The oldest Byzantine castle in the country also serves as the emblem of the city and acts as a reminder of both the glory and hardship that Ioannina has enjoyed and endured over centuries. A truly impressive structure, it encompasses 200 acres with the perimeter of its walls spanning 2000 square meters. It was first built under the supervision of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I in 528 A.D. in an attempt to raise the empire’s defence system in the event of an attack as well as to house the empire’s administration centre.