Ioannina: Island, Castle and City History

On Ioannina Island, the Lake Pamvotis Information Centre combines nature exhibits with a listed stone building: it is housed in a traditional home and showcases the lake’s most important plants, as well as the fish, birds, amphibians and mammals that live there. Check visitor arrangements before your visit.

The Island and Lake Pamvotis

Ioannina Island is one of only two inhabited lake islands in Greece. Its village is designated a settlement of outstanding natural beauty and probably dates from the 16th century. Two monasteries are also part of the island’s history. Both were founded in Byzantine times: the Monastery of Saint Nicholas Philanthropenon, also known as Spanou, and the Monastery of Saint Nicholas Strategopoulou, also known as Diliou.

There are different ways to get outdoors and explore. A walking and cycling path runs from Mavili Square to the village of Katsikas. The established circuit around Lake Pamvotis is 30 kilometres long. This gives you two distinct pieces of information for planning: a route with named endpoints and a lake circuit with a stated total length.

Castle, Museums and City History

Ioannina Castle stands on a naturally fortified rocky peninsula. The earliest traces of settlement discovered there through archaeological investigations date to the Classical and Hellenistic periods. The castle is one of Greece’s oldest continuously inhabited fortified settlements. In its innermost area, in the Its Kale district, is the tomb of Ali Pasha of Tepelena, one of the city’s significant historical sites.

Ioannina’s Byzantine Museum is located within the castle, in the southeastern acropolis of Itch Kale. It displays silverware in the so-called Treasury at the centre of the citadel and an exhibition on the city’s history in the Fethiye Mosque. The Silversmithing Museum has its own precisely defined location: the western bastion tower of the northeastern acropolis of Ioannina Castle, Its Kale. Visitors can learn about the traditional techniques used to shape and decorate silver objects there.

Historical spaces also lie beneath the citadel: the caves were once used as storerooms and prisons and can be accessed from inside the citadel. Check local access conditions before visiting. Buildings in the castle also house the Municipal Museum of Ioannina, with its extensive collections.

Old Streets, Crafts and Traditions

The Old Bazaar district has retained its commercial character and is among Ioannina’s liveliest streets. Its origins date to the period of Ottoman rule; later, the market developed into a lively centre of trade and social life. It offers another perspective on the city, alongside the historical sites inside the castle.

Handmade and traditional products from Ioannina and the region include wooden objects, woven fabrics, embroidery and folk-art creations. The Tzamales, meanwhile, are a three-day carnival festival in Ioannina. They feature bonfires, music, dancing and bean soup. Crafts and festival traditions show two different aspects of cultural life: working with local materials and a communal celebration in the city.

Planning Your Stay

Ioannina is now a major transport hub in Epirus. The Egnatia and Ionian motorways, which run south of the city, have significantly improved regional connections with the rest of the country. Bizani is another option for a museum visit: the Paul Vrellis Museum of Greek History is located in this village in the Municipality of Ioannina, 12 kilometres from the city of Ioannina. The distance to Bizani, the 30-kilometre circuit around the lake and the route between Mavili Square and Katsikas each provide different points of reference for planning your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Métsovon, Ano Pedina, Kipoi, Perama, Dodoni, Arísti, Vovoúsa, Neochori, Milea, Potistika, Neokaisáreia, Pramanta, Koukouli, Konitsa, Ano Ravenia, Monodendri, Kalarites, Paliochori, Delvinaki, Dikorifo, Pyrsogianni, Kalpaki, Lippa, Kastania, Tiria, Negades, Papingo, Fourka, Plikati, Drosopigi, Kalendsion, Sirako, Kato Pedina, Zitsa, Doliana, Kapesovo, Klidonia, Platania, Ioannina, Raiko, Eleousa, Vikos, Elati, Anatoli, Matsouki, Tsepelovo, Amfithea, Fragkades, Elafotopos, Ravenia.

For the broader travel overview: Epirus.