Old Perithia
Old Perithia is an abandoned village on the mountain slopes of Corfu, positioned about 650 meters high beneath Mount Pantokrator. The settlement consists of stone houses with red tile roofs, eight churches, an old schoolhouse, and narrow lanes that wind uphill toward small squares and viewpoints.
The village was founded around 1350 when residents moved to the mountains to escape pirates and coastal diseases. It thrived until the 1960s with roughly 130 houses, but coastal tourism growth prompted residents to leave, causing the settlement to fall into near-total abandonment.
The place shows how mountain communities organized themselves for safety and survival through religion and shared spaces. The eight small churches and the five taverns in the central square reflect the importance of faith and gathering places in villagers' daily lives.
The best way to arrive is by car from Kassiopi, just 8 kilometers away, or by bus from Corfu town, though schedules vary seasonally. Once there, park outside the old buildings and walk through the narrow stone streets to explore the ruins and the five taverns that serve food and drinks.
The village contains an old schoolhouse with a noble family coat of arms above its entrance door, which operated until 1940. Visitors often overlook this building, yet it reveals how important education was to this isolated mountain community.
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