Lake Pamvotis, better known as Lake of Ioannina, in situated in Ioannina.

It covers a total area of ​​over 22 square kilometers and is relatively shallow, with an average depth of 5 meters.

In the center of Lake Pamvotis, there is an island with a beautiful settlement. The island of the Lake of Ioannina is one of the two inhabited islands in lakes across Greece (the second is St. Achilles in Mikri Prespa). On the verdant island you will find six monasteries, magnificent houses and the Ali Pasha Museum. The island can be reached by small boats that make frequent trips from the city of Ioannina.

Lake of Ioannina also has a major historical significance, as in its waters the famous Kyra Frosini was executed by drowning by Ali Pasha. Her martyrdom became a folk song, a novel, a film and even an opera.

The lake is a source of life for the region with an excellent fishery production, specializing in eels and crayfish. What's more, in the Lake of Ioannina rowing races, canoeing and lake skiing are organized.

It is impossible to find yourself in Ioannina and ignore the beauty of the lake. The chances are that you will not want to leave the place, especially when you see the moon reflected on its wonderful waters.

In the archaeological site of Dodona, the ancient theatre stands out.

The ancient theater of Dodona was constructed in the 3rd century BC by Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, as part of a redevelopment program of the sacred site of the oracle of Dodona. The theater had a capacity of 18 000 spectators and at the time it was the largest in Greece.

The auditorium stood in the natural cavity of Mount Tomaros and had huge stands divided into tiers. The stage of the theater was a two-story building with adjacent rooms that served as backstage.

The theater experienced two major disasters, with first being the one by the Aetolians in 219 BC, when it was fortunately immediately repaired. The second time, it was destroyed by the Romans in 167 BC and the findings indicate that the stage was set on fire. A few years later, the Romans decide to rebuilt it, but this time it is converted into an arena that also hosts wild animals. The theater was maintained in this form until the 4th century AD. From that point on, it was abandoned and gradually buried under the soil, until the archaeological excavations of the late 19th century brought it to life.

Today the theater of Dodona has been restored in its most part. It is one of the best preserved ancient theaters in Greece and during the summer it even hosts theatrical performances.

The archaeological site of Dodona is in the southwestern part of Ioannina, 22 km from Ioannina city.

In ancient times, Dodona was famous thanks to the renown oracle. The oracle of Dodona was dedicated to Zeus and was the oldest oracle in Greece. The "father of history", Herodotus, reports a myth regarding the sanctuary's establishment that had been narrated to him by the priests upon his visit to Dodona. According to this, two pigeons started from Thebes, Egypt. One landed in Libya, where a large temple of Zeus was erected and the second landed on an oak tree at Dodona, where the oracle was built.

So, the sanctuary of Dodona began to develop focusing on this oak. The rustling of its leaves, together with other natural sounds, were read by the priests as the Gods' will, providing the people with oracles. At the end of 5th B.C. century, a small temple was erected, while during the reign of Pyrrhus many buildings were constructed, such as the Bouleuterion (Council Champer), the prytaneion and the enormous theater. The region suffered two major disasters, by the Aetolians in 219 BC and the Romans in 167 BC. Although, the oracle kept on running, it never regained its former glory.

One of the last of the oracles was given in 362 AD and a few years later the sanctuary of Dodona stops working. It remains deserted and forgotten by people for many years, until it is uncovered by archaeological excavations in the late 19th century.

Today in the archaeological site of Dodona, the visitor, besides the famous ancient theater, can admire:

• The Hiera Oikia (Temple of Zeus), which enclosed the sacred oak of the oracle
• The Temples of Dione, Themis, Hercules and Venus
• The Bouleuterion (Council Champer) and the Prytaneion, which were the administrative buildings of the era
• The ancient stadium of Dodona
• The acropolis of Dodona

A visit to Dodona will definitely impress you, being a wonderful memory of your vacation for a lifetime.

More information about the archaeological site of Dodona can be found in the number 26510 82 287.

The Anilio Ski Resort is situated in Ioannina, near Metsovo.

It is one of the newest ski resorts in Greece, located at an altitude of 1850 m. Since the day one of its operation, the Anilio Ski Resort has been a hot-spot for ski and snowboard enthusiasts. So, every year from December until May,upon weather's permission, all 13 tracks are filled with fans of winter sports.

The Anilio Ski Resort is just 6 km away from Metsovo and 50 km from the region's capital, Ioannina. Access to the ski resort is really easy through the Via Egnatia that minimizes the time spent in car, enabling visitors to enjoy their favorite sports as much as possible.

What's more, in the Anilio Ski Resort you will find a chalet with drinks, snacks, greek mezedes, raki and spectacular views of the slopes, Metsovo and the surrounding area. Here you can rent ski equipment in case you don't have your own, while you will also find specialized instructors to teach you the winter sports tricks, depending on your level.

More information concerning the Anilio Ski Resort, can be found in www.anilio-ski.gr.

The region of Ioannina, thanks to its climate and the high mountains, is an ideal destination for those who love winter sports. Soon as the first snow comes, everyone takes the road to Metsovo, where there are three excellent ski centers one can enjoy skiing, snowboard and anything else they want. Ski resorts in Politses, in Karakoli and the Anilio Ski Resort, bring together hundreds of thousands of visitors who enjoy the snow and the facilities.

If you are into hiking and climbing, Ioannina is a small paradise on earth. The Pindos National Park Valia Calda and the National Park Vikos-Aoos with the impressive Vikos Gorge, are places of outstanding natural beauty. One would be a fool not to seize the chance to ascend the mountains, climb the cliffs and gorges, or simply hike and get in touch with his inner self through nature.

If you love water and excitement, you can do rafting and canoe kayak in Arachthos and Voidomatis rivers, while if you are the chill-out type and crave for more serene waters, you can go rowing, canoeing and lake-skiing in Pamvotis lake.

For those living on the edge, there is also the opportunity of paragliding with the Ioannina air-club (www.airioa.gr).

If, however, you are used to ridding, you can go mountain biking in the lovely mountains of Ioannina, try motocross in Kastritsa or even horse-riding in several areas of the region, with specialized trainers and beautiful horses.

In your vacations in Ioannina, just make sure you bring your good mood and everything else will follow. Are you ready? Go!

The region of Ioannina is served by bus transportation (more info www.ktelioannina.gr). Particularly the city of Ioannina has a quite well network of urban transport (more info www.astiko-ioannina.gr). Throughout the region of Ioannina there are active taxis and car rental agencies.

You can get to Ioannina with flights to "King Pyrrhus'' airport of Ioannina.

"King Pyrrhus" airport of Ioannina is just 5 km away from the city of Ioannina and has a taxi rank and bus stop. More information can be found at 26510 83600.

The western Zagori is made up of six small villages, in the northwestern part of Ioannina. Quaint old stone houses, impressive stone bridges, churches, together with the immense natural beauty of the area, create a unique setting that attracts thousands of visitors every year.

We begin our wanderings in western Zagori from Aristi, the main village of the region. Enjoy a coffee or a traditional dessert in the village square under the plane tree and stroll through the picturesque alleys. Just outside Aristi you can visit the monastery of Panagia Spiliotissa, which is built on a rock above the Voidomatis river. Following on, we have Megalo Papigo and Mikro Papigo, perhaps the most famous villages in the region. With only 4 km separating them, these villages pride themselves for their beautiful churches and the hexagon steeple of Agios Vlasios. Mikro and Megalo Papigo are an ideal base for wanderings in the luscious nature and the nearby Dragon Lake (Drakolimni) while excellent hotels, restaurants, taverns and bars will accommodate your every need. Especially in winter, they are absolutely bursting at the seams.

A well known village is Vikos, thanks to the namesake famous gorge. Situated at an altitude of 770 meters, the picturesque village offers spectacular views of the area. Our wandering in western Zagori concludes with a visit to the villages of Agios Minas and Mesovouni.

Central Zagori is the nearest in Ioannina, being the section between the eastern and western Zagori. It is made up of 24 villages of unique architecture that are built in a landscape of outstanding natural beauty.

The first stop is Vitsa, one of the largest Zagorohoria. The picturesque houses, the wonderful cobbled streets and the very old churches make strolling in this village a unique experience lost in time. In Vitsa you will find exceptional hotels to unwind and restaurants to enjoy the delicious traditional Greek cuisine. From here you have the easiest access to the Vikos stone bridge, which leads to the canyon's bottom. At the same time, pretty near the village, at the site Genitsari, ruins of the ancient Molossians' settlement have been identified.

Moving on, we continue towards the bustling Monodendri. Situated at an altitude of over a thousand meters, Monodendri offers a spectacular view across the region. After a stroll in the picturesque alleys of the village, the nearby monastery of Agia Paraskevi, the beautiful canyon and the surrounding mountains, excellent hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars await in Monodendri, where you can regain your strength after a busy day in nature.

Each of the other 22 villages has something special that you have to discover. Negades with the impressive frescoes in the church of the village, Tsepelovo with its old mansions, Koukouli with its striking fountains and Kapesovo with its folklore museum, where you will find one of the original copies of Rigas Fereos' Carta.

Kipoi (=Gardens) is one of the oldest settlements in the area. It once served as the capital of Zagori and today it is deal for endless strolling in the cobbled alleys and the beautifully built stone bridges. Vradeto, which is the highest village in the whole Zagori, at an altitude of 1350 m. Ano Pedina and Kato Pedina, where you will find the monasteries of Evagelistrias, Agia Paraskevi and Taksiarchon.

So it goes for the rest villages in central Zagori: Skamneli, Manassi, Laista, Leptokaria, Fraggades, Dilofo, Elati, Aspraggeloi, Elafotopos, Dikorfo, Vrisohori, Dipotamo, Iliohori and Kalota. All with their own character create a unique experience for those who visit them.

In the northeastern part of Ioannina you will find the sixteen villages of Zagorohoria, forming the eastern Zagori. Picturesque houses built by stone and wood, impressive stone bridges, churches and an indescribable natural beauty create a unique setting.

Eastern Zagori and its villages, seem to be less affected by tourism than the rest of Zagorohoria. Thus, they manage to keep their traditional character intact and the visitor can get lost in a scenery of immense natural beauty.

Strolling in eastern Zagori, you will stumble upon the villages: Greveniti, Elatohori, Makrino, Flabourari, Tristeno, Anthrakiti, Karyes, Doliani, Kavallari, Demati, Vovousa, Itea, Petra, Kastanona, Agia Paraskevi and Potamia.

In each of the villages, small or bigger surprises await for the visitor to discover them. A picturesque church, a beautiful and forgotten by time stone bridge and the almost pristine natural landscape, will be forever engraved in your mind shaping a wonderful memory of your vacatioms in Zagoria.