Ioannina (Ιωάννινα), Greece

Ioannina (Ιωάννινα) is the largest city and capital of the Periphery of Epirus in north-western Greece. It is also the capital of the Ioannina Prefecture. Ioannina is located 500 meters above sea level, on the shore of Lake Pamvotis. It covers 47.44 sq km (18 sq mi) and has a population of 120,000 (2011 estimate).

Street in Ioannina, Greece
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calle_de_Y%C3%A1nena.jpg
Author: Qoan


Ioannina was founded in the 6th century AD by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. It became a prosperous town after the Fourth Crucade, as many wealthy Byzantine families resettled there following the sack of Constantinople.

From 1358 to 1416 Ioannina was the capital of the Despotate of Epirus. It fell to the Ottomans in 1430, after which it became the administrative center of the Pashalik of Yanina until 1868. Ioannina became part of Greece following the Balkan Wars of 1913.

Ioannina experiences a Mediterranean climate. The warmest months here are July and August, when average high temperature reaches 30.9°C (87.4°F). The coldest month is January, when the average low temperature drops to 0.2°C (32.4°F). December is the wettest month with 174.9 mm (6.886 in) of precipitation.

Lake Pamvotis, Ioannina
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Limni_Pamvotida_Ioannina_20061220.JPG
Author: Pvasilliadis

Going to Ioannina

By Plane
There are between two to four flights from Athens to Ioannina offered by Olympic Airways and Aegean Airlines. There are also five flights per week from Thessaloniki.

By Road
Visitors are not encouraged to go by road to Ioannina as the road condition is quite bad in places. If you are traveling during winter months, non-slip chains are necessary. The town is 445 km from Athens and 260 km from Thessaloniki.

Pavlos Vrellis Greek History Museum, Ioannina
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:D70-0368-3-Pavlos-Vrellis-museum.jpg
Author: Onno Zweers

Places of Interest in Ioannina

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