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Kontokali: took its name from the sea captain Christophoros kontokalis, who in 1571 at the Battle of Lepanto captured a Turkish galley, and was granted land in the area as a reward. Around 1700 the Gerekos family arrived in the region and they still live on the shores of the bay, involving themselves, as they always have, with fishing.
Gouvia: 8 kilometers from town and almost joined with Kontokali, in an old fishing village with an interesting history. On August 29th 1537, the urkish fleet, under the command of the corsair Barbarossa, who eas in the service of Suleiman the MAgnificent, landed at Gouvia, bringing rouin to the whole Mesis area. But the force failed to take the Old fortress, despite a siege lasting twelve days. Two centuries later, they made another landing at Gouvia (and at Pyrgi), again with the town as a target, but left after a month-long siege. The Corfiots attributed their salvation to Saint Spiridion. Subsequently, the Venetians fortified the harbour at Gouvia and built a shipyard to mantain and repair their boats, wich at the same time serviced passing vessels. The columns and vaults which remain today stand as a remember of those long-gone years when Serene Republic of Venice ruled the estern seas. Today it is the home of the Marina, which can service 900 yachts. If you have a captain's certificate, you can rent a yacht, and get to know the island from the sea. The marina is located in the central area of the bay and is separated from the beaches of the two villages. At Gouvia Beach you will find all kinds of watersports, umbrellas for shade and sunbeds for resting, while Kontokali, which also has a camp site, is a choice for quiet holidays. Fish tavernas are a feature of both villages, as well as restaurants specialising in cuisines as diverse as Indian and English. As you see, the yachting fraternity has introduced a cosmopolitan way of life. For your night-life requirements, there are bars and music clubs all the way through to dawn. Many British ex-patriates live permanently in Kontokali, mostly employed in the sailing industry. If you wish to stay, for a few days at least, you will find plently of good hotels and rented rooms.
Potamos: 4 kilometers from town, is a traditional village with arcades (kamares), wich appear to stretch the whole lenght of the main street. The river which crosses the plain near the village and the surrounding lush vegetation are evidence that, in the years when agricolture was king, Potamos was an especially prosperous village. The church of Agia Varvara (Saint Barbara) stands here, and its annual procession terminates in Tembloni, 15 kilometers away. The procession is said to date from a time of drought, as an invocation for rain.
Evroupouli: is also a traditional
village, whose name reveals that it was founded by Jews (Evraioi in Greek)
in the 13th century. Near the village, on the road to Potamos, is the Kapodistrias
Mansion, which houses a museum containing pictures and personal possessions
of the first Greek President, John Kapodistrias.
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Kommeno: The northern shores of
Gouvia Bay are enclosed by the Kommeno peninsula, a lovely spot with the
tiny church of Ypapanti on its islet in the waters of the bay. Although
it is near Corfu Town, and has a good beach and rich vegetation, it is
not a haunt of the masses, and for the "high class tourist" it offers quiet
holidays in luxury hotels, and good restaurants.
At Kommeno, an area covered with lush vegetation begins, with olive groves growing to the sea, lovely beaches and a view towards the mainland of Epirus and Albania. |
| Dafnila, Dassia, Ipsos and Pyrgi are resorts with the same characteristics as Kommeno, but with the addition of busy tourist traffic, and associated bars, restaurants and night clubs. It is not a coincidence that six of the island's 15 camping sites are located in this area. After Dassia, the road descends to the seashore at Ipsos. Here the atmosphere is lively round the clock, with all types of watersports for daytime enjoyment, an a non-stop strip of bars for entertainment at night. Young people from all over Europe, but especially from eastern Europe, fill the lazy summer with a crazy rhythm. |  |
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Pyrgi: is located at the far end of this strip, rounding off the furore. Now the road ascends, with tight hairpin bends, on its way towards the Oros region.
Merlin Estate: at Dassia, the Merlin Estate borders the road, where the English gardener Merlin single-mindedly bred the orange varieties wich are named after him. It was also Merlin who briught the Kumquat from Japan to Greece, and its fruit has become one of the trademarks of Corfu.
Castello: a huge villa in Gothic style once the seat of an Italian baron, Luca Mimbelli it was built by an Italian architsct on the site of a ruined medieval tower. It is located between Gouvia and Dassia, just outside Kato Korakiana, and its large, airy space, decorated with wood-carvings, houses the Corfu Branch of the National Art Gallery.
Agios Markos: is a village which
must be visited. It is on the threshold of desertion due to a landslide,
and its old houses are overgrown with the passage of the years. The Church
of Pantokrator dates from 1576 and contains conteporary frescoes. Located
near the village, the Church of Agios Merkourios is, after the church of
Saint Jason and Sosipatros in Anemomylos, the most exceptional Byzantine
monument on the island. Its rare frescoes dating from 1075 reveal the true
Byzantine spirit in the temperance of their lines and in the way they expresses
the gaze of the depicted saints.
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Ano Korakiana: five kilometres froma Agios Markos and 18 kilometers from Corfu Town, has a population of 1400 and many traditional-style buildings. It boasts a Philarmonic Orchestra, founded in 1958, underlining musical traditions wich began in 1623 with the foundation of the Mantolinatas of the Pope. Out of its 37 churches, the ones dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the Archangel Michael and Saint Athanasios are of great interest to Byzantine scholars. The local school contains a small folklore collection. |
The Ropa Valley: stretches over
a plain of some 2500 acres towards the north of the Mesis region. Long
ago, it was a lake; this was drained, and today a great network of ditches
an canals carries away rainwater absorbed by the rich soil, by way of the
Ropa, or Ermones, River. Parts of the valley have been developed for tourism,
and there is a golf course and horse riding, while agricolture is essentially
non-existent. With a lake close by to the east, with its river wich flows
out at Ermones Bay, the valley has become an important wetlands habitat,
home of a moltitude of birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. On the low
hills which completely surroubd the valley, agricultural villages such
as Kanakades, Marmaro, Giannades, Temploni and Vasilika have grown up.
South of the Ropa Valley unfold the numerous villages of the main Mesis
region, with their rich agricultural life, history and medieval buildings.
Hidden on the flanks of hills as a safeguard from pirate attacks, with
Byzantine origins and restored Corfiot houses, the history of these villages
is strongly linked to developments in the town. Between Ermones and Lake
Korission, the coast boasts a long series of sandy beaches, large and small,
with impressive rocks thrusting out of the sea.
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Vatos: at 15 kilometres from town, is a small, quiet villane with a camp site and two interesting Bizantine churches, Agios Nikolaos, with frescoes of the 13th century, and Agios Georgios, built on the summit of the mountain of the same name, with frescoes of the 14th and 15th centuries.
Myrtiotissa: a rough, steep track runs down from Vatos to Myrtiotissa, a gorgeus little beach which is the choice of nude bathers. To the right (north) of the beach, is the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin of Myrtiotissa, which was foundedin the 14th century by a monk, a Turk who was converted to Christianity. It owes its name to an icon of the Virin which was found amongst the myrtle bushes. A coastal footpath of great botanical interest leads from here to Ermones.
Pelekas: 12 kilometers from town
and built near the summit of a beautiful hill at the height of 270 metres,
is famed for its panoramic view and its sunset. Here is the “Kaiser’s Throne”,
where Kaiser Wilhelm II used to come and muse.
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Glyfada: an extensive and popular beach with bars open round the clock, hotels, restaurants and crowds of people. |
Kontoyialos: an exceptional beach, a smaller version of Glyfada, with tavernas on the shoreline and some rooms for rent. It can be reached by way of three roads.
Yialiskari: on the road which links Pelekas with Sinarades, you will find a junction for Yialiskari, from where a minor road leads to the sea between pine trees, reaching a beach with two or three tavernas, but also lots of people, because of an adjacent hotel.
Sinarades: is a large, well-preserved village with buildings from the Byzantine and Venetian eras. Also of interest in the village is a campaniledating from the 15th century (not the one in the square, which is Venetian), and a little way on, up an alley, an old bakery fired by wood, where bread is still made in the old style. A philarmonic orchestra was founded in Sinarades in 1960, and it takes part in local events and processions.
Kastellani: was the capital of the region until 1912. Prospero Marini, an italian knight who had the monopoly on the salt trade in the Ionian Islands until his death in 1694, lived here. His will provided for the estabilishment of an intellectual foundation, centering on the Church of the Blessed Virgin of the Golden Spring (today the Church of the Source of Life – Zoodoxos Pigi), and aiming to educate children from all over Corfu. The foundation was a closed order and was overseen by ten monks. The tomb of Marini, by his wish, is located at the rear of the church. Near the village square is the (once private) church of Agios Spiridion (Sain Spiridion), which dates from 1730. Icons from both these churches are on display at the Byzantine Museum of Antivouniotissa.
Kamara: is located south of Kastellani,
and has a well with excellent water. As well as Greeks, Venetians who were
out of favour with the authorities lived in Kamara, and the adjacent village
of Alepohori was settled by cretan refugees. Near Kamara there are two
Byzantine monasteries in poor condition, Agios Taxiarchis (Archangel) and
Agios Vlassios (Sain Blaise), with frescoes from the 13th, 16th and 17th
centuries.
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Agios Gordis: is a very extensive beach on the west coast, and can be considered the communal property of Sinarades and Kato Garuna. Hotels, restaurants and bars service the many tourists who choose this location for their holidays. An impressive feature of Agios Gordis are the rocks at its northern end, which have been sculpted by the waves into a work of art. Rocks continue at the other end of the beach, where the imposing cliff of Aerostato rises. It was formerly known as Vardia (Watchpoint), because, in the days of pirate threats, it was from this point that the locals kept watch over the western shores. You can get to Aerostato and its shores by way of a road at the northern end of Sinarades. At the southern end of Agios Gordis is the famous “Ortholith”, an imposing rock jutting out of the waves, which was mentioned by the writer Iakovas Polilas in his tales. |
Ano Garouna and Kato Garouna: are two villages built in amphitheatrical style on opposite hillsides. Their architecture features the use of local stone, skilfully worked by the residents.
Ano Pavliana and Kato Pavliana: with a total of a thousand residents, are built next to each other in an emerald setting. The church of Agios Dimitrios (Saint Dimitris) is distinguished by an iconostasis carved from Garouna stone.
Agios Mattheos: located at the southwest
corner of the Mesis region, Agios Matheos is an important village with
a population of 1500, built in the foothills of the mountain of the same
name. It is a village with great personality, fine traditional cafès
alongside the main street and a philarmonic orchestra founded in 1965.
A huge, dense forest of oak, fruit-bearing trees and wild olives encircles
the village. During the 19th century, outlaws would hide amongst the myrtle
and lentisk shrubs. Near the summit stands the Monastery of Pantokrator
(Almighty), built at the start of the 4th century. Its remarkable all-night
festival takes place on August 6th, and should not be missed. Nearby is
the entrance to the cave which is said to lead down to the sea. The historical
value of the place is indisputed, for here traces of Mesolithic Man have
been found. From the village of Agios Matheos, a road leads down to Paramonas,
an excellent sandy beach with some little islets and two or three tavernas
beside the waves. Southwards are the tidy and peaceful little beaches of
Prasoudi, Kavouli and Skidi, worth keeping in mind if you seek solitude
during the peak season.
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Messongi: 22 kilometres from town, is a little village on the east coast of Corfu. The main road towards Lefkimmi passes through here, and in the direction of Perama, northwards, this road runs along the coast, with sandy and sometimes rocky shores. At every point you will find beaches with warm water, good for swimming, and plenty of tourist services. As far back as Roman times, and still today, this coastline was the first choice of the summer holidaymaker. Messongi Beach itself is split by the Messongi River, which flows into the sea at this point. |
| Moraïtika: was first inhabited in the 16th century by refugees from the Peleponese. The remains of a Roman villa have been found in the area, and the centre of the old village is very picturesque. |
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Benitses: is an old finishing village eight kilometers north of Moraïtika. Between these two villages, there are two fine beaches, Agios Ioannis Peristeron and Tzaki. After Benitses, the restored remains of the Kaiser’s Bridge jut out into the water. The bridge was built during the time of Kaiser Wilhelm II to allow him easy access from the Achillion Palace to the sea. |
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Perama: seven kilometres from Corfu Town, has a number of hotels and rooms for rent, making it a good solution for those wishing to stay near the town. Perama overlooks Mouse Island (Pontikonissi) and is linked with Vlacherna and Kanoni by a causeway. The inland road which links Lefkimmi with Corfu Town begins at Kinopiastes and, crossing the hilly country around Agii Deka, rejoins the main road at the Messongi river bridge. The route, windind through olive trees, is characterised by splendid views, beautiful natural surroundings, and traditional villages. |  |
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Kinopiastes: has narrow streets and a spring with top quality water. While you’re filling your bottles the sounds of the rehearsing philharmonic orchestra which is housed nearby will lift your heart.
Gastouri: has 600 residents and
a philarmonic orchestra dating from 1898, and preserves Corfiot traditions
both in the architecture and in the daily life of the people. You can also
buy bread baked in a wood fired oven from the bakery you’ll find on a narrow
lane leading off the main street. This lane crosses a ravine full of plane
trees and then ascends to the settlement of Pachatika.
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Achillion Palace: Located just after Gastouri, this building is surely the highlight of the island. Everyone who visits Corfu also visits this attraction to see the palace which once belonged to the Empress Elizabeth of Austria. The Palace was built in 1890 in neo-classical and colossal style, with lavish, overpowering and exaggerated embellishments. Statues depicting the Nine Muses, Shakespeare, Lord Byron and of course Achilles Dying and Achilles Triumphant adorn the garden to remind us the unique Empress. The garden and its view are unequivocally stupendous. After the assassination of Sissi in 1898, the Palace stood empty until 1907 when it was bought by Kaiser Wilhelm II, who for a few years occupied it on a seasonal basis. Today, the personal belongings of the owners are maintained in a small museum, and are the focus of the camera lenses of the visitors. Next to the gate you can buy authentic books about the Palace, and at the kiosk you can stock up on film and postcards. |
Agii Deka: is a small village which scrambles up the slopes of the mountain of the same name. The mountain is not particluarly high (576 metres), but the view from the summit, which can be reached on foot, is one of the best on the island. The footpath which you should take begins at the north-west corner of the village, and whomever you ask will show you the way. The route takes you first through olive groves, and then up slopes covered with evergreen oak and myrtle, and after around 30 minutes, to a little pleteau hidden between the rocky peaks. The Curch of Pantokrator (The Almighty) is located here, and a little further west stands the chapel of the Prophet Elias. There is easy access to the north-east peak, with its stunning view.
Stavros: is an unspoilt village
with a splendid view, very friendly people and a wonderful fiesta on August
15th which should not be missed. On the eve of the festival there is a
procession, and partecipants are offered plates of macaroni. On the day
of the Assumption of the Virgin a great fiesta takes place, with music
and local dance groups. The next day there is an evening of music and dance
, with choirs, philarmonic orchestras and dance troupes.
With the expansion of town during recent years, the villages in its
immediate vicinity have essentially become suburbs. But they have not lost
either hteir character or their beauty. Kanalia and Viros, with their good
tavernas, Agios Prokopios in its emerald setting, and Kombtsi with its
pine woods and its haunted spring are places which you can easily visit
if you are based in town and wish to take a short trip.
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Per informazioni o
per prenotare scrivere a: Vincent
Soueref
0030.26610.35909(uffic) 0030.26610.93209(FAX) 0030.6977.292182(cell) |
