Paleokastritsa is located only 20 minutes away from Corfu town and is considered to be one of the most famous places to visit if you are in Corfu. When you get to Paleokastritsa you can hire a motorboat or snorkel in the extremely clear waters and in the many rocky coves dotted about the area. The area is served by the Green Bus service leaving from the station near the New Port. They operate every day but they only make 4 or 5 routes per day so be sure to catch the last bus! There is of course a taxi station in the area as well, but it would cost you quite a lot more to get back to town by taxi. By all means, don’t miss out on this wonderful place and you won’t regret making this trip!!!

There are two areas of headland here at Paleokastritsa and also 5 important small coves to explore. There is also a monastery in Paleokastritsa; it is located on the top of the northern headland, on the top of a cliff. It was built in 1225 but the present building dates from the 18^th or 19th century. The interior is an exceptional example of Greek monastic architecture. The view from the monastery is absolutely breath-taking. In the foreground you will be able to see some small islands. Some people say that one of them is the petrified boat of Odysseus or the petrified boats of some of pirates who wanted to plunder the monastery during the Middle Ages. They were then punished by the Virgin Mary when the abbot of the monastery prayed to her for saviour.

The main beach in Paleokastritsa is underneath the monastery and it’s the largest of all the beaches in this area. There is another beach next to a small pier and it is used during the summer for renting boats and yachts. All of the other beaches in this area are only accessible by boat, either using a rented or a private boat or a water taxi. Water taxis will take you to one of the beaches you choose and you will arrange the time you want them to come again and take you back. So, either if you own a boat or if you decide to rent one you can visit many of the lovely, peaceful and untouched beaches in and around this area. You will never be disappointed here and you will love the clear blue seas and the peaceful sun shining down on you.

On many of the beaches in Paleokastritsa you can also rent beach umbrellas and deck chairs to lounge away the day on. There are also public showers and toilets.

AGGELOKASTRO or ANGELS CASTLE

After the village of Lakones on your left you will see Angelokastro or Angles Castle or Castle Michel Angelo, which is a Byzantine fortress. In order to get to the castle you will need to follow the road to the village Krini, and at the turnoff to the village make sure you keep to the left until you reach the base of the castle.

The forts' main purpose was to actually protect the inhabitants from the pirates and also from the Venetians. For a little while it served as the island's capital because the governor actually lived there. In 1403 from the castle, they locals successfully fought against the pirates of Genoa and kept the castle their own.

Aggelokastro was built in the 13th century by Michael Angelo B' the son of Epirus's archbishop Michael Angelo Á. Tradition says that the founder was looking for the most dangerous and the steepest rock to build upon it an impregnable fortress.

You can see the castle's entrance is an arched gate, but on the inside there are only ruins of the chambers and the storage rooms left for you to see. On the summit of the fortress there stands a tiny chapel dedicated to the archangels Michael and Gabriel; here one can admire and look upon a remarkable fresco of the Virgin Mary.

Further down hidden in a cave in a rock there is the chapel of St. Kyriaki. This was originally a hermitage and was then converted into a chapel. Apart from the 2 chapels; the only surviving structure is a large underground vaulted cistern near which stands the few remaining ruins of what may once have been the house of the castles’ commander.

The castle stands on a 609 metres high rock and the views from there are really astonishing! Corfu mountaintops and Corfu Town can be seen. You will also be able to see the Eastern channel and the Diapontian islands are also visible from here. The views are really breath-taking and the whole scenery so revitalizing and it really pays to come here! Try to come late in the evening after your visit or swim at Paleokastritsa and enjoy the most impressive and romantic sunset of your lives! Explore the village of Lakones and have your coffee or drink at the verandas of one of the restaurants there…a truly inspiring experience!