The museum is located close to the Fort of Bizani, using local materials for its construction.&nbsp;The founder of the Museum, Pavlos Vrellis, was born and raised in the historical city of Ioannina. He was arrested as a young child by the Nazis during the German occupation of Greece in World War II and was forced, together with other children, to clean the remains of war material that had not been exploded. After the war, he studied at the School of Fine Arts. These facts inspired him to capture the major events in modern Greek history through art.&nbsp;The scenes related to World War II are presented as a timeline: Memories of the Greco-Italian War (October 1940 – April 1941), which took place on the mountains of Epirus; the headquarters of the Greek Army in Ioannina; the contribution of Greek women at the frontline; an observation post with a mountain artillery and a mountain surgeon unit; the "Battle of the Forts" at the Greek-Bulgarian borders against the German forces (April 1941); the "Battle of Crete" in May 1941, and the Jewish Holocaust with a reference to the 1850 Romaniote Jews from Ioannina that were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau.&nbsp;According to the artist himself, the “Paul Vrellis” Greek History Museum “keeps the sacred memory of all the historic figures and events”.&nbsp;

Greece

Municipality of Ioannina

A large complex of light-colored buildings with dark shingled roofs and multiple tall chimneys sits on a hillside. The façade has many windows and arches, with a landscaped yard of dense green trees and shrubs in the foreground.

The building bears strong resemblance to old urban, fort-like buildings, of Epirus of the 18th century. The interior space is divided in 36 rooms that present themes of modern Greek history.

​Paul Vrellis Greek History Museum​

A cluster of dented metal helmets lies on a rocky, uneven surface inside a dark cavity. A small white rectangular label with printed text is placed near the helmets’ lower center.

​Helmets and equipment from the battlefields of the Greco-Italian war (28 October 1940 - April 1941), at the Greek-Albanian borders.​

​Paul Vrellis Museum – Memories of 1940-1941​

Four men in military uniforms stand and sit in front of a rough stone wall; three lean over a table covered by wooden crates. One man stands on the right wearing a dark peaked cap and holding a long firearm.

 ​The General Staff of Epirus VIII Infantry Division was transferred to Kalpaki and was housed in a cave north of Ioannina. The decisions for the decisive battles of 1940, were taken here.​

​Paul Vrellis Museum – Headquarters of 1940 in Kalpaki cave​

In a rocky cave-like setting lit with blue light, a person in a pale robe stands at left, looking down and holding a red object, while a man in a dark coat and hat sits in front wearing a head covering with blood. Branches and a hanging lamp-like ornament are visible on the right.

​The Greek doctors’ and nurses’ contribution at the frontline was significant. They organized first aid stations and mobile surgical units even inside the caves of Pindus mountains.​ 

​Paul Vrellis Museum – Mountainous Medical Units

A rocky cave entrance framed by stone walls and tree branches opens to a blue sky. Four people wearing dark clothing and head coverings stand or sit on uneven rocks; one central woman carries a box on their back.

​During World War II, Greek women of all ages, would climb up at an altitude of 2,000 m at Pindus mountains carrying supplies and ammunition and, on their return, they would transfer wounded men.​

« Paul Vrellis » – Musée d’histoire

12th Km. National Road Ioannina – Arta, Bizani area, 45500 Ioannina

Photos

​​« Paul Vrellis » – Musée d’histoire ​

​​12th Km. National Road Ioannina – Arta, Bizani area​, 45500 Ioannina

Photos

« Paul Vrellis » – Musée d’histoire

12th Km. National Road Ioannina – Arta, Bizani area, 45500 Ioannina