North-West Corfu
PALEOKASTRITSA – LIAPADES – SIDARI – PEROULADES – AFIONAS – AG.GEORGIOS – ETC.
Sidari: A top tourist resort which is known all over the world.The soft, sculptured rock formations of the coast lend this area an almost extraterrestial allure.
Peroulades: a traditional village with a rich architectural inheritance dating from Venetian times. You will see arches, doorways, old-fashioned grocers’ stores, and the ruins of the house where the poet Andreas Calvos lived. From this point a road leads to the spectacular shoreline at Cape Drastis.
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 (Ship) 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.
Agios Georgios (Pagi): a huge sandy beach on the bay of the same name, with crystal-clear, cold water. 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 ten minutes, to the picturesque ‘Fisherman’s Taverna’.
Pagi: a pretty village which managed not only to escape the raids of barbarians and pirates but has also avoided being exploited in the name of tourism, retaining its beautiful old houses. From here you can take a largely unmade road which leads to Vistonas. The road is passable and runs through some lovely areas.
Krini: This is the place to stop and quench your thirst from the well of ice-cold water which stands in the little village square. Or you can order a Greek coffee at the adjacent cafe, and sip it till the sun’s heat dies a little, then, rested, set off for the climb to Angelokastro.
Angelokastro: a Byzantine fortress, probably built in the 13th century by Michael II, Despot of Epirus. It is sited on a rock 160m above sea level, washed by the sea on three sides. with only one narrow passage connecting it to the land. Here, in 1537, 3000 people from the surrounding villages took refuge in the fortress, fleeing from the Turks. Up to the time of its abandonment in the time of the British Protectorate, the fortress remained impregnable. At the summit stands the little church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, while close up to the north-west wall a cave forms the chapel of Agia Kyriaki.
Lakones: a most picturesque village with narrow streets. Close by is the famed Bella Vista, which is said to have one of the best views in the Mediterranean. The village owes its name to its founders, refugees from Lakonia in the Peloponnese, who established a settlement at this spot.
Paleokastritsa: is situated about 25 kilometres from 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.
Kolovri: is the name of the rock which rises out of the sea in the bay of Paleokastritsa. It is one of the many rocks reputed to be the petrified ship of Odysseus.
Liapades: a beautifully built village of 900 inhabitants, renowned for its wine, produced from grapes of the kakotrygis variety. Ideal swimming is to be found at the nearby beach of Liapades, and boats may be hired to take you to other beaches in the area.
Kyprianades has very ancient roots and was once prosperous and well-populated. Today, few folk remain, but it is worth visiting this corner of Corfu to marvel at the surrounding natural beauty. The Tyflos River, with its wonderful flora and fauna, passes close by. As well as eels and turtles, freshwater whitebait and spawn live in the river. Riverbank footpaths lead to Kefalovriso, where you can drink clean, cool water from sources on Mt. Pantokrator. .
Agii Douli: a quaint village with Venetian houses and Byzantine origins. The ‘agii douli’ (holy slaves) were the servants who worked the land belonging to the Church in Byzantine times.
Skripero: a large village with old mansions and an outstanding musical and folkloric heritage. Its Philharmonic Society was founded at the turn of the 20th century.The Albanian word for hillside is ‘skrip’, and this may be directly connected with the name of the village, although the Italian ‘scrivere’ (write) remains from the time when Skripero was the capital of the Municipality of Epilimnion, the base for local authorities such as magistrates and police.
