The town of Ioannina is located along the shores of a lake, known in ancient times as "Pamvotis" and renown for the beauty of its natural surroundings.
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The town was named according to the tradition from the Monastery of St. John, which is located in the old town and was first mentioned in 527 AD by the historian Prokopios who wrote about the founding of the city, the new Evroia. Until 879 AD the name Ioannina was used for the first time in the Acts of Constantinople.The city flourished in time, becoming an important financial and cultural centre and during the Byzantine period it was referred to as "Metropolis of knowledge".You may admire the castle, the lake with the picturesque island, the Byzantine Museum, the Wax Museum of Vrellis and the modern Archaeological Museum which exhibits finds from all over Epirus, coming from the Classical Era, Byzantine and post-Byzantine times.In addition there is a Municipal museum housed in the former Aslan Tzami mosque, which contains exhibits of historical and folkloric character.Worth visitig is the old part of the town with city walls and the picturesque narrow lanes, the Litharitsia, an old structure dating back to the days of Ali Pasha, now fully restored.On the north of the lake "Pamvotis" we have the picturesque island, where almost 120 families are living at the traditional village with the narrow roads and the courtyards full of flowers. The island is connected to the city on a daily basis with small boats, since it is only ten minutes away.
