Statistics
Periphery:	Epirus
Capital:	Ioannina
Area:	4,990 km² Ranked 3rd
Inhabitants:	157,214 (1991)
Population density:	31/km²
ISO 3166-2:	GR-33
Car designation:	IN Ioannina
Code for the municipalities:	22xx
Number of provinces:	4
Number of municipalities:	28
Number of independent communes:	13
Area/distance code:	11-30-265x0 (030-265x0)
Postal code	44x xx 45x xx
Name of inhabitants:	Ioanninian sing. -s pl.
2-letter abbreviation/HASC:	IO
Map

Ioannina (Greek: Ιωάννινα, often Γιάννενα Giannena, Yiannena or Γιάννινα Giannina, Yiannina ; Albanian: Janinë or Janina; Aromanian: Ianina, Bulgarian: Янина Janina) is a city in and capital of Epirus, Greece, with a population of approximately 100,000 and sitting at an elevation of 600 metres above sea level. It is capital of a prefecture with the same name. The city lies on the western side of Lake Pamvotis (Greek: Παμβώτιδα). Ioannina is one of the most number of municipalities and communities in Greece. It is bounded by Albania in the north, Kastoria in the northeast, Grevena in the east, the prefecture of Trikala in the east, Arta in the southeast, Preveza in the south and the prefecture of Thesprotia in the southwest and west. It is the largest prefecture in Epirus covering almost half of the Epirus.

The city has a General and a University Hospital; a University named University of Ioannina (5 km south of the city) with 16 departments (http://www.uoi.gr/oldsite/profile.html) and 13,000 students; as well as several departments of the Τechnological Educational Institute of Epirus (http://www.teiep.gr/English_Site/teiep_en.php), the headquarters of which are located in Arta.

The city is associated with Ali Pasha, the Ottoman-appointed ruler of Albania, Macedonia and Thrace, who was killed in 1822 by the Sultan's agents in the Moni Panteleimonos on the island at the centre of the lake. The monastery is now a museum.

Ioannina is famous for its spring water Zagori which is sold all over most of Greece. The area are made up of mainly pine trees. Its logo is colored with orange and white on the omicron or the letter o (prior, blue) and with the orange drop on the top.

Janina is mentioned in the book The Count of Monte Cristo.

Geography

The geography is made up of mountain ranges including Tymfi in the northeast, Lakyos in the east, Xerovounio (Greek for dry mountains), Tomaras in the southwest and the Grammos mountains in the far north. The 40th parallel crosses between Delvinaki and Konitsa. Much of the lands lie south of the 40th parallel.

The mountains dominate the east, north, west and south. Fertile lands dominated the areas within Ioannina.

Recent snowstorms happened in the beginning of the 20th century. A snowstorm on January 31, 2005 closed schools and streets and clogged and closed most of the roads. Highways were slippery and tire chains were required.

Transportation

• Greece Interstate 5/E55 S, Cen.
• Greece Interstate 6, W, Cen., E
• Greece Interstate 17, S, SW
• Greece Interstate 20/E55, Cen., NW, N
• Greece Interstate 26, NW

Tourism

The prefecture of Ioannina, like most of the Greek mainland, is not as popular as the islands among tourists. Yet the area has some worthwhile attractions.

In the city

• In the city of Ioannina there are many shops with silverwork;
• Within the castle in the centre of Ioannina city, the mosque of Aslan Pasha houses the Municipal History Museum, that includes works of folk art, weapons and swords from the period of the Ottoman occupation of the area;
• The island in lake Pamvotis has a traditional settlement. The monastry where Ali Pasha was killed is now a museum.

Outside the city

• A few kilometres south of the city is the Vrellis wax statue museum, displaying scenes from Greece's history. A small dependance in the city centre is free to the public;
• The Dodoni oracle archeological site;
• The Vikos-Aoos National Park, including the Vikos gorge, through which the Voidomatis river flows;
• Mount Smolikas, with 2637 meter Greece's second highest mountain;
• The Zagoria villages, partly in the Vikos-Aoos National Park;
• Metsovo, in winter a ski resort;
• The caves of Perama, a few kilometres northeast of Ioannina;
• The monument in Zalongo for the women of Souli;
• The war museum in Kalpaki.
• Bourzani Bridge, near Melissoptera

Communications

Television

• Ipiros TV - Epirus
• In Channel - Ioannina
• Panipirotiki TV - Epirus

Places

• Delvinaki
• Ioannina
• Konitsa
• Metsovo

Municipalities

Communities of Ioannina

Independent communes:

• ¹ - One of a few communities where the communal hall is located away from the commune in another area. It is governed from Larissa. The old communal hall in Aetomilitsa no longer exists.
• ² - One of the smallest communities in Greece

External links

• Ioannina Town Guide (http://ioannina.uoi.gr/index_en.html)
• University of Ioannina (new website, in Greek only) (http://www.uoi.gr/)
• University of Ioannina (old website) (http://www.uoi.gr/oldsite/main.html)