Ioannina, the city of legends
A unique journey through the streets of tradition
The bustling city center pulsates daily with thousands of locals, students and tourists creating a lively atmosphere. This daily energy of the world is channeled to the paved and pedestrian shopping area in the heart of the city, where dozens of shops and cafes serve every visitor.
A walk in the shops of the city will excite your interest for shopping since you can find from branded products and clothes to local traditional silverware but also exceptional sweets from Giannio. The people of Giannio are famous for the art of silversmithing, so in many streets and alleys there are old and new shops and workshops, each presenting its own technique and its own jewelry and silverware.
The special natural environment of the city, which is mainly based on the beautiful lake Pamvotida with the island, is the biggest tourist attraction, since the walk around the castle in the lakeside area creates a nostalgic atmosphere for the visitor. The castle of Ioannina itself is a tourist “jewel” since even today it is inhabited in its largest area by permanent residents while there are excellent archeological sites and museums.
The nightlife of the city of Ioannina is known throughout Greece. A medium-sized, provincial town that manages to keep the fun alive at all hours of the day, every day. The bars of Independence, the cafe-bars-tsipouro restaurants of Kallari, the taverns of Garivaldi, the cafes in the lakeside area of Molos create an unstoppable appetite for an outlet that is constantly supported by the local community and tourists.
There is also a lot of good food, with barbecues and restaurants that are famous for the high quality of their dishes but also the warm and hospitable service. For those who, the fun includes spending the night until the morning, the countless creperies and barbecues will be unforgettable.
Museums of Ioannina
It houses three collections, representative of the inhabitants of the castle during its long history: Christian, Jewish, Muslim
Opening hours:daily 08:00 - 15:00
The Byzantine Museum is built on the ruins of the main building of the seraglio of Ali-Pasha, which was completely destroyed in 1870 by fire. In its place was built the Military Hospital, which was demolished to build in 1958 the Royal Pavilion where today houses the Byzantine Museum. The citadel is dominated by Fethiye Jam and in front of it the imposing tomb of Ali Pasha.
Opening hours: 08:00 - 20:00 daily except Monday
It is a thematic museum, since it deals with the technology of silversmithing during the pre-industrial period, but at the same time a regional museum, since it focuses mainly on the history of silversmithing in the region of Epirus. Chronologically, the exhibition refers mainly to the post-Byzantine period, from the 15th century onwards, without, however, missing references to the distant past, as the technology used for the production of silverware often dates back to much older periods.
Opening hours: March 1-October 15: 10:00 - 18:00, October 16-February 28: 10:00 - 17:00
Closed:Every Tuesday, January 1st, January 17th (local holiday), M. Friday (until 12:00 pm), Easter Sunday, May 1, August 15, December 25-26)
The collections of the Archaeological Museum of Ioannina are developed in seven rooms, the main corridor and three atriums, in a total area of 1,200 sq.m. The exhibits cover a long period, from the first appearance of man in Epirus, during the Lower Paleolithic era 250,000 years ago, to the west of late antiquity in late Roman times (3rd century AD). Special emphasis is given to the findings from the sanctuary of Dodoni which are exhibited in a room dedicated exclusively to one of the most important oracles of the Greek world. The new permanent exhibition retains the continental dimension of the old one, as it was, that is, inspired by the first Director of AMI, Ioulia Vokotopoulou. It includes about 3,000 archaeological finds from all over Epirus. Its structure is based on three axes: a chronological, a geographical and a thematic. Intertwined, these axes run through the museological flow, trying to highlight the special physiognomy and course of the area in antiquity.
The Pavlos Vrellis Museum of Greek History, also known as the Museum of Wax Figures, is located in the area of Ioannina, in Epirus. It was founded on the initiative of Pavlos Vrellis in February 1983 and opened its doors in 1995 and is the most famous museum of its kind in Greece.
Opening hours:all days of the year 10:00 - 16:00
The island of Ioannina
The island of Lake Pamvotida is the most characteristic attraction of the city. Preserving the traditional, island architecture, the houses, the alleys and the surrounding area travel the visitor several years ago, in a quiet and hospitable place. Local delicacies, folk art and boat ride, flavors and images that will accompany you for a lifetime. It is worth visiting the House-Museum of Ali Pasha, where he lived during his stay in Ioannina and where he was killed, and the holes from the bullets are still intact on the outside terrace of the house.
Around Ioannina
The wider area of Ioannina is offered for all forms of tourism, compensating each visitor with unique experiences. The famous Zagorochoria, with more than 40 villages are located in the Vikos-Aoos National Park, an impressive and wild natural landscape that attracts tourists from around the world for touring, climbing, hiking, rafting and many other activities. On the other hand, the proud Tzoumerka offer a milder form of tourism, in green landscapes with unique villages that have kept the architectural and musical tradition unchanged for hundreds of years. The famous Metsovo, with its traditional textiles and kontosouvlia, is an attraction for thousands of tourists from all over Greece and the world, every season of the year, especially during the winter season when the ski resorts of Metsovo and Anilio operate. In the summer, in every village of Ioannina, traditional festivals are organized with folk music that attract the interest of both locals and visitors from other areas.
