Old Perithia showcases Peritheia’s architecture and also offers a specific hiking option on Mount Pantokrator: from there, a roughly one-hour route leads to the summit along a gravel road. This lets you choose between visiting the stone village and taking a hike with a clearly named destination.
Stone Houses and Cobblestone Lanes
Old Perithia comprises around 130 houses, most of which were built in the Venetian architectural style. Both the houses and the village’s cobbled lanes are made of stone. The approximate number gives you an idea of its scale: the focus is on an entire village, not just a single building. As you walk through the lanes, you can take in the materials, paving and construction together. The Venetian style defines most of the houses, not every single one without exception.
The two local highlights are therefore quite distinct: the lanes are about the interplay between the houses and the village layout, while the route to Mount Pantokrator is a trail with a fixed destination. If you enjoy looking at architecture, Old Perithia offers specific details to appreciate; if you want to include some exercise, the summit trail continues uphill along the gravel road.
Walking Trails and Stages
Allow about an hour for the route from Old Perithia to the summit of Mount Pantokrator. It is considered manageable even for beginners. Check the trail conditions before setting out, as they can change. There are also walking paths in Old Perithia. The summit trail and these walking paths are different options: one leads to a clearly named destination, while the others complement a visit to the village. Old Perithia is also one of the Corfu Trail’s stage destinations.
There are other hiking areas on Corfu. In the municipal unit of Achilleion, ancient paths wind through the wooded mountains of Agii Deka, Stavros and Garouna and are suitable for hiking. This offers an additional landscape to explore on a trip to the island; it is an alternative to the route from Old Perithia to Mount Pantokrator. You can plan your hikes around the specific trails and regions rather than treating different options as a single route.
More Cultural Attractions on Corfu
For another perspective on Corfu’s history, consider Corfu Old Town. Its historic urban fabric is almost entirely preserved, and its buildings date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The Old Town, together with its two fortresses, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This urban ensemble offers a different cultural focus from the houses and lanes of Old Perithia.
The museums also offer different highlights. The Museum of Asian Art in the Old Town houses more than 11,000 objects from China, Japan, India, the Himalayas and Central Asia. The Archaeological Museum of Corfu displays the Gorgon-Medusa pediment from the great Temple of Artemis. It was created in 585 BC and excavated in 1911 near the Aghioi Theodoroi Monastery. Those interested in art and history will find two clearly distinct subjects here: a collection of objects from different regions of Asia and an archaeological work with a specific excavation history.
The permanent exhibition at the Kapodistrias Museum explores the history of Corfu, Europe and Greece through the life of Greece’s first governor, using significant artefacts and documents. The museum also has a lush garden on a hill, with views of Corfu’s landscape and across the island. The villages in the municipal unit of Achilleion also host numerous festivals, folk celebrations and community cultural events. As individual programmes vary, check the specific event dates before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Róda, Perivoli, Roumanades, Lakones, Agios Ioannis, Perouládes, Sidari, Longós.
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