The Ioannina City Hall is one of the city’s most distinctive public buildings, featuring unique architecture and a rich historical legacy. It was built in 1928 by the National Bank, based on designs by architect Zoubouidis, on the foundations of the old Ottoman Governor’s Office, which was destroyed in 1926, most likely by arson. Its architecture follows the so-called “post-Byzantine” style, giving the building a distinctive character that sets it apart in the urban landscape of Ioannina.
From 1930 to 1950, it served as a branch of the National Bank, and later took on other significant uses. In 1960, the ground floor was allocated to house the Zosimaia Library, while the upper floor was used to accommodate the royal family during their visits to the city. Subsequently, the upper floor was transferred to the Municipality of Ioannina, and after the library was relocated, the ground floor was used as the City Council’s meeting hall.
The building is located on Andreas Papandreou Square and is of particular interest both for its form and for the details of its construction. It is a three-story building with a prominently projecting entrance, Byzantine-style columns, and wrought-iron railings in the Ioannina style on the ground floor. Also noteworthy are the elaborately decorated metope, the glazed porcelain tiles with floral motifs, the arches made of ceramic bricks, and the marble columns—elements that highlight the care and high quality of the construction.
Today, City Hall remains an important administrative and architectural landmark of Ioannina, linking the city’s modern function with its long history.
