General Information

Ioannina prefecture is in the northwestern end of Greece and is characterized by the astonishing beauty of its natural environment. It is mainly a mountainous prefecture with forests, graphic lakes and rivers, traditional villages and stone bridges and with rich flora and fauna. In the prefecture are a lot of important Byzantine and Ottoman monuments. Developed are the tourist sports and the alternative tourism (mountainous walk, ski, rafting, canyoning, climbing etc) but in balance with the rich cultural heritage and the local tradition.

Ioannina

The capital of the prefecture and administrative and economic centre of Epirus is Ioannina, built in the banks of Pamvotida lake and is a beautiful modern city that combines the historical tradition and legends. The first report of Ioannina town is in the 9th century where it is reported as a diocese. In the 13th century it was an important city of Epirus and big economy center. During the Ottoman domination and particularly in the years that Ali Pasha ruled, Ioannina had a very big economic and intellectual growth. The history of the city is shown in the Castle, in the churches and mosques, in the mansions and on the Island with the old monasteries.

History

The region was inhabited since the prehistoric times as shown by the findings of tombs and settlements dated from the time of coper until the hellenistic period, in various places of the prefecture that show the importance of the region in the antiquity. On those times prospered the cities of Passaron and Tekmon and here was the sanctum of Dodona that was a religious centre with Pan-Hellenic importance. During the reign of Pyrros in the 4th-3rd century B.C. the region prospered. In the 2nd century B.C. during their passage, the Romans destroy most of the monuments. At the Byzantine years a lot of monasteries and churches are founded.

At the period of the Ottoman domination the region has a period of great economic and intellectual prosperity. The special privileges that are granted to the residents lead to big economic and intellectual blossoming. The tradesmen do business within Greece and abroad. From this time known is the history of Ali Pasha who drowned dame Frosini in the lake. In 1913 the region of Ioannina is incorporated with the Greek state and in the Greek-Italian war on its mountains the Greeks write a history of heroism.