Ioannina (regional unit)

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Ioannina
Περιφερειακή ενότητα
Ιωαννίνων
Regional unit
Municipalities of Ioannina
Municipalities of Ioannina
Ioannina within Greece
Ioannina within Greece
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Country Greece
Region Epirus
Capital Ioannina
Area
 • Total 4,990 km2 (1,930 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 167,901
 • Density 34/km2 (87/sq mi)
Postal codes 44x xx, 45x xx
Area codes 265x0
ISO 3166 code GR-33
Car plates IN
Website www.nomioan.gr

Ioannina (Greek: Περιφερειακή ενότητα Ιωαννίνων) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Epirus region. Its capital is the city of Ioannina. It is the largest regional unit in Epirus, and one of the largest regional units of Greece.

Geography

Ioannina borders Albania in the north, and the regional units of Kastoria in the northeast, Grevena and Trikala in the east, Arta in the southeast, Preveza in the south and Thesprotia in the southwest and west.

Ioannina is a mountainous region, dominated by the Pindus mountains, that cover the eastern part of the regional unit. The main subranges of the Pindus are from north to south: Gramos, Smolikas (2,637 m, the highest of the Pindus), Tymfi, Lygkos, Lakmos and Athamanika. The lower Xerovounio mountains are situated in the south, and the Tomaros in the southwest.

Lake Ioannina is the largest lake of Epirus. Several major rivers have their source in the Ioannina regional unit, including Aoös, Arachthos and Acheron.

History

See also the history sections of the Epirus and Ioannina articles.

The area of the present regional unit of Ioannina joined Greece in 1913, after the First Balkan War.

Administration

The regional unit Ioannina is subdivided into 8 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):[1]

Prefecture

Ioannina was established as a prefecture in 1915 (Greek: Νομός Ιωαννίνων). As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Ioannina was created out of the former prefecture Ioannina. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.[1]

New municipality Old municipalities Seat
Dodoni Dodoni Agia Kyriaki
Agios Dimitrios
Lakka Souliou
Selles
Ioannina Ioannina Ioannina
Anatoli
Bizani
Ioannina Island
Pamvotida
Perama
Konitsa Konitsa Konitsa
Aetomilitsa
Distrato
Mastorochoria
Fourka
Metsovo Metsovo Metsovo
Egnatia
Milea
North Tzoumerka
(Voreia Tzoumerka)
Pramanta Pramanta
Vathypedo
Kalarites
Katsanochoria
Matsouki
Sirako
Tzoumerka
Pogoni Kalpaki Kalpaki
Ano Kalamas
Ano Pogoni
Delvinaki
Lavdani
Pogoniani
Zagori East Zagori Asprangeloi
Vovousa
Central Zagori
Papigko
Tymfi
Zitsa Pasaronas Eleousa
Ekali
Evrymenes
Zitsa
Molossoi

Provinces

Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece.

Transport

Tourism

The prefecture of Ioannina, like most of the Greek mainland, is not as popular as the islands among tourists. Yet the area, along with its natural beauty, has quite a few worthwhile and interesting historical attractions. Besides the city Ioannina, these are:

  • A few kilometres south of the city is the Vrellis wax statue museum, displaying scenes from Greece's history. A small department in the city centre is free to the public.
  • The Dodoni oracle and archaeological site with amphitheatre.
  • The Vikos–Aoös National Park, including the Vikos gorge, through which the Voidomatis river flows.
  • The Zagori villages, partly in the Vikos-Aoos National Park.
  • Papingo, one of the Zagoria villages, a ski resort that is mainly popular with Greeks, and a popular starting point for hiking and mountaineering.
  • Mount Smolikas, with 2637 meter Greece's second highest mountain.
  • Metsovo, in winter a ski resort.
  • The caves of Perama, a few kilometres northeast of Ioannina.
  • The monument in Zalongo for the amazing women of Souli.
  • The war museum in Kalpaki.
  • Bourzani Bridge, near Melissoptera.
  • Pavlos Vrellis Greek History Museum, the most amazing wax museums in all of the Hellenic Republic (Greece).

Persons

Sports

Ioannina has a major football team, that is named PAS Giannina. There are minor sports teams throughout the prefecture:

  • Averoff
  • Dafnoula
  • Eleousa
  • Kefalovrysi
  • Metsovo
  • Mousiotitsa
  • Velissario

Literature

See also

References