Reminiscing in Corfu – Part 2

I wanted to stay on Pantokrator (the name means “ruler of all”), the highest peak in Corfu, because we had bad weather during our first visit and no view from the top. We drove for about 20 km from Ipsos to the top on a good, paved road, and a gorgeous panorama slowly unfolded along the way. It was the same at the summit, which wasn’t so crowded. We were lucky. Yes, it was majestic being at the top. From there you can see the southern part of the island with the town of Corfu, bays, mainland Albania and Greece, islets... On the summit, at an altitude of 906m, a monastery of the same name was built in 1347, but it’s empty nowadays.

Paleokastritsa is a picturesque and breath-taking place on the island’s western coast and everyone should visit it. The rocky coves are perfect for all sorts of water sports and you can swim in clear, turquoise water. On a hill overlooking the place is a monastery and monks still reside within its walls. A part of the monastery was turned into a museum with a collection of folk art and religious items. There’s also a small church at its heart, devoted to the Assumption of Mary. Outside is a platform from which an endless turquoise carpet unfolds right before your eyes. A nicely arranged aquarium and a terrarium can be found under the monastery. The aquarium is focused more on the species of fish that are native to Corfu’s waters, though some other species can be found as well. The terrarium is naturally home to reptiles, and this is the part I usually skip. I went to the beach and enjoyed the sea instead.

Another plateau rises north of Paleokastritsa with the ruins of Angelokastro castle on its top. The castle was built in the 12th century and served as a sanctuary during attacks. There’s a spectacular view from the top and you can see Paleokastritsa below and the surrounding bays. It was really breath-taking.

Most tourist guides point out a long sandy beach at one of the most beautiful bays in Gilfada in their list of places that are worth visiting in Corfu. The beach is really beautiful, sunlit and relatively empty.

The island’s main city (Kerkyra in Greek) is located on its eastern side, right across the sea from mainland Greece and has approximately 40,000 inhabitants. The town’s architecture is a mixture of various historical styles – Roman, Gothic, Venetian, French, Russian, Ottoman and English. Only the existing churches bear the marks of the Greek style. The town is divided into the old and new part. The old part has been listed a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 2007.

We saved the town for the last. It was Sunday and I think we couldn’t have made a better decision. There were no crowds, the cobbled streets were empty, and we really enjoyed walking around town. We parked our vehicle near the harbour and the New Fortress, which belongs to the navy. We didn’t plan out our sightseeing, so we just walked around town and simply surrendered ourselves to the streets and followed our instinct. First, we walked along the wall of the New Fortress, then through the market and, finally, towards the town centre; past the Saint Spyridon Church and the old palace towards the famous Spianada. This part of town boasts elegant and charming restaurants and cafés, and the Venetian and French styles intertwine there. After strolling through the park, where people were fully engaged in cricket, we came across a small bridge that serves as a connection between the Old Fortress and the mainland and crosses a moat filled with seawater. This fortress, too, is a mix of the Venetian, Byzantine and British styles. It serves as the headquarters of the maritime academy.

There was already a nice view of the hilly peninsula of Kanoni from the Old Fortress, and another wonderful view of the lagoon, a part of the town of Corfu and the southern part of the island unfolds from the peninsula. An airport runway was built nearby, and it’s become an attraction for numerous tourists who visit the pier connecting Kanoni with the other side and wait for the plane to land or take off. The plane flies 100 metres above your head, not to mention the sounds effects it produces at that very moment. If you look towards the north, you’ll see Pantokrator rising majestically on the slope. Kanoni is known after the Panagia Vlacherna monastery. You can walk to the monastery across an embankment and there are moored boats that can take you to the mysterious Pontikonisi or Mouse Island. You can also visit the church, which is a part of the monastery. The legend says that Mouse Island is a petrified ship, which Odysseus used in order to return to his homeland. Together with Kanoni, it’s one of the island’s most photographed scenes. They usually adorn the covers of Corfu pamphlets and publications and can be seen on every postcard.

Near Gouvia, about 10km from Corfu, there’s a small village of Kommeno and a small cape with the church of Ypapanti where many weddings take place.

The holiday scene had a touristy feel to it and we definitely saw and experienced many wonderful and unforgettable things. I admit, we could’ve stayed on the island and never run out of areas to discover and explore. I really liked that none of the places were overcrowded and that we crossed everything off our bucket list. I also admit that I could provide some insight into the island’s history and share information about other features of the Greek culture, but I won’t. It’s all about reminiscing this time. It was worth waiting until September. The sun and the sea were still there. And so was the island, waiting for us and captivating us at every turn.