Ancient Theatre of Dodona – Pavlos Vrellis Museum of Wax Effigies – Perama Cave: An experience that every visitor of the city of Ioannina should have.
Itinerary
- 09.00 Pickup from the hotel reception.
- 09.40 – 11.00 Visit to the ancient theater – museum of Dodona.
- 11.30 – 01.00 Pavlos Vrellis Museum of Wax Effigies.
- 13.00 – 14.00 Coffee break-snack.
- 14.30 – 16.00 Perama Cave.
The entry-tour fee is not included in the price.
The city of legends is full of attractions worth visiting. Some of them will be mentioned below.
The island of Ioannina
The “islet” of Ioannina is one of the few worldwide inhabited islands within a lake. Ali Pasha’s house is situated on the island – the ultimate refuge of Ali Pasha, which now operates as a museum, reviving through its exhibits the legend of Kira Frosini and the death of Ali Pasha. Opening hours: 08.00 to 11.00 (winter season) and 08.00 to 23.00 (summer season).
You can taste special delicacies such as eel and frog legs and wander through the narrow alleys admiring Ioannina’s folk art. The island is connected with the city of Ioannina via small boats leaving from the pier every half an hour during the summer months (08.00 – 24.00) and every hour during the winter months (08.00 – 22.00), the route is less than ten minutes at a cost of two Euros.
The castle of Ioannina
The current form of the castle of Ioannina dates back to the Ottoman era, incorporating earlier Byzantine architectural elements. Inside the castle there are two citadels.
The palace of the Byzantine rulers of the city was built in the northeastern citadel. Today, on its top dominates the mosque of Aslan Pasha (1618). The second citadel located on the southeast side, is known as Itch Kale, i.e., internal fortress. The Byzantine Museum is located in the centre of the citadel, built in the place where in the 19th century the seraglios of Ali Pasha stood and nearby the Fethiye Mosque (1795) is located as well as the tomb of Ali Pasha.
Perama Cave
One of the most important caves of the world is located just four km from the center of Ioannina.
It is a horizontal cave with path length of 1 km. The various formations of stalagmites and stalactites, the wealth and the combination of colors create an unsurpassed natural beauty.
Transportation: City Public Bus, Ioannina-Perama line, starting point next to the city-clock.
Opening Hours: 8:00-19:00 daily.
Phone: 26510-81521
Ancient Dodona
The archaeological site of Dodona, known for its panhellenic reputation, is one of the greatest ancient sanctuaries, preserved in a condition that helps us understand a lot of things about its function and utility.
The access to this wonderful site is easy. By car is 22 km of a comfortable route from Ioannina via Egnatia Motorway, and the traveler will easily reach his destination following the road signs. Another option is to take the public bus from the KTEL of Ioannina to Dodona.
Ticket price: general entrance 2€
Opening hours: During the Winter season from Nov 1 – Mar 3, 8:30-15:00 and Summer season from June 2 – October 31, daily 8:00-19:00
Pavlos Vrellis Museum of Wax Effigies
The wax museum of the sculptor Paul Vrellis is located at the 14th km of the national road Ioannina – Athens, near Bizani.
The life-size wax effigies of the museum, accurately represent their era and revive forms mainly of the modern Greek history.
Phone: 26510-92128
Opening hours: 10:00-16:00 during the winter season and 09:30-17:00 during the summer season.
Byzantine Museum of Ioannina
The main building of the museum was constructed during the 1960s and originally functioned as a royal pavilion inside the citadel of Ioannina Castle.
The museum was opened to the public in 1995. The silverware collection is housed in a 19th century building of the citadel. The museum is going to be expanded to other buildings of the citadel.
Phone: 2651-25989, 39580.
The Ali Pasha Museum
On the picturesque islet of Ioannina lake, is located the building of the monastery of Agios Panteleimon, where Ali Pasha was murdered. It has been configured into a traditional folk house of Ioannina and hosts various objects of the daily life of that era, which are available for the guests to admire.
It is worth taking the boat from the pier of the city and getting to the island which hides wonderful things to discover, among them the full of history house of Ali Pasha.
Saint Paisiοs – His parental home in Konitsa
Saint Paisiοs the Athonite (Arsenios Eznepidis) was born in Farasa of Cappadocia. In Greece, the family of young Arsenios settled in Konitsa of Epirus, where he spent his childhood and his youth. In August 1958, obeying God’s will, he did not settle in the desert, as he was planning, but to the ruined Monastery of Panagia of Stomio, located near Konitsa.
