Travel Like a Local

Many of us miss the hidden treasures, the history and deep rooted culture of Greece. It has more to offer than the luxury beaches and the Parthenon in Athens! During the refugee crisis Andrea was volunteering with Refugee Support Europe in the Katsikas Refugee Accommodation Center. She got to know another side of Greece: the city of Ioannina, the capital of the Ioannina and Epirus regions, in the north-western part of Greece. She is sharing her story with us here. 

Situated on a hill, on the western shore of Lake Pamvotis, within the Old Town that will take you back in time. Ioannina is a city that will give you a very different Greek experience. One of the first things you should do once you are there is to visit the Ioannina Castle that spreads throughout the entire Old Town. The ancient walls will take you back to the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. The buildings we were invited to visit inside (the main gate, the gunpowder store, ruins of Ali Pasha’s palace) will give you precious insights of the town’s history. Andrea and her friends were very lucky to be guided by their AirBnB host, a local from Ioannina whose love for the city gave this visit a deeper meaning. He brought the experience to life, so to speak. Bonus!

Tips, take note of the gate bearing the coat of arms of Ali Pasha (the Ottoman ruler of the late 18th century), Compare the NE Citadel, to the SE Citadel. Both have had some changes through the centuries of course. The NE started as the Byzantine rulers palace then in the 1600’s went to a Mosque, currently a museum. The SE was the palace for Ali Pasha, currently its a museum as well. Pause for a while with a coffee from their cafe and take it all in. The library must not be missed. History lovers will also enjoy the Fotis Rapakousis Museum. 

To finish off this splendid day you may want to enjoy some of the restaurants by the lake. How about the tradition of souvlaki? Vlachos restaurant comes highly recommended with the locals. Be Greek, take it slow, take your time. Don’t forget there’s a vibrant nightlife for all those young at heart. Start the evening at Spitaki me Thea, their cocktails are getting all the rave reviews. Secret, amazing desserts as well :))

The locals are very welcoming and yes, they speak English as the global language. Andrea tells me about her new greek friends that she still keeps in touch with. They gladly exchanged life experiences and helped her escape some of the traumatic stories she heard while working in the refugee camp by experiencing the vibrant nightlife that she couldn’t have discovered without them. 

So if you want to travel like a local and discover another side of Greece, make sure you put Ioannina on your list! This lively, historic, and friendly city is a must if you want to enjoy greek life as yes theres more than Athens!

Thanks Andrea Lupu for this great story and your help in the refugee camp.