Ioannina, capital of Epirus

In the program: Peramata Cave, Nisi Island, Old Town.

On the shore of Lake Pamvotida, surrounded by mountains, is atypical for Greece city of Ioannina (Ioannina) – the capital of the region of Greece Epirus. The city is named after its patron Saint John the Baptist. There is no sea and the climate is cooler. The road from Corfu here takes 2.5 hours (a ferry and a highway that runs through tunnels and bridges across the Pind mountain range).

Just 4 kilometers from Ianina, in the area of Perama, there is Mount Gorica, in which the Spilio cave is located, where you will be immersed in another, mythical world. It was formed 1,400,000 years ago. The length of the visited space is 1.500 square meters. meters. It is one of the best and most interesting caves in the world. Throughout the route, which is about 1.5 km., you will see a large number of halls rich in their natural scenery, consisting of stalactites growing from top to bottom and stalagmites growing from bottom to top. The constant air temperature inside the cave is +17°C. The tour takes 45 minutes.

Janina’s life revolves around the lake, on the banks of which there are many cafes and restaurants. According to scientists, Lake Pamvotida is about 25 thousand years old. In the very center of the lake is the island "Nisi", which runs small boats. The island is inhabited by locals, there are many cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy local cuisine and try lake fish and frog legs. On the island there is a house-museum of the famous Ali Pasha and the monastery of St. Panteleimon, now a museum.

Very interesting Old Town - Castro, located inside the fortress walls. One of the main attractions is the Turkish mosque Fethiye, which was built in 1430 immediately after the conquest of Janina by the Turks. In 1822, Ali Pasha was executed by order of the Sultan, and his head was sent to Constantinople. The decapitated body of the pasha was buried next to the mosque in the family tomb. Today, the mosque is an important historical monument and a fine example of Turkish architecture.

Much about the history of Janina becomes known thanks to legends and legends. It is a place where Christians, Jews and Muslims shared their knowledge and culture. The city has preserved ancient monuments of culture, it is also known throughout Greece thanks to the cheese, sweets, shops of silver and decorative products produced here.

Yanina is a city you fall in love with at first sight!