Old Perithia (Palaia Peritheia)

Old Perithia (gr. Palaia Peritheia) is a deserted village. It is located high up, off the main road between Kassiopi and Acharavi. It is strange driving in the mountains, coming across this deserted village with a few sheep and a couple of Tavernas in the middle! Even more interesting, walking around just wondering about those who used to live here.

Five Tavernas sit in the main village square. Walk through the roughly cobbled paths to find them.

Sit and sample the real taste of Greece, in the "Ognistra Taverna". Spend time talking to the Taverna's owner Vassilis as I did. He will enlighten you, giving you an insight to Perithias past. As you sit in the square overlooking the terrace gardens and the now empty houses, reflect on how once they were full of life. Most of Perithia's houses now stand empty and abandoned, broken down shutters at the windows and crumbling stone walls, bright blue sky shines through holes in roofs. Houses full of memories for the families that built them and still mainly own them. Take a walk around the village, venturing out further to get a feel of this amazing piece of Corfiot history.

I visited Old Perithia on a Sunday in early September. The Two Tavernas in the square were packed full of people both Greek locals and tourists; sitting side by side exchanging stories and conversations. There is life once again in Old Perithia during the summer months. The day was sunny and warm with a few fluffy clouds and a cool breeze rustling through the poplar trees and grapevines above us. A perfect day to visit this wonderful and almost eerie place.

I recommend that you visit Old Perithia at least once when you holiday in Corfu, to experience it for yourself, but I for one shall return many times - lucky me!

Once you found your way up to Old Perithia you shouldn't miss out on the Loutses Cave Corfu.

Follow the main coastal road out of Kassiopi, continue on this road until you reach the EKO petrol service station, this will be on your left and the General tourist office is opposite on your right. You will see the signposts for Loutses and Old Perithia. The turning is on your left immediately after the service station. Follow the road up to New Perithia, this is not far, turn left at the fork in the road, you will see the signs, go through the new village.

Continue on this road up the mountain to Old Perithia, you will pass through Loutses on your way. The road is narrow in parts and extremely windy so go careful!!Driving up the mountain side you will witness spectacular views all around you as you climb up to the village of Loutses.

Derelict houses line the roadside. In faded sunbleached shades of summer offset by the brightly coloured flowers in hot pinks, oranges and red tones. Take time to look at the traditional Greek village of Loutses. Stop off for a cold drink in the local Taverna there, the welcome will be as warm as the drinks are cold.

As you continue on your way up, up and up!!! Leaving the sign for Anapaftiria on you lefthand side. Winding through the hills, lush green vegetation of olive and cypress trees surrounds you, contrasting with the stark grey of the stone and rocks on the mountain side. The road starts to trail down after the climb, there nestling between the mountains almost valley like in appearance is the village of Old Perithia. A secret place of years gone by.

Perithia was built in Byzantine times around the 14th century when people fled their coastal homes in fear of the pirates raiding there coastal villages. Even when this threat subsided the villagers were still not able to return to their original villages and homes due to an outbreak of malaria carrying mosquitoes. Old Perithia grew and boasted eight churches, each one belonging to a different family in the village. There was a school, a police station and even a court. Over 1,500 people lived in Perithia.

In 1912 the village was made part of the Municipality of Kassiopi. As tourism developed, down on the coast, more of the village inhabitants and families moved down to the 'new' coastal resorts. By 1955 the village was occupied only during the summer months. After these months the remaining villagers would come down to their olive groves to harvest their crops. By 1975 most of the villagers had moved further down the mountain and only a few remained.

Today there are six people who live in the old village throughout the whole year, they tend the local crops and look after live stock.