Ioannina Castle
About
Ioannina Castle, perched on a rocky promontory overlooking Lake Pamvotis, is a striking blend of Byzantine, Ottoman, and Hellenistic architecture that has shaped the historic core of Ioannina for nearly a millennium. The fortress comprises two main citadels: the older Northeastern citadel, originally fortified in the 11th century, which houses the impressive Aslan Pasha Mosque—now the Municipal Ethnographic Museum—and the larger southeastern citadel, better known as Its Kale. Under Ali Pasha the 19th‑century ruler, the castle was extensively rebuilt, incorporating his grand palace, a butterfly‑shaped gate, and extensive inner galleries. Today the site offers a vibrant mosaic of religious, civic, and military structures, including Ottoman baths, a surviving medieval library, and a range of archaeological displays that chronicle the city’s rich multicultural past.
Highlights
- Aslan Pasha Mosque Museum
- Its Kale Citadel
- Northeastern Citadel
- Ottoman Bath Ruins