Discover our area
Castle of Ioannina
The imposing castle of Ioannina, located at the southeastern tip of the city, was built according to historical reports in 528 AD during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, in the context of the fortification of the Byzantine state. It is the oldest Byzantine castle in Greece and is one of the few inhabited to this day. The outer enclosure of the walls has a perimeter that reaches 2000 meters and includes an area of 200 acres.
Its main feature, the narrow and picturesque alleys which are worth walking and getting in touch with the unique architecture of its listed buildings. Inside the castle there are two citadels. The northwest with Aslan Mosque and the northeast with Its Kale. Follow the cobblestone path of Its Kale and make a stop at the picturesque café to enjoy traditional pastries! Continue your tour of the citadel to see the Fethiye Mosque, the tombs of Ali Pasha and his first wife, the powder keg, the church of Agios Anargyros, the treasury and the Byzantine Museum, as well as the Museum of Silversmithing.
It is no coincidence that the castle is the trademark of the city, and not unjustly after all. As the Macedonian architect Aristotle Zachos wrote in 1928: “These buildings of folk architecture, works of Epirus craftsmen, preserved the old Byzantine tradition in these main characteristics, providing the streets of Ioannina with and idiosyncrasy, as well as local color, which is unfortunately missing from the modern Greek big cities…”
Lake Pamvotida
Pamvotis (“feeding everything” as its ancient name is), or otherwise the lake of Ioannina, is located at an altitude of 470 meters above sea level and has an area of 22.8 square kilometers. It is surrounded by the Mitsikeli Mountains and the ridges of Tomaro. It is a lake of rare natural beauty, with a remarkable historical past but also with terrific lakeside vegetation. It is worth noting here that it is an important refuge for many migratory and endemic birds.
In the heart of the lake is the islet of Kyra Frosini, which is the only lake island inhabited in Europe. It is an attraction for both tourists and locals, as it is a picturesque settlement, with cobbled streets and unique sights such as the Museum of Ali Pasha housed in the Monastery of Panteleimon. The island is also known for its local gastronomic delicacies, such as frog legs, which you should definitely try on your first visit! Access to the island is very easy with boats that run every half hour in the summer and every hour in the winter months.
Lake Pamvotida
Pamvotis (“feeding everything” as its ancient name is), or otherwise the lake of Ioannina, is located at an altitude of 470 meters above sea level and has an area of 22.8 square kilometers. It is surrounded by the Mitsikeli Mountains and the ridges of Tomaro. It is a lake of rare natural beauty, with a remarkable historical past but also with terrific lakeside vegetation. It is worth noting here that it is an important refuge for many migratory and endemic birds.
In the heart of the lake is the islet of Kyra Frosini, which is the only lake island inhabited in Europe. It is an attraction for both tourists and locals, as it is a picturesque settlement, with cobbled streets and unique sights such as the Museum of Ali Pasha housed in the Monastery of Panteleimon. The island is also known for its local gastronomic delicacies, such as frog legs, which you should definitely try on your first visit! Access to the island is very easy with boats that run every half hour in the summer and every hour in the winter months.
Perama Cave
The Cave of Perama is located at a distance of four kilometers from the center of Ioannina and is one of the most beautiful and unique natural attractions of the basin. It was discovered during World War II by villagers who hid in the hollows of Goritsa Hill to protect themselves from warplane bombing. However, the interior of the cave remained unknown until 1951. Then it was explored for the first time by the speleologist / geologist Ioannis Petrocheilos, who happened to pass by the area and was informed of the existence of the cave. Explorations continued until 1956, when new apartments were discovered.
According to the studies of Petrocheilos, the cave was formed 1,500,000 years ago, the area it occupies reaches 14,800 square meters, the temperature is constant all year round at 18 degrees Celsius and the tourist route is 1,100 meters. On this route visitors will encounter 19 different species of stalagmites and stalactites, as well as picturesque lakes with stone water lilies. It is also worth mentioning that in the Cave of Perama were found for the first time in Greece, in 1956, fossils of teeth and bones of the Bear Cave.
So it is definitely worth a visit, as it attracts great interest from tourists and geologists from around the world!
The Vikos Gorge
Vikos Gorge is the core of Vikos – Aoos National Park, one of the most important ecosystems in the country as it has rare flora and fauna. It is one of the most famous gorges in the country, but also in the world, as it holds a special first place in the Guinness Book of Records. According to Guinness, the gorge of Vikos is the deepest in the world, since at one point it is 900 meters deep and 1,100 meters wide.
What impresses most, however, is not the record he holds but his natural beauty that takes your breath away! It is 11 km long, and at the exit of the gorge is the river Voidomatis, with its crystal clear waters. Apart from the rich flora that one will encounter in the gorge, the area has developed a rich and rare fauna, as it hosts endangered species such as deer, bear, wild goat, golden eagle and many more.
You can explore the unique beauty of the gorge by crossing it on foot, either alone or accompanied by an experienced guide. The route is estimated at around 5-6 hours, and is made by marked paths that ensure your experience!
The Vikos Gorge
Vikos Gorge is the core of Vikos – Aoos National Park, one of the most important ecosystems in the country as it has rare flora and fauna. It is one of the most famous gorges in the country, but also in the world, as it holds a special first place in the Guinness Book of Records. According to Guinness, the gorge of Vikos is the deepest in the world, since at one point it is 900 meters deep and 1,100 meters wide.
What impresses most, however, is not the record he holds but his natural beauty that takes your breath away! It is 11 km long, and at the exit of the gorge is the river Voidomatis, with its crystal clear waters. Apart from the rich flora that one will encounter in the gorge, the area has developed a rich and rare fauna, as it hosts endangered species such as deer, bear, wild goat, golden eagle and many more.
You can explore the unique beauty of the gorge by crossing it on foot, either alone or accompanied by an experienced guide. The route is estimated at around 5-6 hours, and is made by marked paths that ensure your experience!
The Pavlos Vrellis Museum of Greek History
The Museum of Greek History Pavlos Vrellis, or Museum of Wax Figures, is located at the 12th kilometer of the National Road Ioannina – Athens and is the most famous of its kind in Greece. It is a work of life of the sculptor Pavlos Vrellis who started implementing his idea in 1983, initially buying the area in which the museum was built, in the municipality of Bizani.
Vrellis worked tirelessly, since in addition to the exhibits which are made by his own hand, he designed both the building and the whole surrounding area, putting it into operation in 1995. According to him: “The first thing I did, was to carve roads. I determined very carefully what the buildings would become. Thus, as we ascend, the ascent was marked on the right and the descent / exit on the left. The building is my design. I worked it from sources I got from our traditional mansions, in Ioannina and in Epirus in general. “I try from the beginning to have great unity in variety and to keep the invisible harmony, the rhythm and the measure, as much as possible.”
The Museum houses about 150 wax figures and 36 historical themes inspired by Greek history, mainly from the period of the revolution. Of particular interest is the fact that the subject matter of the representations covers 24 centuries of Greek history, from 500 BC, giving special emphasis, as expected, to the modern history of Epirus. Definitely worth a visit, to be transported to imaginary old houses, caves, churches, and paths of the pre-revolutionary period!
