Zosimaia Academy of Education

The Zosimaia Pedagogical Academy is one of the most significant educational and historic buildings in Ioannina, having played a prominent role in the city’s intellectual and social development. It is located on Dodonis Avenue and effectively bridges the past and present of educational activity in the region.
On the site where the Academy stands today, the Osman Tsious Mosque stood until 1929, an imposing Ottoman monument with rich decorative elements. The construction of Zosimaia dates to the 1930s, marking a new era for education in Ioannina.

During World War II, the building took on a different role, serving as a hospital, and for several years it also housed the city’s Military Hospital. At the same time, it served as a key center for teacher training, and the first departments of the University of Ioannina operated within its walls when they were still a branch of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Today, the building continues to play an active educational role, housing school units, while also serving as a cultural venue, with exhibition and event halls. In the courtyard, one encounters significant monuments, such as works by the sculptor Theodoros Papagiannis, which enhance the cultural character of the space.

The Zosimaia Academy of Education is not merely an educational institution, but a living part of Ioannina’s history, reflecting the enduring importance of knowledge and education to the city’s identity.