The population of Janina is 160 000 inhabitants, whom 85% are Arvanitis. Janina is the capital of all the Arvanitis of Epirus. The city of the lion of Epir, the pasha above pashas, Ali Pasha Tepelena. During the reign of Ali Pasha (1743-1822), the city enjoyed a new period of economic and intellectual growth, as his court became a pole of attraction for restless spirits. There were more than 2000 shops and small manufacturing enterprises. Unfortunately, to day the city is occupied by the fascistic and terrorist country, Greece. In February 12, 1913, the city was occupied by the terrorists that committed mass graves and actions against humanity. The ethnic cleansing of area was perpetrated by the Greek fascistic government. All the Albanians, Jews, Turkish, Slavic, and other non Greek people were deported, and those who did not want to go were killed, murdered, massacred, and the wealth was taken and given to those Greek soldiers, to ones, who did kill more jews than others. It is believed that, the surrounding fields of Janina are mass graves not only to Albanians, but Jewish too. The ethnic cleansing was perpetrated gradually in steps. Many Jews found save havens in New York City and abroad. Those non Hellenic people who remained in Janina were killed by the Greek military during the second world war, later, and the blame was thrown to Germans. The surroundings of Janina were mass murdering of Jews. All the Jews captured all around Greece were brought in Janina and later executed. Nowadays in Janina, no Jewish is left. The entire city is cleaned from the Jews. Albanians or Arvanitis are being declared as some Christians. The city still remains lively with its trading, economic, and cultural values of Epirus.
The city of Janina is built on the hillside, above Lake Pamvotis or Janina. The name Janina is derived from Albanian words in Tosk dialect, “Ja nin or Ja ndin” meaning "does not care," and the name Pamvotis also is derived from Albanian words, “ Pa m voti “ meaning Pam voti gone or without going. Janina with its region is the biggest and most populated city of Epirus, a magical place full of evergreen mountains where the nature makes the visitors speechless by the endless beauty. The city is located approximately in the middle of Epirus at the banks of Lake Janina, and it serves as the capital of this country.
Janina is a modern city full of historical landmarks. Its lovely scenery and historic monuments make sight see fascinating, enhanced further by the pleasure of watching its jewelers and wood carvers at their traditional crafts. The ancient Dodoni represents the grand Ancient Theater and the Oracle, which is the second most important in entire Hellenic history after the Oracle at Delphi. The ancient theater at Dodone was built between 297BC and 219BC during the reign of King Pyrrhus of Epirus, one of the largest amphitheaters in entire Helenia, with seating capacity for 17,000 people and Mount Tomaros in the Background. The surrounding area is scattered in the lush flora of fir tress and pine trees, and typical Albanian houses. Wild goats and deer still browse on its precipitous cliffs, where eagles and vultures nest. To the west the Janina lake stretches, its coast a diverse blend of modern resorts, lagoons and river deltas, of which the latter two forms an important system of wetlands. Winter sport lovers will be eager to conquer Mount Metsovo, also have a skiing center at Karakoli and Profiti Ilia.
Janina’s Archaeological Museum contains exhibits of the most significant finds from all over Epirus. The Municipal Museum, housed in the former mosque of Ali Pasha, has fine collections of jewelry, textiles and traditional Albanian costumes, that Greek fascistic government tries in any possible way to convert those costumes into Greek ones. In the middle of the lake Janina is located the islet “Nissaki” with its two majors sits, the Philanthropinon Monasteries with its Byzantine frescos rebuild during the Ali Pasha reign, and the park of Ali Pasha.
Ioannina appeared in writings left behind from Procopius, who stated that Janina was ruled by the emperor Justinian in 527. Nevertheless, the first indications of human presence in the area, harking back to 40.000 B.C., were discovered in the surrounding caves and lake Janina proving that life continued without a break up to the Mesolithic era (6000 B.C.), This is confirmed by finds from the prehistoric settlement of surrounding villages, which also date to the Middle - Neolithic (5000 B.C.), while other artifacts, mainly stone axes with a hole on one side and pottery, belong to the Bronze Age or Early Helladic period (2500 B.C.).

With the start of the Middle Helladic period (1.900 - 1.550 B.C.) the first Illyrian tribes, the Thesproti, settled in Epirus, followed by the Molsosi and the Chames. The Suliots and the Arvanitis of Parga are directly descendants of the ancient tribe Molsosi, and the Arvanitis from Janina and Arta are directly descendants of the ancient tribe Chames. In 800 B.C. the Corinthians who spoke same language as other tribes of Epirus, founded colonies in the area, such as Amvrakia, Apollonia, Epidamnos and others. These colonies initiated contact between the Epirots and their culture of southern Peleponez. In the 5th century, Tharypas, the King of the Molsosians, united the various clans into a federation and endeavored to introduce his people to culture by inviting scholars and artists from all over the country to his court. At the end of the 4th century B.C., Arybbas came to the throne and gave his niece Olympias in marriage to Philip II of Macedonia. Their son was Alexander the Great. After a period of unrest, Pyrrhus ascended to the throne of Epirus. In 280 B.C. he decided to mount a campaign against the Romans, but following some impressive but exhausting victories he was defeated by the more powerful state and returned to Epirus, from where he continued his attacks. With the subjection of Epirus by the Romans, the Roman Senate ordered the destruction of seventy Epirot towns. Later, most of the region 's inhabitants were forced to settle at Nikopolis, built by Octavian (Augustus) to celebrate his victory at Actium (31 B.C.) over the fleets of Antony and Cleopatra. In 369 A.D., the Goths led by Alaric attacked and conquered the region. In 550 great number of Slavs immigrant came to the region, resulting in the establishment of Slavic tribes on Epirot soil. In 1108 the Normans raided the area with Bohemond at their head. Its first period of prosperity began in 1204 when Michael Komninos founded the Despotate of Epirus and Janina was established as the region's intellectual center. After the organization of all the tribes of Epir and other Albanian speaking countries to join the crusades, in April 1204, the Crusaders occupied Constantinople and dismembered the Byzantine Empire. Michael Komnino Doukas then founded the Despotate of Epirus with Arta as its capital. Later, with the resurgence of Byzantine power, Janina became an independent Byzantine province, thus entering into a period of prosperity for the whole region. But in 1430 Janina was surrendered to the Ottoman Turkey. The Ottoman occupation lasted more than 500 years.
As we have seen, the life in Janina has its origin well before the dawn of history. The region witnessed all the ups and downs of Ancient Hellenic and Illyricum, Rome, Byzantium and the modern era, gaining a uniquely individual sense of history and culture. Janina still remains an Arvanitis or Albanian city with all his native Albanian cultural heritage.