Sights

In the city of Ioannina

• the Castle. In the Castle are shaped two citadels. In the first were built the palaces of Byzantine souvereigns and later on the top was build the mosque of Aslan rescued until today. The second named Its-Kale accommodates today in the center the Byzantine Museum. In the Castle are a lot of buildings, like the Turkish library, the Hebrew synagogue, the Fetihe mosque, the mosque of Aslan Pasha, the grave of Ali Pasha, the 11th century tower of Voimoundou and the tower of Thomas

• the Lake of Ioannina (Pamvotida) or lake of dame Frosini and in the lake the Island with rich historical tradition. On the Island are saved monasteries from the Byzantium and the Ottoman domination with marvellous murals

• Panteleimonos Monastery from the 15th century and the Filanthropino Monastery from the 13th century with astonishing murals.

In the prefecture

• the Archaeological site of Dodona, that was a religious center in antiquity. Famous was the sanctum of Dodona where the priests gave the oracles. During the reign of king Pyrros in the 3rd century B.C. were built and are saved until today the ancient theatre with a capacity of 17.000 seats, the Chamber of deputies and the citadel.

• the cavern of Perama, in the interior of the hill Goritsa, discovered accidentally by villagers in 1940. Its interior has labyrinthian passages with stalagmites and stalactites.

• Zagorochoria, an area of astonishing beauty between Ioannina, Konitsa and Metsovo. The region is mountainous with imposing mountains, dense forests with pines and firs, rivers, torrents and lakes with crystal waters, graphic stone bridges and traditional villages with mansions and old churches. Generally the region is separated in the Eastern, central and western Zagori and is an ideal destination for the lovers of nature.

• Vellas Monastery in Kalpaki from 11th century. Its name is owed to the homonym Byzantine city that existed there.

• the Museum of Wax Effigies of Pavlos Vrellis from the Greek History, in Mpizani.

• in Greveniti the Voutsas Monastery or Virgin Mary Pogoniotissa built by the emperor Pogonatos in 672 with murals from the 17th century.

• in Vovousa the bridge from 1743

• the Monastery of Virgin Mary Spilaiotissa of the 16th century in Aristi

• the settlements Papigo and Small Papigo in Zagorochoria in astonishing natural landscapes with stone houses, paved streets and the taps with crystal waters.

• the National Woodland of Vikos-Aoos that includes the gorge of river Vikos, the gorge of Aoos, the mountainous group of Tymfi, Drakolimni and has rich flora and fauna with rare species of plants and animals.

• the ancient settlement in Vitsa

• the Church of Saint Nikolaos in Vitsa dated from 1612 with a woodcut temple

• in Monodendri the Monastery of Agia Paraskeyi from 1413-14 and the Temple of Saint Mimas of the 17th century.

• the stone bridge of Konitsa

• the mansions in Konitsa of Housein Sisko and Hamko, mother of Ali Pasha.

• Stamiou Monastery (1774) in the gorge of Aoos.

• the Byzantine Monastery Molivdoskepastos

• the environmental park Mpourazani with deers, wild boars and other animals.

• Zermas Monastery in Plagia of the 17th century with beautiful murals

• In the graphic village Metsovo in the mountain range of Pindos famous for its stock breeder products the temple of Saint Paraskeyi, the Monastery of Virgin Mary and the Monastery of Ag. Nikolaos.

• the Art Gallery of Evaggelos Averof in Metsovo with artwork of the most important Greek artists of the 19th and 20th century.

• the National woodland Valia Kalnta, with rich flora and fauna. It has been characterized as one of the 12 most sensitive regions of the world. In Valia Kalnta survive rare mammals and birds

• Tsoukas Monastery in Elliniko, built on the top of the hill. It was founded by emperor Isaakios II Aggelos in 1190, and renovated and wall painted in the 18th century.

• Pateron Monastery in Zitsa, dedicated to the Assumption of Virgin Mary, founded in the 16th century.

• Prophet Elias Monastery in Zitsa of the 17th century where Lord Byron stayed

• Theogefyro in the Zjtsa, a natural bridge that connects the two banks of river Kalama.

• the War Museum in Kalpaki with exhibits from the Greek-Italian war in 1940.