Ioannina

Ioannina city, located at an altitude of 480m and with a population of almost 120.000 residents, is the largest cultural, spiritual and commercial center of north-western Greece. It is located in the heart of region Epirus and is 455km away from Athens and 260km from Thessaloniki.

A city of great historical importance gives the opportunity to every visitor to admire a plethora of great see-sights, such as the Cave of Perama, Vrellis' Museum, Archeological Museum, Byzantine Museum, the Castle of Ali Pasa and the Oracle of Dodona, the ancientest oracle in Greece.

Moreover, the Islet of Kira Frosini is one more landmark of the city. It is not only one of the few inhabitable islands in lake worldwide, but also of great historical value, as there is Ali Pasa's house, whose presence is perceptible until today in every part of the Castle of Ioannina, especially in the acropolis. There is located Ali Pasa's grave and serai, where is the current Byzantine Museum.

In Ioannina, the city of Arts and Letters, traditional workshops of silversmiths and goldsmiths operate until today. Furthermore the University of Ioannina is one of the best universities in Greece. The successful combination of past and present, of traditional and modern, of physical and artificial beauty makes Ioannina a unique destination for every visitor of the city.

Sightseeing

City of a long history and tradition has many and more historical monuments and museums and its natural beauty is compared with paradise by the supporters of ecotourism.

The historical Castle of Ioannina, the Islet of Kira Frosini, the Cave of Perama, Vrellis' Museum and the Ancient Theater of Dodona are some of many sightseeing of Ioannina, while the famous Zagorochoria provide a unique chance of relaxation and an escape in the nature!

Sights worth to visit:

Ioannina Castle

Castle of Ioannina, built in 528 a.C. in Emperor Ioustinianos' time, is the ancientest byzantine castle. It was the biggest administrative center of Greece in Ali Pasa's time. In every part of it revives the Ali Pasa's legend and his love for both Kira Vasiliki and the lover of his son.

Ioannina Islet

It is one of the few inhabitable islands in a lake. It is of a great historical importance for the city, as it is directly connected with the presence and action of Ali Pasa. There are his house and the holes from the bullets against him during the siege of Hoursit Pasa. An important feature of the Islet is a plethora of monastic clusters.

Zagorochoria

On the mountains of Epirus, behind the mountain Mitsikeli, is the area of Zagori. Zagori outspreads to 1.053m2 and is from 500m to 2.500m high. It consists of 47 villages of great natural beauty, the famous Zagorochoria. The most known of them are Monodendri, Tsepelovo, Vikos, Dilofo, Kipoi, Mikro and Megalo Papigko, Koukouli, Vitsa, Ano and Kato Pedina, Negrades, Skamneli etc.

Anemotripa Cave of Perama

It is located 4km away from the center of Ioannina city and it is one of the most important caves in the world thanks to the wonderful natural beauty of the formation of stalagmites and stalactites. In 1940 residents used it as a shelter to escape the bombings of Italians and in 1945 took place the first scientific mapping of the cave from Anna and Ioannis Petrochilos.

Vrellis' Museum

The waxwork museum Pavlos Vrellis is located in Mpizani area and especially in the 14thkm of the national road Ioannina - Athens. The pre-revolutionary period, the events of 1821 and images of the World War II are the three thematic sections of museum. Moreover, the waxwork of the museum are in life size and in a faithful representation of the environment of their times reviving figures of history.

Dodoni Theater

The ancient theater of Dodona, constructed in the 3rd century b.C. by King Pyrros of Epirus, is one of the largest ancient Greek theaters and is located 22km away from Ioannina. The capacity of the theater is 18.000 spectators and was part of the Panhellenic sanctuary of Dodona. Nowadays the theater of Dodona hosts some performances during the summer months.