The biggest part of pre-war Kalabaka extended from the current Town hall up to the small church of Saint-George, in the district of Sopotos. The town in this space was structured densely, the squares were small, the residences were close-bodied and the paver streets were narrow. 

The houses, representatives of the traditional architecture, were well-matched with the surrounding space, and the wider landscape. It was built by craftsmen in Kalabaka, with love for their art. Depending on the year and the destination, we can classify them in three categories. The urban houses that were built during the Ottoman domination, with the traditional Balkan architecture and with main characteristic the closed balconies that were supported on craws. The agricultural residences, that were built with covers and big living rooms. The first floor was residence and in spring was converted to a breeding space for cocoons. The ground floor was used as a stable and storing barrels. Finally, the newer stone cubiform residences, with chopped ridge stones that they matched harmoniously with the mules. 

In the district of Platania, there were various kinds of shops. Taverns,inns, wine shops, hostels, groceries, cafes, banks. From 1928 and then, the market began gradually to shift itself in the current road Blachabas to the side of the current Town Hall. The central square was situated in today’s Church of Saint Bissarion and it was the point where all the outdoor festive events of the city took place. The war memorial was placed in 1928, in the place that is also today, in order to remind the future generations their obligation to defend the ideal, for which the children of Greece were sacrified. 

In the district of Saint-John the Precursor there were the cafés, that operated from four in the morning and performances of “Karagiozis” took place. Opposite, in the district of Saint Barbara, the building of Bishopric existed, that later accommodated the 2nd Municipal school. 

The district of Sotopos was identified by its homonym fount, which represented the source of life, not only for the residents of the region, but also the entire city. The abundance of water covered all the needs for water supply. It gave drinking water, relaxed the thirsty and irrigated gardens and orchards, with rich vegetation. In this district the majority farmers, farmer breeders and craftsmen lived. The street, behind the part of the fount, led to the monasteries of Holy Trinity and Saint Stephen. There, in the region of Saint George, during the Ottoman domination the mansion of Giannakis Kalampakas was located that allocated deposits of food and aqueduct. This was inhabited by the guard of the sovereign, member of which was for a big time Ali Pasha of Ioannina.

Sources:

1. D. Makedonas etc. Kalampaka, Travel in the Past, ver.Genesis, Kalampaka 2002.
2. B. Tsiara, Kalampaka, Travel in time, ver, Afoi ROI Ltd and LEVELart(D.Raisis), Athens 2004.