| Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Ioannina attractions, posted by real travelers and locals. Ioannina Map |
 | Ioannina Off the Beaten Path | Tips 1 - 10 of 23 |  |
Perama cave is 4 km out of Ioanina in the direction of Metsovo and can be reached by bus n° 8. It is considered as one of the most beautiful caves in the Balkans. The visit is on almost 2 km of galleries and gigantic rooms, illuminated in order to enhance the outstanding concretions. When we visited, the guide gave its explanation only in Greek which is not a real problem for those who have already visited this type of caves elsewhere (I visited several in France). Recent visitors report the same. Explanations are not really needed! A visit not to miss!
Sorry, I did not take any photo! Leave a Comment
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 Metsovo by JLBGLeave a Comment
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 DODONI's ancient theatre by mindcrime
It used to be the place that the people were worshipping mother Earth during bronze era and later Zeus. Among the ruins are the temple of Zeus(the sacred house) where the sacred oak was, the temples of Diona and Themis, the temple of Aphrodite, the temple of Heracles etc
Acording to the legend -as the historian Herodotus tells us- two black doves flew from Egypt’s Theva, one went to Libya where the temple of Amon Zeus was built and the other to Dodoni. The dove stood over an oak, the sacred tree of Zeus and spoke with human voice where the temple of Zeus should be built! The priest were using the leafs of the tree to take decisions but also from the sound of the waters of the sacred spring and from the bronze boilers around the sacred tree. The priest were barefooted and slept on the ground to be in touch with earth!
You can spend an hour inside the site and then drink or eat something at the near by tavern. If you have time you can visit some villages around or just go to the Vrellis museum for the wax effigies (see next tip)
Dodoni is 22km SW of Ioannina. Drive to the national road towards Athens and turn right at Egantia, when you see the sign. There are also buses from Ioannina bus station.
The entrance fee is only 2euros and the site is open daily 8:30-15:00(November-march) and 8:30-19:00(april-october). The site is closed on:
1 January, 25 March, 1 May, Easter, 25-26 December
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One great day trip is to the picturesque Metsovo. A touristic but beautiful village 60km away from Ioannina. It's cold up there at 1200m when the village is covered with snow. Many go there for the ski center but most of the people to eat meat at the local taverns and to buy some great smoked local cheeses. There are also some museums like the Folklore museum, a gallery with paintings etc
The artificial lake Aoos is very beautiful after spring but it was great to see it one really cold winter day when we drove through the snow. The lake was frozen and the landscape was spectacular. You can drive around the 30km, cycle with mountain bike or just fishing and bird watching! There are many small islets. The lake was created in 1987 because of the dam that the electricity company have built at the area but then it became an important biotope.
The Aoos lake is located close to Metsovo at the plateau of Politsa at the foothill of Mavrovunio mountain. The height there is 1350m
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 Bizani's monument by mindcrime
Then you can visit the Vrellis museum on your way back before returning to Ioannina. This is one of the most famous museum in Greece, Paul P. Vrellis because very famous with his wax eefigies that represent nicely parts of Greek history, especially the Greek revolution against the Ottoman empire. The effigies are in natural dimensions and you can see scenes from three periods. Before the revolution, greek revolution of 1821 and second world war. My favorite is the one that shows Paul Vrellis making himself! There is a small store inside the museum with some postcards and a book about the museum. You can also drink something there.
The museum is open daily October-march 10:00-16:00 and April-september 9:30-17:00 and the entrance fee is 6euros
The museum is located 12km away from Ioannina at the national road Ioannina-Preveza. You’ll see a sign and you will drive up on the hill for 3’. If you come from Athens it will be on your right hand.
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 by mardaskaLeave a Comment
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 by xoparmeno
It is the widest stone-made bridge of Epirus and probably of Greece. With its impressive 40-meters-wide arch it stands some 18 to 20 meters above the waters of Arachthos river. It also has two small auxiliary 6-meters-wide arches on its two sides.
The bridge’s construction was completed in 1866 but before that it had collapsed twice during the building works, in 1860 and 1863. It stands on the border-line of the Prefectures of Arta and Ioannina and belongs to the community of Plaka Raftanaion. Leave a Comment
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 by haridoLeave a Comment
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 by harido
Welcome to the top show of Nature and Adventure sports in Greece. Hundreds of Greek as well as foreign athletes will meet once more in Konitsa to participate in the annual 'festival' of kayak, bouldering, trekking and mountain bike. And what's more, from this year on, Evathlos will include rafting and mountaineering marathon. So, the fans of these sports will have the opportunity to compete with each other, while discovering the secret beauty of the virgin nature of Epiros.
However, if you are not ready to participate yet, you may just as well watch the race, which will be really exciting. You will watch top athletes ready to offer a unique show. Applaud them!
If you can't participate in the races, you can always try, the adrenaline bossting bungee jumping, run to the Stomiou Monastery, or even try crossing the Voidomatis river by air.
The sports
Mountain Bike
Bouldering in Ioannina
kayak in the Aoos River
Relay Race in Konitsa
Rafting in the Aoos River
Mountaineering Marathon
Fun Race from Konitsa to Stomiou Monastery Leave a Comment
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 by StefanosS
The first habitants that came to the island were some noble and educated refugees from Constantinople, after the collapse of Byzantine Empire by the Crusaders. The island and the monasteries on it became a cultural centre of Greek Enlightenment, under the protection of the Seigniory of Epirus. Some important schools were established here. Other habitants migrated here from Mani in the 17th century. Today their main occupation is fishing and fish-farming. There are also some folk art shops.
On the lakeside there are picturesque traditional taverns with a variety of lake fish, trouts, crayfish, eels and … frogs! Oh, Yes! If you are brave enough to taste this last dish, you will find it delicious! You will have an unforgettable dinner watching the lake!
On the island there is the house where Ali-pasha was killed, in the monastery of Aghios Panteleimon. The house has been turned to a small museum.
On the island one can also visit:
- Filanthropinon monastery (1292 AD).
- St Nikolaos or Stratigopoulou monastery.
- St Nikolaos or Goumaton monastery.
- St John the Baptist monastery
- St Panteleimon monastery. Leave a Comment
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