Annatsach · CC BY-SA 4.0 Why visit
Living fortified quarter beside Lake Pamvotida, containing Ottoman-era buildings, museums and Byzantine layers. The fortified site has Byzantine roots and was repeatedly rebuilt. Under Ali Pasha of Ioannina in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the citadel became a major political centre; mosques, residences and defensive works survive within its walls. The visit is strongest when you focus on its kale citadel, aslan pasha complex and lakefront walls.
What you will see
- Its Kale citadel.
- Aslan Pasha complex.
- Lakefront walls.
History
The fortified site has Byzantine roots and was repeatedly rebuilt. Under Ali Pasha of Ioannina in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the citadel became a major political centre; mosques, residences and defensive works survive within its walls.
Photographs
Annatsach · CC BY-SA 4.0 · full attribution on the image credits page.
Visitor tips
- 1
Prioritise Its Kale citadel if you have less time than the full suggested visit.
- 2
Leave enough time for Aslan Pasha complex rather than treating Ioannina Castle as a quick photo stop.
About Epirus
Zagori stone villages, deep gorges, Ioannina heritage, ancient Dodona and Ionian-facing coastal towns.
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