small village into a wealthy ranching centre.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the town developed trade links with metropolises as far as Budapest and Moscow, becoming an important merchant town for furriers, weavers and wine merchants. Its fur trade ewmains strong today, with significant exports to Russia and Central Asia.

The town’s wealth manifests itself in elegant mansions: more than twenty of these are open to visitors and display the best of Macedonian architecture: impressive stone walls, elaborate oak doors and exquisite stained-glass windows.

Do not miss out on a visit to Saint Paraskevi church, built in 1677, famous for its frescoes, featuring ancient Greek philosophers among the saints. Another must-see is the Manousios Municipal Library, one of the richest in Greece for 16th and 17th century editions, thanks to donations by Siatista merchants. Last, but certainly not least, you must get a taste of one of the city’s sweetest treasures: its renowned “liasto” (sun-dried) wine, a blend of local grapes laid out to dry for three months and then aged in oak barrels for at least four years, is an excellent companion to delicious local dishes.