The hill of Kastritsa dominates the area around the southern shores of Pamvotis lake, including one of the main fortified spots within the Ioannina basin. The first human traces date back to the Palaeolithic era, and do not fade until the Late Ottoman era.
Its older spot is a cave to the NW side of the hill, which is one of the most important paleolithic sites throught the Balkans. Traces of agricultural and livestock activities during the Neolithic era were found a bit further, close to the lake.
The whole site had a constant use until -at least- the late 4th century BC. During the 3rd century BC habitation moved to the hilltop, within a fortification wall. For the next three centuries the citadel became a site of great importance throughout the network of all molossian settlements.
After the dectruction by Romans (168/167 BC) the walls got restored and life moved on. Finds, dated to later periods (e.g. Early Byzantine, 4th to 6th c. AD), confirm the constant use of the citadel up to that period, when it seems that it got abandoned.
During the Balkan Wars, the entire hill became part of the turkish sector, with defense installations on various spots.