Ioannina Castle

Ioannina, Greece, Greece

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Ioannina Castle is a large fortified old town located on a rocky peninsula beside Lake Pamvotis in northwestern Greece.

With origins dating back to the Byzantine era and fortifications built over many centuries, it is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited castle complexes in Greece. The castle played a major role in the history of Epirus, passing through the hands of Byzantines, Serbs, local rulers, and Ottomans.

It reached its greatest prominence under Ali Pasha in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when extensive rebuilding and strengthening of the walls transformed much of the fortress into its present form. Within the castle are historic landmarks such as the Its Kale citadel, mosques, museums, churches, and remnants of Ali Pasha’s residence, reflecting the city’s rich Byzantine, Ottoman, and multicultural heritage.