Ioannina

Ioannina (also Yannina) is a town in west Greece, capital of the Ioannina Region. It is located in the mountain, on the west shore of lake Pamvotis which also has a small inhabited islet. There are many hotels and guesthouses with view of the lake, including spa hotels.

The old part of Ioannina is dominated by a large medieval fortress called Its Kale. Inside its walls there are a few preserved buildings and museums - the Byzantine museum, the Silversmithing museum and the Fethiye mosque. You can also see ruins of towers, Ottoman baths and the tomb of Ali Pasha, one of the town rulers who made the general reconstructions of the fortification.

The island of lake Pamvotis can be reached via small passenger boats which connect it with the north shore of the lake. The island is tourist-oriented and has charming small alleys with cafes, stone-tile houses, souvenir shops and a musesum dedicated to Ali Pasha and the Revolutionary period.

Near Ioannina you can also visit the Vikos gorge and some villages of Zagorochoria - a cluster of 46 authentic villages where the original architecture is still intact.

highlights: town with medieval fortress and lake view, town in Ioannina Region, Epirus, Greece