Ali Pasha Museum

Ali Pasha Museum Review

The main attraction on Nissi is the 16th-century Pandelimonos Monastery, now the Ali Pasha Museum. Ali Pasha was killed here in the monks' cells on January 17, 1822, after holding out for almost two years. In the final battle, Ali ran into an upstairs cell, but the soldiers shot him through its floorboards from below. (The several bullet holes in the floor were newly drilled because the floor had to be replaced.) A wax version of the assassination can be seen at the Pavlos Vrellis Museum of Greek History in Bizani, south of Ioannina. A happier Ali Pasha, asleep on the lap of his wife, Vasiliki, can be seen in the museum's famous portrait. Here also is the crypt where Vasiliki hid, some evocative etchings and paintings of that era, an edict signed by Ali Pasha with his ring seal (he couldn't write), and his magnificent narghile, a water pipe, standing on the fireplace. The community-run museum is generally open as long as boats are running; if the doors are shut, ask around to be let in. The local ticket taker will give a brief tour of the museum in Greek and broken English (supplemented by an English-language printed guide). A tour is free, but do leave a tip.