Corfu’s old villages hide colourful houses, stone mansions and flower-filled courtyards. Read to the end for my top three — and No.1 is also my personal favourite.
2Old Perithia – Corfu’s Remarkable Stone Village
Best for: stone mansions, Venetian architecture, history and atmospheric photography.
Old Perithia is completely different from the colourful villages elsewhere on this list.
Here it is the stone, history and atmosphere that make the architecture so special.
Hidden beneath Mount Pantokrator, the historic settlement once contained around 130 houses, many built from local stone and showing Venetian architectural influences.
Some have been restored, while others remain beautiful atmospheric ruins slowly being reclaimed by vegetation.
Where does the name Perithia come from?
The exact origin of the name is not firmly established. Several local explanations exist, but there is not enough evidence to present one as historical fact.
Village facts
Population: only a handful of permanent residents today.
Location: northeast Corfu, beneath Mount Pantokrator.
From Corfu Town: approximately 45 km, depending on the route.
Best for: stone houses, historic buildings and old Corfu atmosphere.
What else can you see nearby?
- Mount Pantokrator
- Loutses
- Kassiopi
- Agios Spyridon
- Antinioti Lagoon
Several traditional tavernas now operate inside the settlement, so Old Perithia is ideal for combining photography, walking and lunch.
Local tip: For a mountain-village day trip, combine Old Perithia with Lafki.
