The region of Ioannina has been popoulated by Greeks since the Mycenaean era, but the City of Ioannina often called Yannena, was formally founded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD and is the capital and largest city of the region of Epirus with a population of 112,486 (in 2011 census). Ioannina flourished following the Fourth Crusade, when many wealthy Byzantine families fled there in the early 13th century following the sack of Constantinople. It was part of the Despotate of Epirus from 1358 to 1416, before surrendering to the Ottomans in 1430. Between 1430 and 1868 the city was the administrative center of the Pashalik of Yanina. In the period between the 18th and 19th centuries, the city was a major center of the modern Greek Enlightenment. Ioannina became again part of Greece in 1913 following the Balkan Wars.
The City has a longstanding tradition in commerce and handicraft activities dating back in the 17th century, where merchants from Ioannina traded with important European commercial centers, such as Venice and Livorno, and established commercial and banking houses. The first three owned printing presses that were operating in Venice and published thousands of books for the Ottoman ruled Greek people were established by members of the Ioanniote diaspora. At the same time these merchants and entrepreneurs maintained close economic and intellectual relations with their birthplace and founded charity and education establishments in the City of Ioannina, thus becoming major national benefactors. During the 18th century, every author of the Greek world, was either from Ioannina or was a graduate of one of the city's schools, and the City created the reputation of being number one City in education.
The City is situated on the western shore of lake Pamvotis (Παμβώτις) and is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the capital of Ioannina regional unit and the region of Epirus. Ioannina is located 450 km (280 miles) northwest of Athens, 290 kilometres (180 miles) southwest of Thessaloniki and 80 km (50 miles) east of the port of Igoumenitsa in the Ionian Sea. Ioannina has a wealth of attractions and museums with most notable attractions; 1) the islet on Lake Pamvotis, referred to as "Nisaki" (Νησάκι, Greek for "little island") by everyone, except its inhabitants, they call it "Nisi" (Νησί, Greek for "lsland"). Passengers are ferried back and forth from the mainland to the island (about a 15-minute ride each way) on small motorboats which run on varying schedules, according to the season, 2) the Castle located in the center of the town, this was the heart of the Despotate of Epirus, and the Ottoman vilayet. The maze-like layout of the castle's streets was allegedly designed to confuse pirates who breached the castle walls: they would get lost within the fortress, and thus be captured before escaping with their booty, 3) The Historic Centre of Ioannina with small traditional shops and houses, and many souvenir shops, 4) The National Archaeological Museum of Ioannina,, which includes archaeological exhibits the history of Epirus from prehistoric times through the 19th century, 5) the ancient theatre of Dodona dating back to the 4th century BC and with 15.000 capacity is one of the best preserved theatres of the ancient world and major Greek plays (ancient and modern) have and still are being staged in the theatre.
In the City of Ioannina the School of Health and Social Welfare of the T.E.I. of Epirus is situated and is compromised by the Department of Nursing, the Department of Speech & Language Therapy and The Department of Early Childhood Care. Also, in the City of Ioannina the University of Ioannina is situated with which the Department of Nursing from the T.E.I. of Eprius collaborates primarily at a postgraduate level. Also, the City of Ioannina has both a General and a University Hospital that provide health and care to the population of the broader region of Epirus and with which the Department of Nursing collaborates for the clinical education of nursing students.
