The story of the second oldest lake in Europe (with a surface area of 22.8 sqm/km) began
3,500 years ago. During the times of slavery, respectful hermits and monks found refuge
in the serenity of the area, while the island arrived to the pick of its development in the 13th
century, when the Despotate of Epirus was created, resulting in the construction of 6 mon-
asteries, turning it into a metropolis of the byzantine monastery life. The decline and the
desolation took place when Ali Pasha trespassed the monasteries wealth and inflicted heavy
taxation upon the residents. When Ali was overthrown, the citizens returned and Pamvotida
along with its island are considered the gem of the city.
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