Castle of Ioannina

The impressive castle of Ioannina with its fortified district and the multitude of historical buildings is one of the most beautiful parts of the city.
The castle was constructed in the 6th century AD after an order by Emperor Justinian and is considered the oldest Byzantine castle of Greece. it possesses two acropolises, a northwestern, dominated by the Aslan Pasha Mosque and the southwestern one, known as Its Kale. Within the castle one can also visit the impressive two-storied building of the Cavalry School of Ali Pasha or else Soufari Sarai. Inside Its Kale there is also the building of the kitchens, which today houses a lovely traditional café. Of great interest is the building of the Byzantine Museum with its Byzantine and Late Byzantine collections of icons, coins and other items. The Aslan Pasha Mosque houses the city's Municipal Ethnographic Museum, with interesting exhibits from the Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities, which were once dominant in the city.