Active Tourism

Life in the village

Peroulades: is a traditional village with a rich architectural inheritance from Venetian times.

Pagi: is a pretty village which managed to avoid being raided by pirates and barbarians, and now many of its attractive old houses have been restored to accommodate tourists.

Lakones: is a most picturesque village with narrow streets. Close by is the famed Bella Vista, which they say has the best view in the Mediterranean.

Liapades: a beautifully built village of 900 inhabitants, renowned for its wine produced from the kakotrygis variety. Argirades: is reached 33 kilometres from Corfu Town and is a notable village with a population of 2000. The alleyways, the arcades and the architecture of the houses are very reminiscent of the Venetian era. Potamos: 4 kilometres from town, is a traditional village with arcades (kamares), which appear to stretch the whole length of the main street. The river which crosses the plain near the villlage and the surrounding lush vegetation are evidence that, in the years when agriculture was king, Potamos was an especially prosperous village. 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 years. Ano Korakiana: it has a population of 1400 and many traditional-style buildings. It boasts a Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1958, under-lining musical traditions which 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.

Pelekas: 12 kilometres from town and built near the summit of a beautiful hill at a 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.

Sinarades: is a large, well-preserved village with buildings from the Byzantine and Venetian eras.

Agios Mattheos: Located at the south west corner of the Mesis region, Agios Mattheos 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 perso-nality, fine traditional cafés alongside the main street and a philharmonic orchestra founded in 1965.

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 philharmonic orchestra dating from 1898, and rpeserves 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. 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. 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 participants are offered plates of macaroni. Nimfes: a large village with a population of 800, stands 200 metres above sea level. Its location amongst running water and lush vegetation makes it a fitting spot for legends and strange beliefs. They say the name comes from the Nymphs who used to bathe in nearby waterfalls. Old Perithia: a Venetian village with roots in ancient times, with stone-built mansions and many churches, is the most impressive example of the old lifestyle. Today, it is a “living museum”.

Strinilas: a mountain village which differs from the rest of Corfu, both in architecture and in climate, is located on the western slopes of the Oros.