**1. Introduction**

This chapter is an independent effort to analyze and document the urban transformation in Ioannina, Epirus, Greece. The metropolitan area of Ioannina is a mountainous area, located in northern Greece and the western Balkans. It is an area of rich natural and environmental wealth. The main advantages are the cultural and architectural heritage, its important history, and the natural beauty of the wider metropolitan area. The analysis of the metropolitan area, from 1940 to 2015, presents characteristics of change, innovation, modernism, modernization, and Europeanism. At the same time, the traditional and historical characters have not only been preserved but also have been restored, maintained, and adapted to the modern requirements of everyday life. Finally, the functional character of the main and secondary roads is particularly significant, because they serve a key role in hiking and recreational activities for young and older citizens.
