Nimfes: a large village with a population of 800, stands 200 metres above sea-level and in ancient times was called Neraidohori (Place of the Nereids). Its situation amidst running water and lush vegetation makes it a fitting spot for legends and mysterious beliefs.It is said that the name comes from the Nymphs who used to bathe in nearby waterfalls. The village has seen continuous occupation from ancient times, owing to its inaccessibility and to the establishment of a command post there in Venetian times, which prevented attacks from barbarians and pirates . The church of Agios Konstantinos (St. Constantine) was built on ruins of a temple dedicated to Apollo.

Askitario: above Nimfes, it is one of the oldest Christian monuments on the island. In the early years of Christianity the Epirot hermit, Artemios Paisios, is said to have lived in solitude amongst the rocks. One day he saw a boat sailing from the far shore and had a premonition that his parents were coming to fetch him back. Since he did not want to give up his life as a hermit, he dug a grave and lay down in it. At that moment a boulder rolled down from the rocks and closed the grave forever. When his parents reached it and realised what had happened, they tried to open the grave, but as they beat upon the rock, it ignited. Thus they abandoned their efforts and, accepting the wishes of their son, they built, and themselves occupied, the Monastery of Sotira.

Episkepsis: is a large village which is considered to be one of the oldest in Corfu. Its houses are well-constructed and its mansions imposing. Here, in the square of Agios Vasileios (St. Basil) on the last Sunday before Lent, the village priest leads off the dance called 'Doxa Na'. All the men of the village follow, each according to his age and rank in the village. It is danced without instrumental accompaniment, the priest who leads chanting the lines, and the rest of the dancers repeat them. At the end of the dance, old women with musical instruments begin playing, and then break into the traditional circular dance of Corfu. This tradition can be found in other villages of the Oros region, but nowhere else in Greece. Karolas Klimis, in his book 'Customs of the People of Corfu, regards the dance as a survival of bacchanal rites dating back to around 500 BC.

Pantocrator: the great plateau of Pantokrator lies at a height of 700 metres above sea-level. The summit, with its monastery and communications aerials, stands to the north of the plateau. The monastery was built in 1347 by the inhabitants of the 23 surrounding villages, but it was utterly destroyed around 1537. The church which stands today was built in the 17th century and its facade in the 19th. On August 6th, the biggest festival on the island takes place here, and in the evening people ascend footpaths to the monastery, carrying candles and torches. The ground is rocky,but amongst the low hills little pockets of soil have formed like 'lakes' of green. These pockets used to be productive, growing corn and wheat, but today they are used only for the grazing of goats. Signs of former land use exist in the threshing-floors (alonia), the drystone boundary walls, the stone water cisterns and the isolated buildings which once housed the farmers at harvest time. The area is a paradise for walkers, who can roam over it at will, there being no thick vegetation or crags to block the route. And you may gather saffron crocus, that amazing flower used in cooking. The way up Pantokrator is marked by many mountain villages where people live exclusively from animal husbandry and olive culture. There are also many abandoned villages whose residents, once the threat of pirate attacks had diminished, moved down to the lower and more fertile regions.

Old Perithia: a Venetian village with roots in ancient times, with stone-built mansions and many churches, it is the most impressive example of the old lifestyle. The name, in all probability, derives from 'peri-theo', that is, 'see all around'. The village was once the capital of the Municipality of Kassopaion and was extremely wealthy - its fields stretched as far as the settlement known today as New Perithia. It owes its position not only to the fear of pirate attacks but also to the avoidance of the mosquitoes which thrived in the fever belt close to the sea. When, in the 20th century, these threats no longer existed, the village was abandoned. Today, it is a 'living museum'. During the winter, only a few people live there, occupied with animal husbandry. The last Sunday in July sees a procession, when the icon of the Virgin is carried around the village in memory of the time in 1863 when she intervened to save the village from an epidemic.

Old Sinies: is another abandoned village, located on the southern flanks of Pantokrator. As in the case of Old Perithia, it was founded as a refuge from pirate raids, and abandoned when the coastline became safe.

 

Strinilas: a mountain village which differs noticeably from the rest of Corfu, both in architecture and in climate, it is situated on the western slopes of the Oros. The village is renowned for its excellent wine, which you can sample in one of its picturesque tavernas.

Zigos: took its name from the appearance of the village, which resembles a pair of scales (zigaria). Perhaps unique in all Greece is the church of Saint Agatha the Sicilian, built before 1536 and celebrating its festival on February 5th. The village has a population of 307 and stands 25 kilometres from Corfu Town.

Spartillas: is located to the south and lower down. It is a pretty village with plenty of running water, and if you get dizzy while driving up the winding road to it, you can stop and take a rest at the spring of the church of the Blessed Virgin.