Ano Korakiana: five kilometres from Agios Markos and eighteen kilometres from Corfu Town , has a population of 1400 and many buildings in traditional style. It boats a Philharmonic Orchestra founded in 1958, underlining the musical traditions which began in 1623 with the founding of the Mandolinatas of the Pope. Out of its 37 churches, the ones dedicated to Agios Nikolaos, the Archangel Michael and Agios Athanasios are of great interest to Byzantine scholars. The local school, a fine neo-Classical building, contains a small folklore collection.

The Ropa Valley: stretches over a plain of some 10,000 stremmata (about 2500 acres) towards the north of the Mesis region. Long ago it was a lake, which was subsequently drained, and today a great network of irrigation ditches and 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 agriculture is essentially non-existent. With a lake close by to the east, with its river flowing out to the sea at Ermones Bay, the valley has become an important wetlands habitat, home of a multitude of birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. On the low hills which completely surround the valley, agricultural villages have been established, such as Kanakades, Marmaro, Giannades, Tembloni and Vassilika.

Vatos: at fifteen kilometres from town, is a small, quiet village with two interesting Byzantine churches, Agios Nikolaos, with frescoes of the 13th century, and Agios Georgios, built on the summit of the hill of the same name, with frescoes of the 14th and 15th centuries.

Myrtiotissa: a rough, steep track runs down from Vatos to Myrtiotissa, a gorgeous little beach which is the favourite of nudists. To the right (north) of the beach is the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin of Myrtiotissa, which was founded in the 14th century by a monk, a Turk who had been converted to Christianity. It owes its name to an icon of the Virgin which was found amongst the myrtle bushes. A coastal path of great botanical interest leads from here to Ermones.

Ermones: is a small bay on Corfu’s western coast, with sheer cliffs and wooded hills. Archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of a Bronze Age hamlet here, testament to the existence of prehistoric settlers in the area. Guests of the large hotel complex which is built on the hillside can enjoy a wonderful beach, where cold, fresh water flows from a river into the sea. But there is also plenty of room for visitors, with rooms for rent, fish tavernas, and plenty of bars.

Pelekas: twelve kilometres from town and built near the summit of a beautiful hill at a height of 270 metres, the village is famed for its panoramic view and the splendid sunsets. Here is the ‘Kaiser’s Throne’, where Kaiser Wilhelm II used to come and meditate.

Glyfada: a huge and very popular sandy beach with bars open round the clock, hotels, restaurants, and crowds of people. This is where the panhellenic volley-ball championships take place.

Kontoyialos: an outstanding beach, a smaller version of Glyfada, with tavernas right at the water’s edge, rooms for rent and a hotel. It can be reached by three different roads.

 

Yialiskari: On the road which links Pelekas with Sinarades you will find a turn-off to Yialiskari, a small bay where pine trees run right to the water’s edge. There are two or three tavernas, but also lots of visitors from the hotel nearby.

Sinarades: is a large, well-preserved village with buildings from the Byzantine and Venetian eras. Also of interest in the village is a campanile dating from the 17th century ( not the one in the square, which is a modern copy of a Venetian one) and a little way further on, up an alley, is an old bakery where bread is still made in the old way and baked in wood-fired ovens. A philharmonic orchestra was founded in Sinarades in 1960, and it takes part in all 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 establishment of an intellectual foundation, centred on the Church of the Blessed Virgin of the Golden Spring (today called the Church of the Source of Life – Zoodochos Pigi). The aim was to educate children from all over Corfu. The foundation was a closed order and was overseen by ten monks. The tomb of Marini, according to his wishes, is located at the rear of the church. Near the village square is the once-private Church of Agios Spiridon (St. Spiridon), 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 drinking water. As well as Greeks, Venetians who were out of favour with the authorities once 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 (St. Blaise), with frescoes from the 13th, 16th and 17th centuries.