Perama Caves in Ioannina.
We love Lefkada but its refreshing and easy to access mainland Greece on a road trip to visit other wonderful attractions; Perama Caves being just one of them.
I must say that having visited caves throughout the UK and abroad this has to be the most incredibly impressive to date.
The caves are said to be over a million years old, yet they were not discovered until 1940 during WW11, accidently as the inhabitants of the village were trying to find shelter against bombardments.
At the end of the war Constantine Kasvikis, a gymnast and speleologist (a person who studies caves), found himself in Perama, where with his team he took pictures that were published in the local press and in Athens.
Ioannis and Anna Petrochilou found out about the cave, visited Perama and began systematic exploration and mapping of the cave in order to be developed as a tourist attraction.
The roof, walls, floors and countless chambers are adorned with nineteen types of stalactite and stalagmite and limestone crystals; the formations aptly named due to their likeness. The scale of the caves are extremely large (the photographs do not capture this beauty). Its simply awesome.
The varying shades of colour are remarkable.
Archaeological excavations within the cave have discovered the fossilised bones, teeth and skull of a cave bear thousands of years old. Various creatures live within the cave; spiders, bats and dolichopoda petrocholiosi. (a long-legged insect resembling a cricket and spider.)
Upon leaving the cave you can clearly see how it was undiscovered for so long as it resembles just an ordinary rocky mountainside.
You are met with a breathtaking view of Ioannina Lake and surrounding mountains.
A stone walkway leads you down the mountainside back to the cave entrance.
We were also treated to a seasonal floral display of wild yellow crocus and pink cyclamen.
The cave has an area of 14,800 sq.m. The tourist route covers an area of 1,100m.
There are many steps to negotiate; the floor and hand railings are wet but the pleasant tour guide forewarned us, allowed rest stops and walked at a slow pace. There are gift shops, refreshments and toilets at both the entrance and exit.
Oct 2020 price: 7.00€ adult 3.50€ child.
Open times 9:00 to 17:00 (Weekdays and public holidays)
Perama, P.C 455 00 Ioannina
www.spilaio-perma.gr
email: info@spilaio-perma.gr
Tel. 26510 - 81521, 81650 & 86202
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