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| SPOTLIGHT | | Tropical
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| Paleokastritsa beach , Corfu, Greece beach
Travel Information
Paleokastritsa Corfu: Palaiokastritsa is the
name of the most famous picturesque village of the island of Corfu, 26 kilometres
northwest of Corfu Town;
The village offers many nice taverns overlooking
the bay and six sandy and pebble beaches which are scattered all around the area;
those beaches are surrounded by olive trees forests and are famous for their dramatic
scenery and the beauty of their colours.
This lovely area stretches along
a coastal road and contains some superb bays and a harbour. There is little to
the village itself aside from a number of hotels and restaurants that begin a
good kilometer away from the final bay.
The hotels and bars here give access
to some pleasant bays. As you continue along the descending road you reach the
largeish harbour which has a number of restaurants nearby offering great views
at day and night. As the road reaches and end you can see a large tree filled
rock above it which contains the Theotokou Monastery.
The main beach is quite
small and very popular. It is surrounded by bars and hotels and there is a road
behind it so is not quiet. But the views of the cove are great. You can get a
boat here which takes you around the many caves in the area
Paleokastritsa
is the honey pot of the west coast, with hotels spreading so far up into the surrounding
area that some are a taxi ride from town. The village itself is small, surrounded
by hills and cliffs - an idyllic setting which led British High Commissioner Sir
Frederic Adam to popularize Paleokastritsa in the nineteenth century.
It
has been suggested as a possible site of the Homeric city of Scheria, where Odysseus
was washed ashore, discovered by Nausica and her handmaidens and welcomed by her
father King Alkinos, although this is a claim shared by a number of other sites
in the islands.
The thirteenth-century Paleokastritsa monastery overlooks
the town, and a circuitous 6km or so north is the Angelokastro castle, one of
the most impressive ruins on the island.
Paleokastritsa's castle, the Angelokastro,
There are shortcut paths through open country from Paleokastritsa, but the main
approach, and certainly the only one by car, involves doubling back to the Lakones
turning and heading for the village of Makrades, a route with some of the finest
views in the region, and cafes such as the Bella Vista to enjoy them from.
The route to the kastro leaves the smaller, dead-end hamlet of Krini. Angelokastro
is only approachable by path (the walk from the car park takes about 30min), but
the ruined castle has stunning, almost circular views of the surrounding sea and
land - presumably why its Byzantine builders and later Venetian developers chose
the site. Indeed, the Angevins of Naples held out here for the best part of a
year when the Venetians took over the rest of the island in 1386, and the fortress
remained unbreached during the brief but destructive Turkish invasions of 1537,
1571 and 1716. On a clear day, it's possible to see Corfu Town some 25km away;
however, little remains of the fort except for parts of the main walls. On the
rocky bluff above the beaches, the beautiful, whitewashed Paleokastritsa's Monastery
(also known as the Theotokos Monastery) is believed to have been established in
the thirteenth century, though the current buildings date from the eighteenth.
The small monastery church, set amidst an attractive complex of courtyards,
archways, monks' cells, oil presses and storerooms, has a number of impressive
icons, including depictions of St George and the dragon and an atmospheric Last
Judgement, while the ceiling features a woodcarving of the Tree of Life. There's
also a museum, resplendent with further icons, most notably a beautiful Dormition
of the Virgin Mary, jewel-encrusted silver-bound Bibles and other impedimenta
of Greek Orthodox ritual, as well as a curious "sea monster", with very large
vertebrae and tusks, said to have been killed by fishermen in the last century.
The real highlight, however, is the beautiful paved gardens, which afford spectacular
views over the coastline.
Pa-le-o-ka-str-it-sa (pronunciation: just let it
roll off the tongue!) is set around three main bays. It is famous for being the
islands most treasured beauty spot, and becomes busy with day trippers throughout
the season. Luxury yachts sail in to admire the back drop of the beautiful green
hills, while coaches clog up the narrow roads leading into town!
What's
There
Tavernas: In the main town, there is a good choice of tavernas.
They are mostly fish, and notoriously expensive.
For an interesting alternative,
why not visit some of the smaller covers around Paleokastritsa. You will find
small coves like this one - the Grotto, where you can see the waves crashing into
the rocks - quite spectacular.
Bars: There are a couple of music bars and
clubs on the edge of the resort, nothing too rowdy though.
Supermarkets:
Lots especially on the way down to the resort.
Boat Rental: Yes from this
bay:
Water Sports: Water sports are available including scuba-diving. They
also offer a taxi boat service to some of the other quieter bays.
Exchange:
Yes, and a cash machine on the beach!
Public Swimming Pools: Several - not
close to the beach though, a little higher up.
Telephone: Yes
Children's
Facilities: Nothing noted.
Disabled Facilities: Good paths and access.
Shopping: Lots of touristy ones.
Accommodation: There are several large hotels
and apartments blocks - some of which are not very attractive.
Picture taken
by Csaba, at restaurants bay - there is a huge rock standing out of the water
with what looks like a small boat on top - well that is what the locals say -
only after you have had too much of their local wine if you ask me!
Who
is the Resort for ? This is a rather large resort, so there is plenty for
everyone. Paleokastritsa for me is a great day out, but I am not sure I would
like to stay there. The Beach
There are several different beaches and
coves here. The following describes the main two.
Type: Sandy with some small
stones.
Sunbeds: Yes.
Facilities: Showers and toilets.
Child
Suitability:
Accessibility: There is parking very close to the beach
- not sure if it is sufficient during the peak season - so you would be unlikely
to park close to the beach. On the main beach there are a couple of steps down.
The other though has none.
Cleanliness and Urchins: The beach is clean
and urchin free. Some of the other coves though are rock and sure to have some
lurking somewhere. Places of Interest
The monastery (Moní Theotókou)
located on the headland is the main focus of attention and was built during the
17th century. Visitors are welcome inside to view the famous ceiling carving of
the 'Tree of Life', but please, out of respect, make sure that you are suitably
dressed.
Also worth a look are the nearby 'sea' caves. These can be visited
by small 'trip boats' lasting about 30 mins.
Around the headland you
will also find an exclusive marina - home during the summer, to some seriously
large yachts.
Places Nearby How to get there by Car
All roads on Corfu seem to lead to Paleokastritsa! Follow the signs and the main
road out of Corfu town and drive directly there or an excellent alternative is
described here:
The best way - for the views, is to go via the Troumpetas
pass. Look on your map for Skipero (which is on the main Sidari road). The pass
is just above.
As you drive through the pass, admire the stunning scenery.
At the top take a left (if you are coming up the pass) - signposted to 'Paleokastritsa'.
You will now drive though the small mountain villages of Alimatades and
Lakones. Watch out for these in the road:
And also this:
This
lady called Eleni I almost ran over. As I came round a bend, she leapt out in
front of me! Why? Well these mountain villages are famous for this:
Grapes,
but more importantly their wine! local villages line the roadside selling their
homebrew. After drinking the second bottle with Eleni - it was only 9.45 am! I
left with a couple of bottles, two jars of honey, a hand carved cat and all the
local gossips! As you continue on the road through the village you will also find
a disappointing tourist scene. The village square is now home to various gift
type shops selling hand carved olive wood items, leather and fur coats! Drive
swiftly though (unless you wish to visit the Anglo Castle - turning on the right).
You will now start to drive down to Paleokastritsa though narrow, twisting
Greek roads. Watch out for these:
Large 'tourist' coaches block the roads
at every photo opportunity viewpoint. As you enter Paleokastritsa turn right down
to the main bay and look for somewhere to park. Enjoy your day there. |
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Top Beaches |  |
| |
Alonissos Beach | | Alonissos has some
of the cleanest water in the Aegean, but it's lacking in sandy beaches. There's
only two really - Vythisma and Vrysitsa. The rest vary from rough to fine pebbles..
| | |
| Khryssi
Milia Beach | | Khryssi Milia, the first
good beach, has pine trees behind the sand and a taverna. At Kokkinokastro, over
the hill to the north, excavations have revealed the site of ancient Ikos and
evidence of the oldest known prehistoric habitation in the Aegean. There's nothing
much to see, but it's a beautiful spot with a good red-pebble beach, and, in July
and August, a daytime bar. | | |
| Vythisma
Beach | | Vythisma, the lovely beach just
before Megalos Mourtias, can only be reached by boat, the path here having been
washed out. Further north, visible from Palea Alonissos, Vrysitsa is tucked into
its own finger-like inlet. There's sand and a taverna, but little else. |
| |
| Crete
Beach | | But when you lose yourself among
the mountains, or on the lesser-known coastal reaches of the south, it has everything
you could want of a Greek island and more: great beaches, remote hinterlands and
hospitable people. | | |
|
Kalamos | | Another island beach is at
Kalamos: get off the Manganari bus at the turning for Kalamos, which leaves you
with a four-kilometre walk. | | |
|
Myrtos Beach | | The journey between Argostoli
and Fiskardho, by regular bus or rented vehicle, is the most spectacular ride
in the archipelago. Leaving town, the road rises into the Evmorfia foothills and,
beyond Agonas, clings to near-sheer cliffs as it heads for Dhivarata, which has
a smattering of rooms and is the stop for Myrtos beach. | |
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|
Megas Lakkos | | Half-hourly ferries
(hourly in winter) ply between the capital and Lixouri throughout the day until
midnight. Lixouri's nearest beach is Lipedha, a two-kilometre walk south. Like
the Xi and Megas Lakkos beaches (served by bus from Lixouri and both with restaurants
and accommodation), it has rich-red sand and is backed by low cliffs. |
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| Pefkoulia
Beach | | Tsoukaladhes, just 6km from
Lefkadha, is developing a roadside tourism business, but better beaches lie a
short distance to the south, so there's very little reason to stay here. Four
kilometres on, the road plunges down to the sand-and-pebble Pefkoulia beach, one
of the longest on the island, | | |
|
Mylos Beach | | Sea taxisply between AI
Nikitas and Mylos beach, or it's a 45-minute walk (or bus ride) to the most popular
beach on the coast, Kathisma, a shadeless kilometre of fine sand, which becomes
nudist and a lot less crowded beyond the large jutting rocks halfway along. |
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|
Myconos | | The closest beaches to town
are those to the north, at Tourlos (only 2km away but horrid) and Ayios Stefanos
(4km, much better), both developed resorts and connected by a very regular bus
service to Mykonos Town. There are tavernas and rooms to let (as well as package
hotels) at Ayios Stefanos, away from the beach. | |
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