Ioannina

Ioannina (Greek: Ιωάννινα, Greek pronunciation: [ioˈanina]), often called Jannena (Γιάννενα, Greek pronunciation: [ˈʝanena]) within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 (in 2001). It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis (Παμβώτις). It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the capital of Ioannina regional unit and the region of Epirus. Ioannina is located 450 km northwest of Athens, 290 km southwest of Thessaloniki and 80 km east of the port of Igoumenitsa in the Ionian Sea. Founded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD, Ioannina flourished following the Fourth Crusade, when many wealthy...