Archaeological Museum of Ioannina

About the museum

The Archaeological Museum of Ioannina holds and presents the antiquities of Epirus. The effort to rescue the finds began after the region was liberated from the Ottomans in 1913, and it was completed with the recent reorganisation of the exhibition and the final arrangement of the collections.

The building is the work of the architect Aris Konstantinidis and is a characteristic example of Greek modernism. It stands in Litharitsia Park, on a hill overlooking the Ioannina basin, the lake and the Kastro (castle), while its courtyards, integrated into the layout of the site, recall the houses of ancient Greece.

The collections cover human presence in Epirus from the Lower Palaeolithic to the late Roman period. The thematic sections include prehistoric Epirus, the Aeacids, the kings of the Molossians and the archaeology of death. An entire hall is dedicated to the finds from the sanctuary of Dodona, the oldest and most important oracle of early antiquity.

Highlights

• Hall with finds from the Dodona oracle
• Lead tablets with the questions of pilgrims to Zeus and Dione
• Sections on prehistoric Epirus, the Aeacids and the kings of the Molossians
• Section on the archaeology of death
• Building by Aris Konstantinidis with views of the lake and the Kastro

Permanent exhibitions

• Μόνιμη έκθεση αρχαιοτήτων της Ηπείρου – Finds from the Palaeolithic to the late Roman period, arranged in thematic sections on prehistoric Epirus, the Aeacids, the kings of the Molossians and the archaeology of death.
• Αίθουσα της Δωδώνης – Finds from the sanctuary and oracle of Dodona, with the lead tablets bearing the questions of pilgrims as the outstanding example.

Founded

1970

Operated by

Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Ιωαννίνων (Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October, and the first and third Sunday of each month from 1 November to 31 March

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is about a 5-minute walk from the Ioannina Town Hall. By car from the KTEL intercity bus station the journey takes about 10 minutes, and from “King Pyrrhus” airport about 20 minutes.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.