Ioannina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ioannina Ιωάννινα
Clockwise from top: Panoramic view of Lake Pamvotis and the city of Ioannina from Mitsikeli, Old Town, Municipal Clock Tower of Ioannina, Municipal Ethnographic Museum of Ioannina, Kaplaneios School, Ferry to the Island, Post Office, and the Castle of Ioannina.
Ioannina Location in Greece
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Epirus
Regional unit	Ioannina
Area
• Municipality	403.32 km2 (155.72 sq mi)
• Municipal unit	47.44 km2 (18.32 sq mi)
Elevation	480 m (1,570 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Municipality	113,978
• Municipality density	282.599/km2 (731.929/sq mi)
• Municipal unit	81,627
• Municipal unit density	1,720.64/km2 (4,456.4/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Yanniote (Gianniote)/ Ioannite (formal)
Community
• Population	64,896 (2021)
• Area (km2)	17.355
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	45x xx
Area code(s)	26510
Vehicle registration	ΙΝ

Ioannina (Greek: Ιωάννινα Ioánnina), also called Yannena (Γιάννενα Yánnena), is a big city in northwestern Greece. It is the capital of the Ioannina region and the Epirus area. In 2021, the city had about 64,896 people living there. The whole area around it, called the municipality, had 113,978 people.

Ioannina is located about 500 meters (1,640 feet) above sea level. It sits on the western shore of Lake Pamvotis. The city is about 410 kilometers (255 miles) northwest of Athens, the capital of Greece. It's also 260 kilometers (162 miles) southwest of Thessaloniki.

People traditionally believe that the Byzantine Emperor Justinian founded the city in the 6th century AD. However, recent discoveries show that people lived here even earlier, in Hellenistic times. Ioannina became very important between the 13th and 15th centuries. It was part of the Despotate of Epirus after the Fourth Crusade. Many rich families from Constantinople moved here in 1204, making the city very successful and independent.

In 1430, Ioannina became part of the Ottoman Empire. It was an important center for the modern Greek Enlightenment in the 18th and 19th centuries. Greece took control of Ioannina in 1913 after the Balkan Wars.

Today, Ioannina has many green spaces and parks, like Molos (by the lake) and Litharitsia Park. It has two hospitals and is home to the University of Ioannina. The city's symbol shows the Byzantine Emperor Justinian with a picture of the ancient theater of Dodona.

What's in a Name?

The official name, Ioannina, probably comes from Agioannina. This means 'place of St. John'. It might be linked to a monastery built for St. John the Baptist. This monastery was in the area where the Ioannina Castle is now.

Another idea is that the city was named after Ioannina, the daughter of Belisarius. He was a general for Emperor Justinian.

In Greek, there are two ways to say the name. Ioannina is the formal and older name. But most people use Yannena or Yannina (Greek: Γιάννενα, Γιάννινα). This is the common way to say it in everyday Greek.

A Look at Ioannina's Past

Ancient Times & Early Middle Ages

The main entrance to the city's medieval fortress.

People have lived in the Ioannina area for a very long time. Signs of human life from 24,000 years ago have been found in a cave called Kastritsa. In ancient times, the Molossians lived here. Four of their settlements have been found in the area.

No one knows exactly when Ioannina was founded. Some think it's the "well-fortified" city mentioned by the historian Procopius. He said Emperor Justinian I built it for people from ancient Euroia. But there's no strong proof for this idea.

Archaeologists have found old walls from the Hellenistic period. These walls were later used when the fortress was rebuilt by the Byzantines and Ottomans.

The name Ioannina first appeared in 879. It was in documents from a church meeting, mentioning a bishop from Ioannina. In 1020, Emperor Basil II made the local church part of the Archbishopric of Ohrid. The city walls and parts of the Ioannina Castle were built in the 10th century. More parts were added in the late 11th century.

After the Fourth Crusade in 1204, Ioannina became part of the new Despotate of Epirus. This state was founded by Michael I Komnenos Doukas.

Late Middle Ages: A Time of Change (1204–1430)

The "Rule of Sinan Pasha" (9 October 1430), written in Greek, granted to the citizens a series of privileges under Ottoman control

Under Michael I, the city grew bigger and its defenses were made stronger. Many people who fled Constantinople after it was attacked in 1204 came to Ioannina. Michael helped them settle, turning the city into a safe place. This made Ioannina more important and richer.

In 1319, Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos gave the city special rights and freedom. This was after the last local ruler was killed. A Jewish community also lived in the city at this time.

Ioannina was taken by the Serb ruler Stephen Dushan in 1356. Later, in 1366, Thomas II Preljubović became the new ruler. He was not popular, but he defended the city from attacks.

After Thomas was killed in 1384, the people of Ioannina invited Esau de' Buondelmonti to rule. He brought back people who had been exiled and returned their property. In 1389, an Ottoman army helped Esau defend the city from attacks.

In 1411, after Esau's death, the people asked Carlo I Tocco to be their ruler. He expanded his lands and reunited the old Epirote area. Ioannina became his summer capital. In 1430, an Ottoman army arrived. The city surrendered after the Ottoman leader, Sinan Pasha, promised to protect the city and its freedom.

Ottoman Rule: A Long Period (1430–1913)

Interior view of the dome of the Aslan Pasha Mosque built on the site of the Church of Saint John, which was torn down after the failed anti-Ottoman revolt of 1611

Under the Ottomans, Ioannina remained an important center. It had a period of peace and growth. Early records from 1564 show that most people living in the city were Christian.

In 1611, a revolt led by Dionysius the Philosopher caused problems for the city. After the revolt, Christians were not allowed to live inside the castle walls. They had to move outside. The Aslan Pasha Mosque was built where a church used to be. Many Christian nobles also converted to Islam during this time.

A Hub of Learning (17th–18th centuries)

The old Zosimaia School, now municipal school

Even with these changes, Ioannina kept its Christian majority. The Greek language was widely spoken. The city became very rich and had a lot of cultural activity. Many important schools were started. People from Ioannina traded with big European cities like Venice.

Many wealthy merchants from Ioannina, living abroad, helped their hometown. They set up printing presses in Venice, publishing over 1,600 books for Greeks under Ottoman rule. These books were about history, religion, and science.

Zois Kaplanis, Greek philanthropist from Ioannina, founder of the Kaplaneios School

Kaplaneios School

Schools like the Epiphaniou School (1647) and the Gioumeios School (1676) were founded. The Balaneios School taught philosophy, theology, and math. Famous thinkers of the Greek Enlightenment worked here.

The Maroutsaia School opened in 1742. It taught science and philosophy. Later, it reopened as the Kaplaneios School thanks to a gift from Zoes Kaplanes. Its headmaster, Athanasios Psalidas, created a huge library and science labs. These schools helped the Greek Enlightenment grow.

Ali Pasha's Era (1788–1822)

Fethiye Mosque with the tomb of Ali Pasha in the foreground. The mosque was renovated by Ali Pasha in 1795

In 1788, Ioannina became the center of the area ruled by Ali Pasha of Yannina. He was a powerful Ottoman-Albanian leader. His court attracted many important figures of the Greek War of Independence. During his rule, Ioannina was very successful economically and intellectually.

Ali Pasha tried to break away from the Ottoman government. In 1820, he was declared a traitor, and Ioannina was attacked by Turkish troops. Ali Pasha was killed in 1822 on the island in the lake.

The Last Ottoman Century (1822–1913)

Greek lithography showing the surrender of Ioannina by Essat Pasha to the Greek Crown Prince future Constantine I during the First Balkan War.

The Zosimaia School was founded in 1828, after the Greek War of Independence began. It was paid for by the Zosimas brothers. It taught Greek, philosophy, and foreign languages.

In 1869, a large part of Ioannina was destroyed by fire. The market was quickly rebuilt. People from Ioannina living abroad helped pay for many churches, schools, and other buildings. The first branch of the Ottoman Bank in Greece opened in Ioannina. This shows how important the city was for trade.

By the late 1800s, some people in the city wanted to join Greece. The Greek language remained very important. Even Muslim families often sent their children to Greek schools like the Zosimaia.

Modern Ioannina (Since 1913)

Ioannina became part of Greece on February 21, 1913. This happened after the Battle of Bizani during the First Balkan War. On that day, a pilot from Ioannina, Christos Adamidis, landed his plane in the town square.

After the Asia Minor Catastrophe in 1922, Muslim people in Ioannina were exchanged with Greek refugees. A small Muslim community of Albanian origin stayed in Ioannina.

During World War II, in 1940, the Italian army tried to capture the city. But the Greek army stopped them. In April 1941, German forces heavily bombed Ioannina. During the Axis occupation of Greece, the city's Jewish community was taken by the Germans in 1944. Most of them died in concentration camps.

The University of Ioannina was founded in 1970. It is now one of the top universities in Greece.

The Jewish Community of Ioannina

A young woman cries during the deportation of women and children of the Jewish community, March 1944.

There was a Romaniote Jewish community in Ioannina before World War II. Their synagogue, built in 1829, is called the Old Synagogue. It is in the old castle area. The names of the Ioanniote Jews who died in the Holocaust are carved on its walls.

The old synagogue of the city

Many Jews from Ioannina moved to New York. They started a community there and built the Kehila Kedosha Janina synagogue in 1927.

In March 1944, during the German occupation, 1,870 Jews from Ioannina were sent to concentration camps. Almost all of them died at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Only 181 Ioannina Jews survived the war.

Today, the Jewish community in Ioannina is very small, with about 50 mostly older people. The old synagogue is usually locked but opens for visitors. A monument for the Greek Jews who died in the Holocaust was built in the city.

In 2019, Moses Elisaf, a Jewish doctor, was elected mayor of Ioannina. He was the first Jewish mayor in Greece.

Ioannina's Location and Climate

The city of Ioannina and Lake Pamvotis, as seen from the Mitsikeli mountain road.

Ioannina is about 500 meters (1,640 feet) above sea level. It is on the western shore of Lake Pamvotis. The city is the capital of the Ioannina region and the Epirus area. It is 436 kilometers (271 miles) northwest of Athens. It is also 290 kilometers (180 miles) southwest of Thessaloniki.

The city of Ioannina covers an area of about 17.335 square kilometers (6.7 square miles). The wider municipal area is 403.322 square kilometers (155.7 square miles).

Local Areas

The current municipality of Ioannina was formed in 2011. It brought together six smaller former municipalities. These include Ioannina itself, Anatoli, Bizani, Ioannina Island, Pamvotida, and Perama.

Weather in Ioannina

Ioannina has hot, somewhat dry summers. Winters are wet and colder, with frequent frosts and sometimes snow. It is the wettest city in mainland Greece with over 50,000 people. The highest temperature ever recorded was 42.4°C (108.3°F). The lowest was -13°C (8.6°F).

Population Changes Over Time

The population of Ioannina has changed over the years. In 2021, the number of people living there dropped by 4.2%. Women make up slightly more than half of the population.

Places to See in Ioannina

The Island in Lake Pamvotis

Ioannina Island in the lake

One of the coolest places to visit in Ioannina is the island in Lake Pamvotis. You can get there by a short ferry ride. On the island, you'll find the monastery of St Panteleimon. This is where Ali Pasha of Yannina spent his last days. It's now a museum with items from his time.

There are six monasteries on the island, some dating back to the 11th century. Two of them, Strategopoulou and Philanthropinon, were also schools. The island's narrow streets have many gift shops, restaurants, and bakeries.

Ioannina Castle: A Historic Fortress

A gate of the castle

Wall of the castle

Tomb of Ali Pasha

Byzantine museum

The Ioannina Castle is on a rocky piece of land by Lake Pamvotis. It was the main center for the Despotate of Epirus and later for the Ottomans. The castle was used for a long time and changed many times over the centuries. Ali Pasha of Ioannina made the biggest changes, finishing them in 1815.

Inside the castle, you can see old buildings like Byzantine baths, Ottoman baths, and the Ottoman library. There are two main parts, or citadels, in the castle. The south-eastern part, called Its Kale, has the Fethiye Mosque, Ali Pasha's tomb, and the Byzantine Museum. The north-eastern part has the Aslan Pasha Mosque and other Ottoman buildings. The old Jewish Synagogue of Ioannina is also inside the castle walls.

Exploring the City Center

Street near the castle

The city hall

Municipal Art Gallery of Ioannina

Road to the clocktower, Averof street

Clocktower in central Dimokratias Square

Many old buildings from the Ottoman period are still standing. Besides the two mosques in the castle, two more are outside: the Mosque of Veli Pasha and Kaloutsiani Mosque. The municipal clock tower, built in 1905, is a famous landmark.

You can also see neoclassical buildings like the post office and the old Zosimaia School. Some old shopping areas, like Stoa Louli, are still there. Churches like the Assumption of the Virgin and Saint Marina were rebuilt in the 1850s. The Cathedral of St Athanasius was finished in 1933.

Museums and Art Galleries

Silversmithing museum

Ioannina has many interesting museums. The Municipal Ethnographic Museum of Ioannina is in the Aslan Pasha Mosque. It shows the history of the Greek, Muslim, and Jewish communities in the city. The Byzantine Museum of Ioannina has artifacts from the 4th to the 19th century. The newest museum is the silversmithing museum. It shows the history of making silver items in Epirus.

Outside the castle, you'll find the Archaeological Museum of Ioannina. It has ancient items from the Epirus region, especially from the Dodona sanctuary. The Municipal Art Gallery of Ioannina has modern paintings and sculptures. The Pavlos Vrellis Greek History Museum, a wax museum, is a bit outside the city. It shows events and people from Greek history.

Art Exhibitions

In the summer of 2023, a digital art show called Plásmata II took place by Pamvotis. Over 100,000 people visited it. This is a new type of event for the city.

Learning in Ioannina

Buildings of the University of Ioannina

Entrance of Zosimaia Library

The University of Ioannina is a big university located about five kilometers (3 miles) southwest of the city. It started in 1964 and became its own university in 1970. Today, it is one of the top schools in Greece.

In 2017, about 25,000 students were studying at the university. There were also 580 professors and many other staff members.

Local Products and Food

What Ioannina is Known For

• Ioannina is famous for its silverwork. You can find many shops selling silver jewelry and decorative items.
• Hookahs (nargiles) are sold as souvenirs. They come in many sizes.

Delicious Local Food

• The area is known for its spring water from Zagori, which is sold all over Greece.
• Ioannina is famous for making feta cheese.
• The city is also well-known for its baklava, a sweet pastry.
• You can find special dishes like frog legs and eel, especially on Ioannina Island.

Media and Technology

Ioannina has its own local TV station, Epirus TV1. There are also two local newspapers, Ipirotikos Agon and Proinos Logos.

In the early 2020s, Ioannina started to become a big technology hub. Many tech companies have moved here. This has helped the city's technology and economy grow. The region is also working with German companies to boost its tech industry.

International Connections

Ioannina has special relationships with other cities around the world. These are called twin towns or sister cities.

Twin Towns – Sister Cities

Ioannina is twinned with:

• Požarevac, Serbia
• Ayia Napa, Cyprus
• Limassol, Cyprus
• Himara, Albania
• Kiryat Ono, Israel
• Nizhyn, Ukraine
• Schwerte, Germany

Famous People from Ioannina

Zois Kaplanis

Athanasios Psalidas

Georgios Stavros

Many notable people come from Ioannina, including:

• Epifanios Igoumenos (1568–1648), a scholar.
• Nikolaos Glykys (1619–1693), a merchant and book publisher.
• Methodios Anthrakites (1660–1736), a scholar.
• Zois Kaplanis (1736-1806), a merchant who founded the Kaplaneios School.
• Ioannis Vilaras (1771–1823), a poet and scholar.
• Athanasios Psalidas (1767–1829), a scholar who helped the Modern Greek Enlightenment.
• Georgios Stavros (1787–1869), a benefactor who founded the National Bank of Greece.
• Christos Adamidis (1885–1949), a pioneer aviator.
• Pavlos Vrellis (1922–2010), a sculptor.
• Moses Elisaf (1954–2023), the mayor from 2019 to 2023.
• Stefanos Ntouskos (born 1997), who won a gold medal in rowing at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
• Amanda Tenfjord (born 1997), a singer who represented Greece at Eurovision 2022.

Sports in Ioannina

Sports Teams

Ioannina is home to a big sports team called PAS Giannina. This team is a source of pride for many people in the Epirus region. Rowing is also very popular in Ioannina. The lake has hosted many international rowing events.

Sports Facilities

Getting Around Ioannina

• Ioannina has its own airport, the Ioannina National Airport.
• The A2 motorway (Egnatia Odos) goes by Ioannina. This highway connects the port of Igoumenitsa on the west coast with the borders.
• Long-distance buses (KTEL) travel daily to Athens (6–6.5 hours) and Thessaloniki (3 hours).

Images for kids

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  Panoramic view of Lake Pamvotis and Ioannina, Old Town, Municipal Clock Tower, Municipal Ethnographic Museum, Kaplaneios School, Ferry to the Island, Post Office, and the Castle of Ioannina.

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  Map of Ioannina Municipality.

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  The main entrance to the city's medieval fortress.

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  The "Rule of Sinan Pasha" (9 October 1430), which gave privileges to citizens under Ottoman control.

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  Interior view of the dome of the Aslan Pasha Mosque.

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  The old Zosimaia School, now a municipal school.

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  Zois Kaplanis, a Greek helper from Ioannina.

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  The Kaplaneios School.

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  Fethiye Mosque with Ali Pasha's tomb.

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  Greek picture showing Ioannina surrendering to the Greek Crown Prince.

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  Ioannina's central square (1932).

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  Main street (Dodonis Avenue) of the city (1940s or 1950s).

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  A young woman cries during the deportation of women and children of the Jewish community, March 1944.

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  The old synagogue of the city.

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  The city of Ioannina and Lake Pamvotis, seen from Mitsikeli mountain.

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  Ioannina Island in the lake.

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  A gate of the castle.

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  Wall of the castle.

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  Tomb of Ali Pasha.

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  Byzantine museum.

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  Street near the castle.

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  The city hall.

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  The Municipal Art Gallery of Ioannina.

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  Road to the clocktower, Averof street.

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  Clocktower in central Dimokratias Square.

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  Silversmithing museum.

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  Buildings of the University of Ioannina.

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  Entrance of Zosimaia Library.

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  Zois Kaplanis.

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  Athanasios Psalidas.

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  Georgios Stavros.

See also

In Spanish: Ioánina para niños