Around Town

The sweep of Garitsa Bay leads you round to the village of Anemomylos and to the Kanoni peninsular. The eastern port of ancient Corcyra, the harbour of Alkinoos, was situated towards the southern end of the bay, but few remains can be seen today.

In Anemomylos you will find the church of St. Jason and Sosipater, the two Saints who brought Christianity to Corfu. Housed inside are many rare icons.

Further along the road to Kanoni is the gate of Mon Repos park where elegant villa in Regency style stands in the grounds. Built in 1831 it was intended as the summer residence of the High Lord Commissioner during the British rule. Inside the Mon Repos Estate is a small Doric temple probably dedicated to Poseidon and dating from around 500 BC.

Opposite the Mon Repos gate is the ruin of Paleopolis Basilica, the oldest church still in existence in Corfu. The road opposite to Basilica takes you to the hamlet of Analypsis. The Acropolis of Corcyra, with its temples and public buildings is thought to have been situated on the nearby hill of Ayia Marina. So far, no remains have been found but the church on the top of the hill is worth visiting for the splendid view over the lake and surrounding hills.

Near the round-about at Analypsis you will find a steep path leading down to the spring of Kardaki. The spring with its water flowing from the mouth of a lion, is reputed to never dry up. According to the tradition, anyone who drinks from it is destined to return to Corfu.

Up the road towards Kanoni, along a side road sign-posted 'Stratia', you will find the ruins of the Temple of Artemis where the famous Gorgon pediment was found. Next to the temple is the attractive Convent of Ayios Theodoros. Further along the road stands one of the surviving sections of the Wall of ancient Corcyra, dating from the 5th century BC.

The Kanoni peninsular, despite many buildings, contains a great deal of charming scenery and of course here you can see with your own eyes the famous picture-postcard view of Mouse Island ('Pontikonisi'). According to the legend Mouse Island was formed when the ship that had taken Odysseus back to Ithaki, his home port, was turned to stone by Poseidon, god of the sea, angry at being defied by the Phaeceans. On the tiny island in the foreground is the Convent of Vlachernas, linked to the mainland by a causeway. From here you can take a boat to Mouse Island itself.