Castle of Ioannina

What travelers say:

The oldest Byzantine fortress, the Joanina Castle, was built by Emperor Justinian in 528 AD. The Byzantine Empire was ambitious and powerful, and the spectacularness of the castle of Joanina was best reflected. It was also the oldest Byzantine fortress in Greece, and had a major impact on the history of the surrounding towns. Over the years it developed into a thriving centre with a highly developed intellectual life, where Ali Pasha, the mysterious symbol of Ottoman rule, lived. The castle is divided into four parts: the exterior wall, the northwest castle ruled by the Aslan mosque, the southeast castle, and finally the real castle town - the ancient wall town of Ioannina. The overall tone and texture of the Greek castle is different from that of many European countries. Less mottled, but still showing the depth of history. Epirus is home to many great novelists and poets, with its strong cultural heritage, and year-round organized artistic and academic activities, giving visitors the opportunity to understand the roots of Epirus' intellectual life. And the largest city in the Epirus region, Joanina, is also steeped in history, making people walk in the city, with an old-age feeling, full of mysterious places and legends.