The Castle of Ioannina is developed between the two citadels, the northeast and the southeast, which have already become the seat of both the secular-military power and religious authority, since the Byzantine era. In the northeastern citadel, dominates the mosque of Aslan Pasha which houses the collections of the Municipal Ethnographic Museum since 1933. Within the precinct there are the remains of Medrese, a higher Koran school that operated in the building of the library, in a short distance from the entrance of the museum. Opposite the building of the library stands the imposing Palace of the horsemen of Ali Pasha, known as Soufari-Serai. Following the path to the southeast acropolis of Its Kale we reach a plateau surrounded by buildings that date back in the years of the rule of Ali Pasha. The Seraglio (Byzantine Museum), the Treasury (Silversmithing Museum), the Powder Magazine, the galleys and the Fethiye Mosque, compose the image of an organised administrative-religious centre. Final stop of the journey inside the castle is at the Jewish Synagogue on Justinian street, a reference to the small community of the Romaniote Jews of the city.

Soufari Sarai
It is the mansion of Soufari (cavalry of Ali) and was probably built between 1815 and 1820. It is one of the most important buildings of the late Ottoman period. This imposing building is located opposite the Turkish bath outside the northeastern citadel of the castle. It is a two-storey stone building with three large arched openings on the north and south side which facilitated the movement of the riders. The interior is illuminated by fifty windows. The building was restored by the Ministry of Education and nowadays houses the General Historical Archives of Ioannina.

The library
Near the citadel and opposite Soufari Seraglio there is a building which has been characterized as a library because of the large number of books and manuscripts found there. It includes a large room and two smaller ones on the right and left of the entrance with a narrow domed corridor.

The turkish baths
South of the library the deserted building of the Turkish baths (hamam) is maintained, dating from the early 17th century. The building served the needs of the Muslim community of the castle and the interesting fact is that is within walking distance from the Byzantine bath, also revealed in the castle. Over the years the building suffered various interventions.
It basically follows the architectural standards of the respective buildings of the same period. It consists of a large square hall, an intermediate oblong arched room, the main hall of the bath, the vaulted tank and the ovens for heating the water.

Municipal Museum Aslan Mosque
It was built in 1618 in the place where there had been formerly the church of St. Ioannis. It was the core of a large complex, of which today just the Medrese (theological school) and the galleys have survived. Since 1930 it has housed the Municipal Museum, which refers to the three ethnotic groups living in the city.
The illumination of the central hall is achieved of eight windows in two rows opened on each wall, adorned with painted decoration. On the eastern wall of the central hall there is a richly decorated niche for the prayer. A plasterwork sculptural decoration (aniconic because the Muslim religion does not allow the depiction of figures of holy persons) frames the front of the niche and the sides of the created pulpit (minmpar). A circular sophisticated ornament runs through the centre of the dome and the base is run by a zone with written parts from the Koran. Inside the hall there are various nacre objects dating back to the years of the Ottoman period. All items on display are donations of noble families, dating from the 18th-20th century and are mainly utilitarian or decorative utensils.
There are also weapons and costumes typical of the Ottoman period.
In the Greek section there are exposed ecclesiastical silverware, vestments and church books from the collection of Archbishop Spyridon Vlachos.
In the Jewish collection there are drapes from the building of the old synagogue, as well as costumes and dowry contracts of the once thriving Jewish community of Ioannina.

Jewish synagogue
The “Kaal Kadosh Yashan” or else the “old” or “Inner Synagoi” built right next to the walls on the Justinian street, dates to the early 17th century. The interior is divided into two parts: the ground floor space which was intended for men and the loft intended for women.
The synagogue is still a reference point for the few members of the Jewish community of Ioannina which still retain their identity and cultural heritage of community identified with the history of the city since the years of Byzantium.
Inside, the synagogue follows the architectural pattern of relevant buildings.
It consists of a vaulted pillared hall with many windows. In the center of the east side protrudes the Sacred Gate, the Echal, where the parchments of the Mosaic Law are kept. In the center of the west side there is a Step where the rabbi moves reading the Torah on Saturday, while on the north side there is a loft for women. The yard of the Synagogue is surrounded by a high wall and includes a well and a fountain.

The Acropolis (Its Kale)
During the Byzantine era, in the citadel of Its Kale, were the residences of the lords and the churches of Taxiarchon (Archangels) and Pantokratora (Almighty). During the Ottoman period it was the centre of activity of Ali Pasha as the Seraglio and the military buildings that housed the various officials were built here.

The Byzantine Museum- Seraglio
The construction began in 1788. It housed the apartments of Ali Pasha and his family, servants and harem. There was also the waiting room and the hearing room where Ali greeted the official guests and foreign visitors.
After the fall of Ali, until 1870, the seraglio continued to be used as an administrative centre. Later, it housed the military hospital “Saint Anargyroi” and since 1958 the Royal Pavilion. In 1978 it had been allocated to the Ministry of Culture; since 1995 it has been housing the Byzantine Museum of Ioannina.
Significant findings of excavations, dated from early Christian to post Byzantine period are exhibited in the seven halls of the Byzantine Museum. There are coins, pictures and ceramics from the wider region of Epirus.

Byzantine sculptures from the temples of Thesprotia and marble pillars and Corinthian capitals of the early Christian period, from the same area, occupy a prominent place in the collection of the Museum. There are also exhibited hand written gospels and a printed book of 1499, issued in Venice, from the Printing Office of Nikolaos Vlastos.

Treasury – Silvercraft Museum
According to tradition, the building located south of seraglios functioned as “Treasury” during the domination of Ali Pasha. The treasury is next to the church of St. Anargyroi and hosts an exhibition dedicated to the art of silversmithing, a flourishing art in Ioannina, especially during the post Byzantine period.
It includes donations, specifically the donation of Archbishop Spyridon, that of the Ioannidis family and of Velli-Dogoriti, and is supplemented by the representation of a silversmith workshop.