The area of Konitsa

The city of Konitsa

Konitsa is 64km distant from Ioannina, 280km away from Thessaloniki and 500km far from Athens. It is the capital city of the district area.

The town is amphitheatrically built and it is separated into two parts, the Upper and the Lower Konitsa. It is populated by 3,000 permanent residents and it is characterised by its vividness throughout the year. There are several public services available such as Banks, a Post Office, a Bus Station, a Hospital, a Health Centre, pharmacies, a Police Station and the Traffic Police.

The central paved square is the "soul " of the town, where you can admire the statue of "Ipirotissa Eleftheria". There are many monuments that you can visit during your stay. Entering the town there is the famous stone Bridge of Konitsa, built in 1870 by Ziogas - Frontzos, a well-known headworker of the time.

The bridge of the river Awos has the biggest arch in the Balkans and the view from up there ( 20 x 40 [ 20m high ] ) reaches the gorge of Awos.

A walk through the tiled narrow streets of Upper Konitsa will lead you to the Mansion of Housein Bey Siskos, which dates back to 1845, according to the inscriptions. Unfortunately, there is not much left to be seen from the magnificence of the old mansion.

A few metres away you will meet the mansion of Hamkos, Ali Passa's of Ioannina,mother. The prominent Zinez Bey family settled in this great house at the beginning of the 18th century. Hamkos, the daughter, who spoke Greek, met Velis Bey in this house and Ali was the scion of their marriage.

It is historically proven that Ali was significantly influenced by his mother. Ali himself stated during his confession to Douqueville, " I owe everything to my mother ".

Ascending the road on the right of the Town Hall, you will meet the house of Tonga, which is the perfect sample of a traditional house of Konitsa. The house was built in 1890 and it was used as a hospital during the Second World War.

Following the road from the Town Hall to the left ( towards Vasilitsa ), you will find the Metropolitan Church of Konitsa, which is dedicated to St. Nikolaos and dates back to 1842, maybe even earlier than that. The wooden carved reredos of the church is a work of art, while several of its icons date back to 1850. The great plane tree in the yard of the church will generously offer its shadow during the summer months. In Lower Konitsa, at the area of Laka, you will find the ruins of Sultan Suleiman's mosque, which was built in 1536. The minaret can still be distinguished thanks to the efforts of the Archaeological Curator's Office despite all the damage that has undergone. The hexagonal muslim tomb, Tourbes, is preserved next to the mosque.

The new Town Hall building houses the " Public Central Library " of Konitsa, which is the intellectual jewel of the town. There are approximately 60,000 books available, several of which are distributed through a " bookmobile " to the villages of Ioannina, Kastoria and Thesprotia.The library also has a special area with computers with easy access to the Internet.

Useful telephone numbers

Public Services

Municipality of Konitsa : 26550 - 22191, 26550 - 23383
Police Station : 26550 - 22202
Fire Department : 26550 - 22199
Touristic Police of Ioannina : 26550 - 25673
Forest Inspection : 26550 - 22996 / 22090
Weather Bureau : 26550 - 22260
Postal Service : 26550 - 22216
Health Centre of Konitsa : 26550 - 23111 , 26550 - 22222
St. Paraskevi : 26550 - 24241
Vourbiani : 26550 - 31330
Drosopigi : 26550 - 81250
Pyrsogianni : 26550 - 31201
Express Service : 154
Hellas Service : 157 ( Local station : 26550 - 23090 )
Interamerican : 168

Banks

National Bank : 26550 - 22272 , 26550 - 22766
Commercial Bank : 26550 - 22347 , 26550 - 22761
Agricultural Bank : 26550 - 22207 , 26550 - 22311

Other services

Bus Station ( Ioannina ) : 26510 - 26211
Taxi rank : 26550 - 22471 , 26550 - 22500
Paddler School : 23777 , 23977
Skiing Resort of Vasilitsa : 24620 - 84100 , 26100
Monastery of Stomio : 26550 - 23067

Konitsa Mountain Hotel
Konitsa, Prefecture of Ioannina
Reservations : Tolis Exarchou
Tel. : 2655029390/2651038705, fax: 2655029391, mob.: 6932717850.
Web site : www.konitsahotel.gr  e-mail: info@konitsahotel.gr