The Vergoula Mansion was constructed in the 19th century when the region was part of the Ottoman Empire. Kastoria is an important town in northwestern Greece (West Macedonia region) and capital of the prefecture of Kastoria in the Pindus mountains close to the borders of Albania and FYRO Macedonia. Kastoria was and remains famous for fur trade and its furriers. A number of the town's medieval churches and mansions from the 18th and 19th centuries have been saved. This mansion, in the Vergouleika neighborhood, has a cross axis plan and has been turned into a small hotel.

The mansion is constructed with heavy masonry walls at its base with courses of reinforcing belts to stabilize the masonry against earthquake activity common within this part of the Balkan peninsula. The belt courses can be seen as wide mortar joints but are more often found as exposed wooden bands on the interior and exterior surfaces of the wall linked together by cross pieces. The upper levels are constructed with braced wooden framing with light stone or tile infill and covered with plastering material. The extended eaves protect from rain and high sun.

Source:

“Balkan Vernacular Architecture : Greece.” 2018. Balkanarchitecture.org. 2018. http://www.balkanarchitecture.org/greece/greece.php.