An old town inside the castle, where the well-preserved houses remind us of the Ottoman Occupation that does not date many years back, and a modern town around the lake with shopping centers, cafes and restaurants and a quite busy lifestyle.
Ioannina, capital and largest city of the prefecture, was established in the 6^th century A.C by Justine. The town went through different phases and after remaining for 483 years under Turkish occupation was liberated in 1913 by the Greek army. Most significant period while under the Ottoman rulership is when governor of Ioannina was Ali Pasa who managed to gain massive powers and tried to become independent from the Sultan. He turned Ioannina into a very rich city with a rather harsh government. During his reign, Ioannina was one of the most important and developed cities in Greece. On the one hand, he allowed all religions and encouraged education but on the other hand he killed anyone he wished without discrimination. In this way, he treated many of the Greek warriors such as Katsantonis and Kyra Frosini, whose tragic history is tightly connected with the lake, where she was drowned together with 17 women from Ioannina.
While walking through the city and especially in and around the castle, you will find out that many of the sights date back to the Ottoman period.
Ioannina welcomes visitors all year round as it has a rather developed trade and many sights.
You will enjoy a stroll around the Pamvotida lake that is tightly connected with the city and take a boat to the island that is located in middle of it.
Walk through the alleys of the castle and any road you might follow will take you to Its Kale, the highest point of the castle, where apart from the museums you can also drink your coffee with a view of the sunset.
During the winter, all the action takes place high up on the castle and in the summer it goes down to the lake where the Kalari Street (near Anexartisias Street) becomes the meeting point. Point 12, near the lake, where a café-restaurant is located, is the meeting point for the youth of the town. It is said that near that point Kyra Frosini was drowned.
Apart from the lake and the castle, a stroll on the evergreen hill and stone town of Frontzos is ideal for a view of the city and for coffee or food as well.
On the road from the City hall towards the lake you will have the chance to see lots of shops with admirable and famous pieces of art as the city is known for its silversmiths.
When it rains in Ioannina, the lake is surrounded by a sense of melancholy. The sun appears behind the snowcapped Mitsikeli Mountain and sheds its light between the leaves of the plane trees. Get to know Ioannina and let them “narrate” their stories that are accompanied with the fragrance of the East.