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Corfu Travel Guide

Corfu - What To See and Visit | Mount Pantokrator

Mount Pantokrator

[Traditional Greek Villages] [Strinilas] [Strinilas] [Mount Pantokrator] [Pantokrator Cafe]

Traditional Greek Villages

If you are fed up with sitting by the pool and want to see some traditional Greek villages - high up in the mountains then a trip to Strinilas is a must - it is the highest village on the island and a great place for lunch - you can also combine the trip with a worthwhile visit to the summit of Mount Pantokrator.

Strinilas

Strinilas - a mountain village: How to get there.
First find the mountain road to Spartilas. This is on the main NE coastal road - between Ipsos and Barbati

The junction is on the 'brow of a hill' and is signposted "Spartilas 4 and Episkepsi 13"

The drive up to Spartilas presents the usual almost 360 degree hairpin bends - but these afford some exceptional views overlooking part of the NE coast and Corfu town. They also have many 'roadside shrines' - a reminder of previous road accidents!

Spartilas

Continuing up the winding road you reach Spartilas. This is a surprisingly large ancient village - remember that it is only until recently that the coastal areas have become populated - most people lived high in the hills to avoid the marauding pirates - (many of which actually settled in Kassiopi and made it into the fortified town that it is today). If you like, you could stop here for a drink.

Head through Spartilas and after about 1km look for the right-hand turning (signposted 'Petaleia 7 and Lafki 12'). This road takes you all the way to Strinilas. You will now notice that you have left the 'olive tree line'. The olive trees on Corfu grow from sea level up to about 350 meters above sea level. The landscape will start to change and become more rugged.

There are no other villages on this road. Strinilas is a tiny village set in a shallow dip - to shelter it from the winter weather.

Strinilas

When you arrive you will meet the small village square, shaded by a huge Elm tree. Around the square are three tavernas. Time to stop for lunch!

For lunch, we tried the one that is on your left as you enter the village. The food was very basic and traditional, but great! They also make their own wine and we were able to go down to the cellar to choose it!

There are two other tavernas, which also have favourable reports.

Outside the tavernas were various 'animal skins', and this reflects the menu on offer. All the food is meat oriented. Wild boar, lamb, deer and rabbit.

After lunch, you have a choice. Either go back the way you came, or continue up Mount Pantokrator to the top.

Mount Pantokrator

Mount Pantokrator dominates the Northern part of the Island and is over 1000 meters high. During the winter months, it is occasionally 'snow capped'. The road to the summit goes through the mountain village of Strinalas

200m after you leave Strinilas, the road to the summit forks off to the right. Park as close to the top as possible, to aviod a long walk.

This newly completed road goes all the way to the top.

The views from the summit are stunning. Looking down South, you can see the Islands of Paxos and Anti Paxos.

Looking North, you can see the Northern Islands - Mathraki, Erracusa and Othondi. If you are very lucky you may even see the Southern tip of Italy - over 80 miles away!

At the top, you may be surprised to see a Monastery -over shadowed by a large 'radio antenna'.

If you plan to visit the summit though, do not forget your sun cream as the suns rays can be very strong at this height.

Pantokrator Cafe

There is a welcome little cafe-bar at the top - appropriately named the 'Pantokrator'

Driving Back Down

To return 'home', you can either go back the way you came, or pick a route down the 'other side'

Sign posted Petalia and Lafki, this road will take you down to Sidari and Acharavi - depending on your exact route, taking you through small mountain villages that look like they have never seen a tourist.

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The Corfu Travel Guide and Lefkada Travel Guides are brought to you by Agni Travel.
Agni Travel is the sister company of Taverna Agni and also the sponsor of the Agni Animal Welfare Fund

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