Evidence shows that the region of Epirus has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic era.

It was around 1300 BC, when the Molossians appeared in the region of Ioannina and dominated the area. Molossians, a strong nation with expansionist aspirations, acquired kinship with the kingdom of Macedon, by marrying the daughter of the king, Olympiad, with Philip II, king of Macedon. The fruit of this marriage was Alexander the Great, one of the greatest leaders the world has ever seen.

In the history of the region, the Molossian king, Pyrrhus, played a special role. Bringing together all the inhabitants of Epirus in 295 BC, he marched to Italy in an effort to expand his kingdom to the West. Pyrrhus had a series of victories, yet the losses suffered by his army were so large, resembling defeats, that he was forced to retreat. Any such victory in history is now called "Pyrrhic Victory".

In 168 BC Epirus was wholly conquered by the Romans, paying the price for supporting the Macedonians. Many cities were destroyed and their inhabitants were sold as slaves. During the Byzantine times, the area was fortified and the city of Ioannina was founded, being the second most important city in the Despotate of Epirus after Arta.

The region manages to secure a number of economic and other benefits from the Ottoman Empire and thus experiences major growth in trade, silversmith and goldsmith. Especially during the 17the and the 18the century, great spiritual development takes place. This is perfectly described by the popular saying "Ioannina, first in chariots, in money and in letters."

The region of Ioannina is finally liberated with the Balkan Wars in 1921-1923, and unifies with the rest of Greece. The Second World War is a period of fierce battles with both Italian and German troops. To make matters worse, the Greek Civil War that followed created --among others-- a major economic problem and forced several residents to emigrate.