The slim minarets of Ali Pasha’s citadel poking above the lakeside trees are a distinctive feature of this beautiful regional capital. Idyllically situated on the shores of Lake Pamvotis, wit the Pindos Mountains on the far side beyond the delightful central island of Nissi, it is a lovely place to spend a few days.

Under the Ottomans, Ioanina flourished as a centre for arts and crafts, notably for silversmiths. Even today, silver from Ioanina is considered to be among the finest in Greece, and you might still find a few craftsmen working in cramped workshops in the back streets.