A Living Journey Through History
At the southeastern edge of Ioannina, a unique castle-town is preserved, the oldest Byzantine castle in Greece that is still inhabited. Pass the grand gate bearing the emblem of Ali Pasha and be transported to the time when the castle was the largest administrative and intellectual centre of the area, closely associated with legendary figures such as Kyra-Frosyni and Kyra-Vasiliki.
History and Structure
According to historical accounts, the castle was built in AD 528 by Emperor Justinian, although its current form is mainly due to the Ottoman period. It extends over 20 hectares and is divided into four sections: the outer enclosure, the northwestern acropolis, the southeastern acropolis (Its Kale) and the Castle Town itself.
Monuments and Acropolises
In the northwestern acropolis stands the impressive Aslan Pasha Mosque (1618), the medieval tower and the Madrasah. In the southeastern acropolis, the Its Kale, you will find the Fethiye Mosque, the tomb of Ali Pasha, the treasury and the former kitchens that today function as a picturesque café. Inside the settlement, the imposing Soufari Sarai, the Turkish library and the Jewish synagogue are preserved, while Byzantine towers, such as the Tower of Bohemond (1082) and the Tower of Thomas, bear witness to the site’s distant past.
The Castle Museums
Three important cultural venues await you:
The Castle of Ioannina is not just a monument, but a living organism where Byzantine grandeur and Ottoman heritage coexist in its picturesque cobbled streets.
History and Structure
According to historical accounts, the castle was built in AD 528 by Emperor Justinian, although its current form is mainly due to the Ottoman period. It extends over 20 hectares and is divided into four sections: the outer enclosure, the northwestern acropolis, the southeastern acropolis (Its Kale) and the Castle Town itself.
Monuments and Acropolises
In the northwestern acropolis stands the impressive Aslan Pasha Mosque (1618), the medieval tower and the Madrasah. In the southeastern acropolis, the Its Kale, you will find the Fethiye Mosque, the tomb of Ali Pasha, the treasury and the former kitchens that today function as a picturesque café. Inside the settlement, the imposing Soufari Sarai, the Turkish library and the Jewish synagogue are preserved, while Byzantine towers, such as the Tower of Bohemond (1082) and the Tower of Thomas, bear witness to the site’s distant past.
The Castle Museums
Three important cultural venues await you:
- Byzantine Museum: Featuring rich collections of sculptures, coins and relics.
- Municipal Ethnographic Museum: It is housed in the Aslan Mosque and displays local costumes, silversmithing and the sword of Karaiskakis.
- Fotis Rapakusis Museum: Presenting exhibits on military history from the pre-revolutionary period to the Balkan Wars.
The Castle of Ioannina is not just a monument, but a living organism where Byzantine grandeur and Ottoman heritage coexist in its picturesque cobbled streets.
