Ioannina
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Ioannina (Greek: Ιωάννινα, often Γιάννενα /yanena/ or Γιάννινα /yanina/; anglicized to Yanina or Janina, is a city in Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of approximately 100,000 including suburbs. It lies at an elevation of 600 metres above sea level. It is the capital of Ioannina Prefecture and of Epirus. The city lies on the western side of Lake Pamvotis (Greek: Λίμνη Παμβώτιδα).
The city has a General and a [University Hospital]; a University named University of Ioannina (5 km south of the city) with [16 departments] and 13,000 students; as well as several departments of the [Τechnological Educational Institute of Epirus], the headquarters of which are located in Arta. In addition, the Biomedical Research Institute of the FORTH network was founded in the city in 1998.
The wireless network operating in the city is called Ioannina Wireless Network. It was founded at the end of 2002 and began operations in 2003. There is also a local Linux user group called [Ioannina Linux User Group] that was founded in November 2005.
The city's logo is consists of the portrait of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian crowned by a stylized depiction of the nearby ancient theatre of Dodoni, against an orange background.
Ioannina is mentioned in the book The Count of Monte Cristo.
Municipal districts
- Exochi
- Marmara
- *Ammos
- *Kardamitsia
- *Kato Marmara
- *Olympiada
- Neochoropoulo
- *Kato Neochoropoulo
- Stavraki
- *Penteli
- *Tsiflikopoulo
- *Velisari, Stavraki, Greece
Historical population
| Year | Population | Change | Municipal population | Change | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 44,829 | - | - | - | -/km² |
| 1991 | 56,699 | +11,870/+26.47% | 63,725 | - | 143.7/km² |
| 2001 | 61,629 | +4,930/+8.66% | 70,203 | +6,478/+10.17% | 182/km² |
History
The city was named Ioannina, and put under the patronage of St. John, in the early Christian period, supposedly in 510 AD. The city was founded in the 6th century by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I.In 1082, Bohemund I of Antioch conquered the town and in 1185 it was probably sacked by Normans of William II (king of Sicily). In 1204, after the fall of Constantinople, Ioannina was one of the major cities of the Despotate of Epirus.
Ottoman period
The Ottomans annexed Ioannina in 1431 through negotiations.In the early 19th century, the town (Ottoman: Yanya) is associated with Ali Pasha, an Albanian, appointed by the Ottoman Empire ruler of Southern Albania, Macedonia and Thrace. He was killed in 1822 by the Sultan's agents in the Moni Panteleimonos on the island at the center of Lake Pamvotis.
In 1900, Ioannina was the capital of the Vilayet of Ioannina, which was bordered by the vilayets of Scutari and Monastir to the north, the independent sanjak of Servia (Serfiçe) to the east, and Greece to the south-east. It was divided into five sanjaks: Berat, Koretsa, Gjirokaster, Yanya, and Preveza. In 1908 Koretsa sanjak passed to Monastir vilayet.
In 1913, during the first Balkan War the city surrendered to the Greek army, after several months of siege.
Tourism
One of the most notable attractions of Ioannina is the islet on Lake Pamvotis. Passengers are ferried back and forth from the mainland to the island (about a 15-minute ride each way) on small motorboats which run on varying schedules, according to the season. (About once every half hour, or more, in the spring and summer, much less frequently in the winter.) Tourists can visit the Moni Panteleimonos monastery (which was once Ali-Pasha's secret hideout) is now a museum containing paintings, information, and even re-creations of Ali-Pasha's living quarters on his island hideaway. The museum is not the only attraction on the island -there are many gift-shops, tavernas, churches and bakeries on the island's quaint, winding streets. Some of the people of Ioannina even choose to make the tiny island their yearlong home, with simple rowboats moored outside their homes, or in small marines, just in case they need to get to Ioannina proper when the motorboats are not running.Botanically, the region of Ioannina is dominated by robust, fragrant pine trees, many of which grow within the city itself, especially around the old castle, or fortress walls. The bizarre layout of the castle's streets, with roads going in circles or leading to dead ends was supposedly designed to confuse pirates of old who breached the castle walls, so that they would get lost within the fortress, and be captured before escaping with their booty.
- Ioannina is famous throughout Greece for its silverwork, with many shops selling silver jewelry and decor (serving trays, recreations of shields and swords, trinkets, etc.). The ornate style of the jewelry and artwork reflects more Turkish, rather than Greek, aesthetics, due to the long Turkish rule of the area. Ioannina is also one of the few places in Greece where one can purchase a hookah. Hardly any Greeks smoke using hookahs; they are sold mainly to tourists as novelty items. The hookahs vary in size from tiny to enormous (sometimes 4-5 ft. tall) and are often quite attractive, even as a piece of decor. For those who would like to experiment smoking with a hookah, most hookah merchants carry a variety of flavored tobaccos.
- Within the castle in the centre of Ioannina city, the mosque of Aslan Pasha houses the Municipal History Museum, which includes works of folk art, as well as weapons and swords from the period of the Ottoman occupation of the area.
- The neighbouring region of Zagori comprises many traditional villages, such as Papigo, Skamneli and Monodentri. The region is noted for its scenery and traditional food.
Local products
Ioannina is famous for its spring water Zagori which is sold over much of Greece. Ioannina is also known for a brand of local cheese called Feta Dodoni. The island in the lake Pamvotis is the only populated island within a lake in Europe.Communications
- Ipiros TV1 - Epirus
- In Channel - Ioannina
- IRT - Ipirotiki RadioTileorasi - Epirus
- Cosmo TV - Ioannina
- ITV - Ioannina
Sports teams
Ioannina is home to major sports team called PAS Giannina, which currently competes in the 2nd Division of the Greek football league. It is regarded as an inspiration for many of old as well as new supporters of the whole region of Epirus, even outside Ioannina.
Sports teams
Ioannina is home to major sports team called PAS Giannina, which currently competes in the 2nd Division of the Greek football league. It is regarded as an inspiration for many of old as well as new supporters of the whole region of Epirus, even outside Ioannina.Transportation
- Ioannina is served by Ioannina National Airport.
- The Via Egnatia roads passes by Ioannina. It goes from Igoumenitsa (port) to the Turkish Border.
- Air Sea Lines flies from Lake Pamvotis to Corfu with hydroplanes.
- Long-distance buses ride daily to Athens (7 hours) and Thessaliniki (6 hours).
Interesting facts
- Ioannina is home to many Orthodox Christian churches, and to three (defunct) mosques and a synagogue.
- There was a Jewish community living in Ioannina before WWII. The majority of them (1,860) was sent to concentration camps during the final months of German occupation (1944). Today only about 50 of them are left.
- Distances from Ioannina to:
- * Athens - 466 km (via Rio)
- * Thessaloniki - 354 km
- * Patras - 261 km
- * Igoumenitsa - 104 km
- * Albanian border - 65 km
Other
Ioannina has schools, lyceums or middle schools, gymnasia or secondary schools, churches, a post office, banks, restaurants, a port, supermarkets and squares (plateies).
External links
- [Ioannina Town Guide]
- [University of Ioannina (new website, in Greek only)]
- [University of Ioannina (old website)]
- [Pindos Trek. Online Guide on the mountains of Ioannina province]
- [360° Virtual tours of Ioaanina]
- [Kehila Kedosha Janina] (Jewish community from Ioannina, in New York City)
| Municipalities of Ioannina Prefecture |
|---|
| Agios Dimitrios | Anatoli | Anatoliki Zagori/East Zagori | Ano Kalamos | Ano Pagoni | Bizani | Delvinaki | Derviziana | Dodoni | Egnatia | Ekali | Klimatia (Ioannina), GreeceEvrymena | Ioannina | Kalpaki | Katsanochoria | Kentriko Zagori | Konitsa | Mastorochoria | Metsovo | Molossi | Pamvotida | Pasaronas | Perama | Pramanta | Sella | Tymfi | Tzoumerka | Zitsa |
| (Non-municipal) Communities of Ioannina |
| Aetomilitsa | Distratou | Fourka | Ioannina Island | Kalarites | Lavdani | Matsouki | Milea | Papingo |Pogoniani | Sirako | Vathypedo | Vovousa |
| Provinces of Ioannina |
| Dodoni | Konitsa | Metsovo | Pogonio |
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