Discovery of the Cave
Old residents of Ioannina, it is said that the entrance of the Cave was known before 1900 and that the bey Holiasis Efentis closed it around 1907 for security reasons. Since then, however, nothing reminded him of his existence. It became known during the Second World War (1940) by villagers who hid in the pits of Goritsa hill, to protect themselves from airstrikes.
How it was discovered
However the internal of the cave remained undiscovered because someone had to crawl at about 100 metres so as to reach chambers with high ceiling. After the war in 1951 the well-known geologist and spelaelogist, Ioannis Petrocheilos found out about its existence accidentally as he was passing by.
Explorations
He got into it and admired for many hours the exceptional creation of the greek nature, the first in size and beauty that he came across in our country. The explorations continued from 1953 to 1956 when new parts of the cave were discovered. Grand corridors, extensive chambers as well as impressive and rich ornaments that implied that it was a luxurious palace that only gods could live there. That’s why the Cave of Perama was dedicated to Pluto and Persephone.
