Ioannina

Built in the western side of the lake Pamvotida, Ioannina are mirrored in its calm waters, facing the mountain Mitsikeli. It is a beautiful, picturesque city, which combines the historical memories with the reality of a modern megalopolis that constitutes the more important economic and intellectual centre of the North-western Greece.

"A city first in arms, in piastres and in letters ", as the popular muse sings, famous for its silver artisans, the tradesmen and its tanneurs, it met with a big acne at the season of the Despotato of the Ipeiros and the Ottoman domination.

In the green waters of the lake, legends live up about the Alli Pashas and his Mistress-Frosini, while at the paved paths of its castle, memories of the Byzantine past and its newer history rule over.

Ioannina occasionally entertained various populations, that left indelible marks in the identity of the city and it is this mix of cultures that charms the visitor and gives amazing beauty to the landscapes that live up in front of him.

Today Giannina is a city that brimes over with life and is famous for the entertainment and its nightly life. It has a crowd of nightly centres, bar, clubs, restaurants, theatres, cinemas etc. It also allocates two hospitals, University and Technical Institutes. The cultural activity of city is also very rich, as it has significant museums and libraries and it is organising events during all the year.

The traveller can promenade in the castle, admire its panes and be shown of its museums, walk in the street near the lake under the age-long plane trees or in the historical centre of city with the beautiful preservable buildings. One can also visit the wonderful island of the lake, where he will enjoy a splendid walk in its picturesque settlement and the remains of its long history, which lives up in its very famous after-Byzantine monasteries with the brilliant murals.

The taverns in the shore of lake are the ideal place for him to taste the fishes of the lake and other dishes of the local gastronomy, as well as the local wine and raki, while for the allocation there are a big variety of lodgings.

If you visit Ipeiros, it is for sure that you will be astonished by the charm of its beautiful capital.