Old Perithia

Old Perithia sits at about 450 metres on the northern side of Mount Pantokrator, founded centuries ago by villagers who moved inland away from raiders and malarial coastal marshes; at its height it held over a thousand people, more than a hundred stone houses and eight churches. Depopulation through the twentieth century left it almost empty, and it became a protected heritage settlement in the 1980s. Restoration has since returned a handful of houses to use as guesthouses and tavernas around the small square, while many others remain roofless shells with fig trees growing through them, which gives the village its particular atmosphere: partly living, partly ruin. Paths lead on to the summit of Pantokrator at 906 metres, the highest point on Corfu.

What you actually see

• The stone houses - Venetian-era buildings, some restored, many ruined.
• The village churches - several surviving among the abandoned lanes.
• The square - the restored centre with a few tavernas.
• The Pantokrator paths - walking routes up to the island's summit.

When to go

Spring for wildflowers and green slopes, autumn for clear air. Summer is cooler here than on the coast, which makes it a good midday escape. Winter sees most places closed.

Honest expectations

Only a small part of the village is restored; the rest is genuine ruin with unstable walls, and wandering into buildings is unwise. The access road is narrow and winding. Facilities are limited to two or three tavernas that may close out of season.

Nearby

Mount Pantokrator's summit is above; the beaches of the northeast coast lie below.