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The highest peak on the island (914
metres),
Pantokrator,
rises in the middle of the
north-eastern part of the island
and shapes the character of the
entire region. More than 60
settlements have grown up here with
a population of about 6000 people,
on the flanks of the mountain for
the most part, but also beside its
shores. The sheer eastern slopes,
covered with olive groves and
looking out towards the mainland
opposite and the Albanian
coastline, drop sharply to the sea,
forming a series of little coves
and beaches, a mainly rocky
coastline with picturesque
headlands and peninsulas. The
coastal road which leads into the
Mount sets off from town, heads
north, and runs right round the
coastline, almost encircling the
whole region, before turning south
and returning via an inland route.
Numerous side roads lead off to the
left, to climb up the slopes of
Pantokrator towards picturesque
abandoned villages with panoramic
views.
The areas around.
Almiros:
It is a long, beautiful sandy
beach, with crystal clear water,
unspoilt scenery which remains as
it was years ago and a lovely view
over the Albanian mountain range.
As the area is not touristy (yet!)
you will find very good fish
tavernas in good prices. In the
spot known as Ammokoulouma, the
burial ground of a farming
community of the Hellenistic Period
has been discovered and is being
excavated.
Antinioti Lagoon:
covers 400 stremmata (100 acres)
and it provides a home for fish,
mammals, amphibians, reptiles and
many rare birds ( 96 different
species have been spotted here). It
is an important biotope and it is
protected by law.
Acharavi:
or Anacharavi, according to one
tradition was in ancient times
named Ivi. In 32 BC the Romans
destroyed the settlement and
slaughtered all its young people.
After this event, it was called
'Unlucky Ivi' ('Ahari Ivi' in
Greek). Located between Roda and
Almiros, today it is the capital of
the Municipality of Thinali, and
was developed into a large tourist
resort with numerous hotels,
restaurants and bars. You can find
almost anything you need in
Acharavi.
Agios
Spiridon:
the northern, treeless flanks of
Mt. Pantokrator drop to shores
which are in general rocky, except
for the peninsula of Agios Spiridon,
where the church of the Saint is
located and the homonymous sandy
beach. Continuing the main road you
will encounter a small bridge that
passes the outlet of the Antinioti
Lagoon and you will find Yaliskari
Beach, a secluded lovely little
sandy beach where you can bathe
nude if you like. In the same area
lies the Monastery of Agia
Ekaterini (St. Katherine) which was
founded in 1713 and where
remarkable frescoes dating from the
18th and 19th century are
preserved.
Old
Perithia:
a Venetian village with roots in
ancient times, with stone-built
mansions and many churches, Old
Perithia is the most impressive
example of a traditional Corfiot
inland village. The village was
once the capital of the
Municipality of Kassopaion and was
extremely wealthy - its fields
stretched as far as the settlement
known today as New Perithia. It
owes its inland position not only
to the fear of pirate attacks but
also to the effort to avoid the
mosquitoes which thrived in the
fever belt close to the sea. When,
in the 20th century, these threats
ceased to exist, the village was
abandoned. Today, it is a 'living
museum', with most of the houses
remaining abandoned but a few
wonderfully renovated in the old
style. The village has a small
number of permanent residents, who
occupy themselves in
animal-breeding. The last Sunday in
July sees a procession, when the
icon of the Virgin is carried
around the village in memory of the
time in 1863 when the Virgin is
believed to have intervened to save
the village from an epidemic. In
the summer the village is full of
life, as it has a few lovely
traditional tavernas and nice stone
paved narrow streets for those of
you that enjoy walking. If you want
to taste authentic Greek food in an
unspoilt traditional environment,
Old Perithia is a must.
Old
Sinies:
is another abandoned village,
located on the southern flanks of
Pantokrator. As in the case of Old
Perithia, it was founded as a
refuge from pirate raids, and
abandoned when the coastline became
safe.
Agios Stefanos-Kerasia:
exceptionally pretty locations
lying on the closest point to
Albania, with a number of tavernas
and restaurants. They are reached
by way of a road which turns right
at Sinies (Elaiourgia). The Kerasia
pebble beach is absolutely
impressive as the green of the
hills almost melts into the blue of
the sea. Agios Stefanos beach is
also nice.
Astrakeri:
a bay with a quiet, sandy beach and
a few small tavernas. On May Day an
unusual and very lively fiesta
takes place on the seashore
organised by the Karoussades
Cultural Society. Not to be missed
if you are in Corfu at that time
and are interested to hear some
original folk music
Afionas:
a peninsula which affords a
fantastic view towards Agios
Georgios Bay and over the open sea.
From here you can see the island of
Karavi (literally means ‘Ship’ in
Greek) which has been the
inspiration for many myths and
legends. According to Pliny, it was
the petrified ship of the Phaeceans,
while in the surrounding villages
they speak of the historical queen
Pamphlagona, who ruled the city of
the same name. It was said that her
husband went away to fight a
foreign queen, with whom he fell in
love, and they fled together on his
boat. The deceived Pamphlagona
invoked Saint Nicholas, who
punished her unfaithful husband by
turning his ship to stone.
The village of Afionas was first
inhabited in the 6th century BC but
it was abandoned shortly afterwards
and re-inhabited in the 6th century
AD by a dark-skinned race, probably
members of a Mongolian tribe. Today
it is a wonderful picturesque
little village with nice
traditional houses, narrow
white-paved streets, colourful
gardens and breathtaking view.
Agios Georgios (Pagi):
a huge sandy beach on the bay of
the same name, with crystal-clear,
cold water (‘Pagi’ in Greek means
ice!). The afternoon wind, the
'maestros', makes it a favourite
venue for fans of windsurfing. At
the southern end of the beach, just
where the road runs out, a footpath
leads after a walk of about fifteen
minutes through wonderful olive
groves, to the picturesque
'Fisherman's Taverna'.
Paleokastritsa:
is situated about 25 kilometres
from Corfu town, linked to it by
one of the widest and best laid-out
roads on the island. Consisting of
two impressive headlands and six
coves, the area's unique
combination of lush vegetation,
precipitous cliffs and sandy
beaches has established it as a
top-class resort. The northern
promontory belongs to the Monastery
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which
was founded in 1225. The building
we see today is of a later date and
houses a museum of Byzantine and
post-Byzantine icons. Alipa Bay,
apart from being the site of a
naval base, has a small marina
where visiting yachts and local
fishing boats anchor. In the
immediate surroundings of Paleokastritsa
you will find some of the island's
biggest hotels, best restaurants
and liveliest bars. Special note
should be taken of the wonderfully
clear, deep sea of the area, a
favourite spot for scuba diving and
harpoon fishing.
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