A new day brings new adventures on the island of Corfu. The whole day is reserved for climbing the highest peak of the island, Pantokrator 906 m. The hike starts from a nameless beach at 0 m.

Corfu has a large number of organized hiking trails. The most famous trail is the “Corfu Trail”, which goes from the southernmost point near the town of Kavos, to the northernmost point of Cape Spiridonas. The trail is 150 km long and takes 7-10 days to complete.

The nameless beach is no longer visible, but on the right you can see the bay where Kassiopi is located.

Above the sea, a small village Luca.

Pantokrator is not visible from the shore, but for the first time you can see it from the Luca village.

Medea’s Cave

Near the village is the Luca cave. One cave, which is not exactly geographically determined, is related to a story from ancient Greek mythology about Jason, who with the stolen golden fleece, fleeing from the Colchians, reached Corfu with his beloved Medea. There he was met by King Alcinous, who also received Odysseus.

The Colchians asked King Alcinous to deliver Medea to them. He agreed to hand Medea over if it was proven that she was a virgin. Meanwhile, a secret wedding between Theseus and Medea was organized in Medea’s cave, which saved her from being delivered to the Colchians. Some Colchians remained to live on the island, while a part went to Istria, where they founded the city of Pula. There is no concrete evidence that Luce is Medea’s cave.

Darrell’s most famous book is called Prospero’s Cave, which is an allusion to Prospero, the main character from Shakespeare’s last work, The Tempest. Darrell believes that Corfu is the very island where Prosper lived.

Mount Pantokrator

As the time goes by, the coast stays far behind….

… and Pantokrator is getting closer.

Once on the top, you can enjoy this beautiful panorama view of the coast and the mainland of the island.

On the top of Pantokrator there is a church, which dates back to the 17th century. In its place there was a medieval church from the Angevin period, but its remains have not been preserved. Pantocrator is a term attributed to Jesus in the Greek Orthodox Church, and literally means the Almighty. Christ Pantocrator is often depicted on icons and frescoes, sitting on a throne and holding a book or a scepter, which has the symbolic meaning of the ruler of heaven and earth.

Palea Peritheia

From the top of Pantokrator, a hiking trail leads to the village of Palea Peritheia (Old Peritheia).

What is interesting about this village is that it was completely abandoned during the 60s of the 20th century.

There is information that the village was founded in the Middle Ages, that it had 1200 inhabitants, 120 houses and about 8 churches. It was inhabited, because it was far enough from the coast, where the local population fled due to pirate attacks from the sea.

Since 2010, several restaurants have been opened in Palea Peritheia, which is why there is an increase in the number of visits by tourists.  In the past, there was a custom in Corfu that during the funeral, the body of the deceased was transported in an open coffin, because various smugglers and pirates, of which there were a lot, would smuggle goods in coffins.

There is a paved road from Palea Peritheia to the coast.

On the island we often see abandoned vehicles by the side of the road.

The interior of the car is all covered in spider webs and we couldn’t determine which brand it is.

We reach the village of Luca again, which is a little less deserted than Palea Peritheia. The centuries-old influence of Venice can be recognized on the old houses of the villages of Corfu, whose facades are painted in various bright colors.

Before the sunset, we reach the starting point of the Pantokrator ascent.

Check other Corfu’s Wonders Corfu Beaches, Corfu Town, Myths and Legends, Medieval Castles and The Achilleion Palace.