In Greece, on the shores of Lake Pamvotida, not far from the border with Albania, there is ioannina, Beautiful city between the peaks of Pindus and the mountains of Thessaly. Active and full of life, as well as an important economic and cultural center of northwest Greece, the capital of Epirus is the ideal destination for a weekend dedicated to Hellenic art, tradition and culture.
Born around 500 AD, Ioánnina was an important city of the Byzantine Empire, first, and of the Despotate of Epirus and Greece, later, during the Turkish occupation. Over time, the city has seen from time to time the domination of different peoples, who have left indelible traces to create a harmonious mix of traditions and cultures, irresistible for tourists.
Visiting the city of Ioánnina is like immersing yourself in the treasures of a prestigious past, in a kind of living museum in which you can relive memories of the Byzantine era, Ottoman domination and the most recent events. From the old city to the castle, from the mosques to the Koranic school, from the bazaar to the Orthodox monasteries: everything in Ioannina and its surroundings smells of history.
If you only have one weekend to visit Ioannina, we recommend that you dedicate the first day to Castro, the oldest neighborhood, a true pulsating center. It is located in the southeast corner of the current city and was built at the end of the 18th century on a long rock spur. The Kastro is dominated by mountains and overlooks Lake Pamvotida, a stone's throw from the marina. This is the set of fortified structures built by Alì Pasha of Tepeleni, two different citadels: the one in the northeast, now dominated by Aslan Pasha mosque, and the one in the southeast, the largest, called Its Kale, “Inner Castle”.
The Aslan Pasha Mosque, built in 1619 on the remains of a church dedicated to Saint John, had religious functions until 1933. Today it houses the beautiful Municipal Ethnographic Museum of Ioannina, which you really cannot miss. For just a few euros per ticket you can admire a rich collection of regional costumes, tapestries and prayer shawls from the city's places of worship, as well as beautiful period photographs.
After leaving the Ethnographic Museum, continue walking through Ioannina Castle, get lost in its narrow streets and let yourself be fascinated by the architectural wonders that characterize every corner. There is also the Tomb of Ali Pasha and the beautiful and recently renovated Fetiye Cami, the Victory Mosque, built in 1611 after the expulsion of Christians from the citadel, to reassert Ottoman rule after the attempted Greek uprising.
Even within the great Byzantine walls, which also surround Lake Pamvotis, you can visit the archeological Museum and the Ioannina City Museum. The first preserves rare finds from various periods, from the Paleolithic to the late Roman era, found in the region of Epirus, one of the oldest in all of Greece. There are pieces from, among others, the areas of Dodoni, Vitsa, the Nekromantio of the Acherònte river and Monodèndri. In the civic museum, however, there is a rich display of traditional local costumes, fabrics and metalwork objects, especially silver.
If you're not tired of museums yet, take a trip to Byzantine Museum of Ioannina, with rare icons from the period from early Christianity to the late Byzantine era and religious relics from the 1905th, XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries. And again, in the central square of the old city, stop to admire the clock tower, built in XNUMX by Pelirritos and today a meeting place for the inhabitants and a reference point for visitors. Then, around the fortress, let yourself be carried away by the colors, aromas and magic of the oriental-style bazaar, the perfect place for shopping.
Once you've finished visiting Ioannina's old neighborhood, the Kastro, dedicate the last part of the weekend to Lake Pamvotida or Lake Ioannina, the largest in the Epirus region. In the center of Pamvotida, the shores of which wash the central part of the city, to the east, there is a small island, almost completely covered with flowers and rich in natural beauty. It is truly unmissable and you can get there on a boat that leaves every half hour from the city's marina.
On the island there is a small town, made up of cobblestone streets and houses built according to local tradition, almost like something out of a fairy tale. It was an important religious center, with churches decorated with magnificent frescoes, preserved and still visible today, and beautiful monasteries. Among them, one cannot help but notice the monastery of Agios Panteleam, a fortress surrounded by lush gardens, used until 1882, where Ali Pasha, the last Ottoman ruler of the region, was murdered by assassins.
