Alykes: means salt pans. This is where the Venetians used to exploit the salt pans, distributing the produce to their colonies on the Dalmatian Coast. Here too the Potamos River flows into the sea, with the estuary forming an important wetlands habitat. Alykes is located 4 kilometres from Corfu Town and has rooms for rent and some good hotels.

Kontokali: this area 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 here as a reward. Around 1700 the Gerekos family arrived in the region, and to this day live on the shores of the bay, involving themselves, as they always have, with fishing.

Gouvia: 8 kilometres from town and almost joined with Kontokali, is an old fishingvillage with an interesting history. On August 29th 1537 the Turkish fleet, under the command of the Corsican Barbarossa, who was in the service of Suleiman the Magnificent, landed at Gouvia, bringing ruin to the entire Mesis region. The invading force, however, 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 target, but left after a month-long siege. The Corfiots attributed their salvation to to St. Spiridon. Subsequently, the Venetians fortified the harbour at Gouvia and built a shipyard to maintain and repair their boats, while at the same time servicing passing vessels. The columns and vaults which remain today stand as a reminder of those long-gone years when the Serene Republic of Venice ruled the eastern seas. Today it is the home of the Marina, which can service 900 yachts. The marina is located in the central area of the bay and separates the beaches of the two villages.

Potamos: 4 kilometres from town , is a traditional village with arcades (kamares) which appear endless, stretching the entire length of the main street. The river which cuts through the village and the surrounding lush vegetation are evidence that, in the years when agriculture was everything, Potamos was an especially prosperous village. The Church of Agia Varvara (St. Barbara) stands here, and its annual procession terminates in Tembloni, 15 kilometres away. The procession is said to date from a time of drought, as an invocation for rain.

Evropouli: 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.

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 discerning visitor offers quiet holidays in luxury hotels with good restaurants.

Dafnila, Dassia, Ipsos, Pyrgi: are resorts with the same characteristics as Kommeno, but with the addition of busy tourist traffic and with every kind of restaurant, bar and night-club. It is not a coincidence that six of the island’s fifteen camping sites are located in this area. After Dassia, the road descends to the long, straight seashore at Ipsos. Here the atmosphere is lively round the clock, with every conceivable type of watersport for daytime enjoyment, and a continuous strip of bars for entertainment at night. Young people from all over Europe fill the summer evenings with their crazy rhythm.

Merlin Estate: this is at Dassia, and is the property of the Merlin family, a member of which, a well-known English gardener, experimented and bred the orange varieties which are named after him. It was also Merlin who brought the Kumquat to Greece from Japan, and its fruit has become one of the trademarks of Corfu.

Castello: A huge villa in Gothic style, once the residence of an Italian baron, Luca Mimbelli. It was built by an Italian architect on the site of a ruined medieval tower, and is located between Gouvia and Dassia, just outside Kato Korakiana.

 

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 the Pantokrator dates from 1576 and contains frescoes of the same period. Located near the village, the Church of St. Merkourios is, after the Church of St. Jason and St. Sosipatros in Anemomylos, the most exceptional Byzantine monument on the island. Its rare frescoes date from 1075 and reveal the true spirit of Byzantium in the economy of their lines and in the expressiveness of the gaze of the depicted saints.