Petrit Latifi

Janina was titled “The Capital of Albania” in the 1880s in newspapers. Before 1913, there were many Albanian toponyms and names in the Janina (Ioannina) before the region was Hellenized and Greekified.

Ioannina is located at an altitude of 480 m above sea level and is located on the shores of Lake Ioannina. Distance from major cities: 100 km from Gumenica, which is located west of Ioannina. Before 1923, the city of Ioannina had the following neighborhoods: Dederuç, Pazari Drithërave, Guraba, Ibrahim Pasha, Kalluça, Karavatja, Luca, Mitropolia, Namazgjah, Shëngjergji (Aj Jorgji), Mejdan, Siri Xhami, etc.

Toponyms of the city of Ioannina: (Before 1923)[2]

Arqimandrio – Greek church, in the N.
Barkmadh/i – farmstead, in the SE. This name means a place of abundance, from the products it receives, it makes you healthy, makes you have a big belly, a big belly. Avni Rustemi’s father from Libohova, etc. also had his properties there.
Bezhan/i – high fortified hill: There the Albanian and Turkish forces wrote pages of heroism for our national history. For 6 consecutive months these forces, although with insufficient dry bread, in the cold of that winter (1912-1913) all the rain and hail dealt deadly blows to the Greek forces so much that they will not be forgotten for centuries and centuries. In the S.
Blic/i – spring near Drabatova, in the E.
Bregu i Morrave – bank in the S. where the soldiers of the camps boasted.
Bregu i Shqipes – coast, in the S.
Brinjë e Korbit – hilly coast, in the SW.
Brigjet e Morrave – hills in the E. of the city.
Bunilë – (Buna?) – village where Ali Pasha Tepelena had his summer palace, in the S.
Burbuqe/a – rocky face, in the E.
Burim i Drabatovës – spring that comes out of the ground. The water is very cold. This large stone of drinking water is located across the lake, at the foot of Miçikeli, in the E.
Burim i Fierit – spring, in the E.
Burim i Palodjalit – spring, in the E.
Buz’ e Ujkut – rocky edge, in the E.
Cfakare/ja – hilly face with cfaka on Bregu e Morrave, in the E.
Çairet e Janinës – field of Janinës, in the S.
Dederuç/i – Albanian neighborhood, in the NW. In 1923, almost the entire neighborhood was deported to Turkey.
Dodona/a – the famous ancient capital 23 km, E. of Ioannina.

Drabatova (Greek: Ντραμπάτοβα/Ntrampátova), the sources of Lake Ioannina with the island of Shënpandalejmon in the background

Drabatova/a – a spring with very cold water. It is located at the foot of Mount Michikeli. See “spring of Drabatova”, Drabatova with its waters feeds Lake Ioannina. There, they say, Ali Pasha Tepelena spent time with the beautiful Frosina.
Dragaç/i – forest, in the S.
Evrejka – Jewish neighborhood, in the S.
Fetije Xhami – mosque.
Birbil’s Nest – in the E.
Fushë e Shën Janit – field where a monastery is located, in the SE.
Guraba/ja – Albanian neighborhood, expelled to Turkey by the Greeks in 1923, in the SW.
Guri mbi Gur – on the Morrave Coast, in the N.
Gjurmë/a Kusarëve – mountain path, in the S.

Hamamet of Ioannina

Hamamet – baths outside the castle where soldiers bathed.

Han i Emin Agait (Greek: Χάνι Εμίν Αγά/Háni Emín Agá), today the Museum of the Balkan Wars (Μουσείο Βαλκανικών Πολέμων/Mouseío Valkanikón Polémon)

Han i Emin Agait – inn between Ioannina and Philippi.
Han i Ermenit – there was an inn with the same name, in the W.
Han i Gegës – inn from the Turkish period, near the center.
Han i Musa Alushit – inn, a few hours from the center, in the S.
Han i Paldëmes – inn near the village of Paldëm.
Han i Pashait – old inn 4–5 km, to the W.
Han i Pllakës – inn on the road, to the SW.
Han i Ri – former inn during the Turkish period, to the SW.
Han i Xhemali Agait – old inn, to the SW.
Hotel Ihsanie – hotel. After the Greek occupation of Ioannina, its name was changed to “Averof”.
Hund’ e Korbit – hilly nose, to the N.
Hund’ e Sfakës – hilly nose, to the N.
Ibrahim Pasha – neighborhood in the city center. In 1914, the Greeks dismantled it by opening a wide road, which they named “Suliu”.
Idadije/ja – primary school for Albanian Muslims where only Turkish language instruction was allowed. It was closed by the Greeks in 1922-1923 and turned into a Greek agricultural school, giving it the name “Agrotiqi” Skoli. (gr. agricultural school). It was, to the L, of the Ibrahim Pasha neighborhood.
Ali Pasha Tepelena’s trenches.
Manolas – trenches built by Ali for defense against the Turkish army.
Barkmadh’s trenches – trenches in Barkmadh where the defense of Ioannina from the Greeks was fought in 1912-1913, in the S.
Jali Kafene/ja (Glass Cafe) – today “Odhos Aneksartisia” (gr. Independence). Opposite this was the “Unity Club”, which after the assassination of Kadri Gjata, was transferred to another place after being burned by the Greeks. Jali Kafeneja was between the streets today “A… and Jetimores”, “Jeorgjiu Stavru” in the V, at the exit of Ioannina, in the V.
Jeshiltepe/ja – high hill a few hours, in the S. of Ioannina where hand-to-hand fighting took place between the Labe and Greek forces in 1912-1913.
Cafe Olimpja – opposite it, near the Shenkoll church, before 1912 there was the printing house “Zgjimi” and the Club “Bashkimi”.
The Five Wells Fortress – is a few hours south of Ioannina, between the Ioannina-Filipjadhë road. The fiercest fighting in this fortress between Albanians and Greeks took place in 1897 and 1912.
Kalluçe/a – the old bazaar in Ioannina.
Kamare – near the center.

The Army Barracks (Greek: Σουφαρί Σαράι/Soufarí Sarái) in the Ottoman period, which is used today as the state archives

The Army Barracks – in the SE.
The Albanian Club “Bashkimi” – was near the “Jali Cafe”, it was moved to the “Aneksartisia” road (Greek: Pavarësia) opposite the Cafe “Olimbia”, in the house of Avdul Vasjar from Vasjar’s hut in Tepelena, which remained open until July 1912 after the assassination of Kadri Gjata. It was closed by the Turks and burned by the Greeks in 1913.
Kozmira – a village in Ioannina, in its vicinity famous for the Albanian-Greek battles in 1912-1913.
Kritharopazari – (gr.: Grain Market), in the L.
Kroi i Shahut – a ford on the Plezhnja River.
Kroi i Trimit – a ford near Pesë Pusëve, in the S.
Kroi i Vojvodës – a dry ford (not in use), in the mountain, in the S.
Lam Xhami (Islam Xhami) – a mosque, in the V.
Lisareja e Bezhanit – an oak forest at the foot of Bezhani, in the S.
Litharicë/a – a place in Bunilla, outside the city of Ioannina, in the S.
Luca – a neighborhood that once had Albanians.

Shënpandalejmon Island in the middle of Lake Ioannina with the city of Ioannina in the background

Lucëz/a – the edge of the lake where the beautiful Frosina drowned.
Lumarë e Ioannina – the lands that are on both sides of the Popova stream up to Hani i Pllakës, with a length of 8 hours on foot, in the P.
Lum i Dodona – a small river near Dodona, in the P.
Maj’ e Shpatës – a mountain peak on the island.
Monastery of Pandalejmon – a monastery on the island of Pandalejmon, in the L.
Monastery of Saint Ilia – a monastery on the island of Pandalejmon, in the L.
Monastery of Shënikolla – a monastery on the island.

Bazar i Bagëtive near the city center (1898)

Madrasa/ja – a madrasa where Albanian Muslim students of Ioannina continued their studies. This madrasa was closed after the defeat suffered by the Greeks in Asia Minor. The mosques in the Ibrahim Pasha neighborhood were also closed. The Greeks turned the madrasa into a post office. It was in the Ibrahim Pasha neighborhood.
Mejdan/i – a neighborhood of Roma people where Albanians who were forcibly moved to Turkey lived and their homes were taken by Greek immigrants from Asia Minor. At the foot of the hills of this neighborhood are the graves of Albanians who lived there.
Mejtepi – mejtep in the Ibrahim Pasha neighborhood.
Mitropolia – in the center.
Bunilla swamp – in the S.
Zharovina swamp – in the W.
Moli – a pier by the lake, in the E.

The ruins of Ali Pasha’s palace in the castle

Pasha’s pier – a pier under the castle where Ali entered the boat.
Ioannina Bay – the surface is 23 km2, the depth is 3-13, the width is 1 km. and a half, in the middle 5 km, and 70 wide, the length is 33 km. It is located in the E. of the city.
Nisia e Shënpandalejmonit – a small island in the lake. It has a length of 80 m and a width of 500 m. A sandy place. The place is full of beauty all year round. There are various trees and centuries-old turnips, with wonderful shade for summer holidays. Around the shores there are dense reeds and poplars as well as cypresses. There are also 7-8 monasteries; like that of Shënpandalejmon from which this island of Shënikolla, Shënilië, etc. takes its name.
Ali Pasha Tepelena’s Palace – Ali’s palace in the fortress.
Ali Pasha Tepelena’s Palace in Litharica – Ali’s summer palace, today a ruin.
Cattle Market – market near the center.
Cham Market – market on the road leading to the castle.
Jews’ Market – market where Jews traded near the main gate of the castle.
Grain Market – on the road leading to the castle.
Barley Market – place where barley was sold.
Horse Market.
Piçkavoda – spring, now out of service, in the W.
Pigadhi i Gjin Plaku – was a barn, now out of service, in the S.

Shesh i Sahatit (front) and Rrepet e Gazetës (back) clock tower, 1932

Pllaka – hilly area with stone slabs, 1 hour from the city.
Pllate/ja – square south of the city.
Gjinikës Well – well in the Lucë neighborhood of Ioannina.
Pasha’s Well.
Qaf’ e Kënetës – neck of the swamp, in the S.
Qaf’ e Kozmirës – neck, in the SW.
Qira Frosini – amusement park named after the beautiful Frosina, who is said to have been the lover of Ali but also of Miftari (Ali’s eldest son).

Sahat i vjetër i Ioannina

Qish’ e Kuqe – high rocky hill with a church on top, in the S. It is known for the fierce fighting between the Albanian forces fighting in defense of the country and the Greek aggressors in 1912-1913.
Qisha e Mitropoliës – Greek church, in the SE.
Qisha e Shënjanit – Prelub’s grave is located there.
Qoshq i Pashait – the palace of a pasha in Ioannina who was once killed by the Chams, because the pasha had made their coats heavier, etc.
Radhatop/i – former estate of the Albanians of Ioannina. There were properties of his aunt (mother’s sister) Kadri Gjata. His aunt was called Nazime Ali Gjata. She died in 1917 in Ioannina.
Rrap i Birbilejve – centuries-old plane tree on a branch of which in the last century the 12 famous birbilenjte from Nivica e Kurvelesh were hanged. The branch where they were hanged has dried up. The plane tree is located at the entrance to Ioannina, in the V.
Rrap i Bukëve – plane tree near which bread was sold.
Rrap i Falë – plane tree with humble branches as if they want to pray.
Rrap i Gegës – near this plane tree there was a merchant from the north who sold sweets in his shop.

Rrap e Gjata.

Rrap i Shënjës – plane tree where the marksmen came and shot with rifles and pistols.
Holy Plantain – It was believed that in the shade of this plane tree, the genies sang and played.
Newspaper Turnips – large turnips in the city, under whose shade the elderly read the newspapers. Nearby is the city clock.
“Suliu” Street – the former Albanian neighborhood of Ibrahim Pasha. The name Suliu was given by the Greeks in 1914, while today it bears the name “October 28” of the beginning of the Italo-Greek war.
Clock – the old city clock, in the center.

Kapllani High School

Sanije – shops and hotels, in the center.
Siri Xhami – near the Mejdan neighborhood.
Spirlë/a – field, in the SE.
Stan i Jan Vllahut – stan, in the S.

Tomb of Ali Pashë Tepelena

Shëngjergji – church.
Shënjani – church, in the S.
Shënkaterina – church, in the W.
Shënkoll/i – church, in the L. today ruins.
Shënmarina – church, in the S.
Shesh i Sahatit – square in the center.
Shesh i Taborrit – square where the camp was set up.
Shkëm i Shqipes – rock, in the W.
Shkallë/a – wooden pier bridge on the edge of the lake from the Turkish era, now made of concrete.
Kapllani High School – in Greek. Kapllani was a prominent Christian during the time of Ali Pasha Tepelena.

Asllan Pasha Mosque

Shkolla’ e Vllehëve – school in the Vlach language which continued until 1945.
Shpat e Lekës – mountainside, in the S.
Shpella e Sqillosofit – cave on the side of the castle.
Shpella e Shënmariëse – cave, in the S.
Shpella e Vilehëve – cave in the mountain, in the S.

Fetije Mosque

Kadri Gjata’s House – at the intersection of Xhavella Street and “Suliu” Street. The house number was 47. “Suliu” Street is now called “28 tetori” (Greek: 28 Oktovri”).
“Zgjimi” Printing House – a printing house that was purchased by the patriot Kadri Gjata in Romania and was located in his house. It was seized by the Greek government after the occupation of Ioannina in 1913. *Near Jali Kafeneşa in 1909, “Zgjimi” began to be published for the first time.
Tekke – ruins of a tekke, in the W.
Tekke e Kalasë – a tekke that was in the castle.
Tekke on the outskirts of Ioannina.
“Ibrahim Pasha” Street – former street of the neighborhood with the same name. After the occupation of Ioannina by the Greeks, it was named “Suliu” (Suli), after the Italo-Greek war in 1941, the Greeks changed its name again to “28 October”.
“Kadri Gjata” Street – after the occupation of Ioannina, the Greeks changed its name to that of the Albanian traitor from Gjirokastra “Jani Putec” who paid for his betrayal of the homeland with a dove on his forehead, in Çukë, Saranda, in 1914.
Zharovina Bridge – bridge over a branch of Ioannina Lake, in the V.
Ali Pasha Tepelena Tomb – Ali’s tomb in which only the skeleton of the body without the head is found. The head is today buried in Istanbul.
Tomb of Emine – tomb of Ali Pasha Tepelena’s mother, next to Ali’s tomb surrounded by an iron fence, in Kala.

Yçkalaja (Greek: Ιτς Καλέ/Its Kalé, Turkish: Iç Kale) of Ioannina

Tomb of Feti Bey – tomb with dervish paintings and various ornaments, near the National Museum.
Tomb of Kadri Gjata – located in the hills above the Mejdan neighborhood. Kadri Gjata was buried in the Namasgjah mosque, but when it was destroyed by the Greeks, the family transferred him to Mejdan. Kadri Gjata was killed on July 12, 1912 between the villages of Bizdun and Radhatop, in the evening when he was returning from the estate in Ioannina, accompanied by his loyalist from the village of Damës in Tepelena. Next to his grave is the grave of his son, Sedat Gjata, who died in 1920.

Zosimea School

Graves of the Jews – (Jews).
Graves of Muslims – the graves of Albanian Janinites at the foot, next to the graves of Jews, surrounded by a wall, in P.
Graves of Namasgjah – the Albanian graves of Janina in the Namasgjah neighborhood, which. were destroyed by the Greeks in 1920, as was the Namasgjah mosque. Due to the “urban issue”, families who were able to take the remains of their people and rebury them in the graves of the *Mejdan neighborhood of Siri Mosque.
Mosque of Ali Pasha – located in the castle. This mosque and that of Asllan Pasha form the two heads of the Albanian eagle. This mosque of Ali Pasha is adjacent to the palace and tomb of Ali.
Asllan Pasha Mosque – built in 1618, next to the Shënjan Teologut shrine. The minaret of this mosque has 75 steps.
Çelo Picari Mosque – mosque near the center.
Dederuç Mosque – mosque in the Dederuç neighborhood.
“Fetije” Mosque – mosque.
Ibrahim Pasha Mosque – mosque in the neighborhood of the same name in the Ibrahim Pasha neighborhood.
Kalluça Mosque – mosque in the neighborhood of the same name.
Mejdan neighborhood mosque – mosque, in P.
Namasgjah Mosque – mosque.
Pazar Mosque – mosque in the center.
Yçkalaja (castle 3) – The castle where Ali Pasha Tepelena made his last stand
Zosímea – gymnasium where Greeks, Albanians and Vlachs studied.

References

1. Fatos Mero Rrapaj (1995), Fjalori Onomastik i Epirit, Eurorilindja, f. 471.
2. Rrapaj. Fjalori Onomastik i Epirit. 1995. f. 471-478. Tregoi: S. Kadri Gjata nga Janina, që në vitet më vonë jetonte në Tiranë.