This route is the longest and covers the south part of Corfu. Picturesque villages, vineyards which produce most of Corfu’s wine, innumerable tracts of land strewn with olive trees, a vibrant nightlife and beautiful beaches characterise the south of Corfu. Just a few kilometers from the town is the green-covered village of Gastouri, where we can visit one of the most remarkable monuments on the island, the Achilleion.

    Other than the Achiileion in Gastouri, it is also worth visiting the Churches of the Blessed Virgin of Odigitrias, Ag. Markianou, Ag. Nikolao, Taxiarchon and Ag. Kyriakis, situated just outside the village built by Elizabeth. A stone bridge connected Achilleion with the beach at Benitses. Today Kaiser’s bridge stands halt ruined on the sand, a memento of a glorious past.

    In the past few years the fishing village dating back to the period of Elizabeth has evolved into one of the most popular sea-side resorts on Corfu, with many choices for your evening’s entertainment. Of course this has been helped by the excellent tourist infrastructure and the natural beauty of the region, which includes dense vegetation, beautiful seas and beaches with fine pebbles. Near cosmopolitan Benitses can be found the sources for the British Aqueduct on Corfu as well as ruins of Roman baths with their mosaic floors.

    The modern coastal road towards the southern part of Corfu fills every summer with thousands of tourists, lovers of the sea and sports. We can truly choose among all the sea sports found on the comfortable sandy beaches of the south or just let ourselves enjoy the tender caresses of the sea and the hot June sun. Two villages, Moraitika and Mesongi, lie next to the mouth of the Mesongi River. Of course these two communities are anything but villages now, since in recent years their tourist trade has developed tremendously due to their scenic and safe beaches.

     The ruins of a church dating back to the 3rd Century BC have been discovered in this area, together with isolated pieces of Roman villa baths. Mount Koprakas overlooks the two villages, offering quiet walks for those interested in exploring the countryside. Another pleasant hike is up to the village of Chlomos perched on the top of a hill about 3.5 kilometers from Mesongi. From here a road bisects the island width-wise and leads us directly to the Ag. Georgios beach at Argirades. This is one of the largest beaches on Corfu, with its sandy shore extending northwards up to the harbour at Korission. Even though most of the beach will be crowded, walking northwards you will come across secluded corners ideal for a quiet swim.

    Argirades is a large village with traditional buildings and architecture reminiscent of the Venetian occupational period and is also the agricultural centre of the region. Near Argirades lies the village of Perivoli and the beach at Malta. Other nearby beaches include Gardenos of Halikouna, Marathia and Ag. Georgios - all situated in enchanting areas with fine sand and no crowds. Lake Korission is famous for its “dunia” – the sand hills on its southern side. Chalikouna Beach on the side of the sea is one of the largest and most frequented beaches on the island. Lake Korission and the salt-pan at Levkimmi play a significant role in maintaining the flora and fauna on Corfu, as does Mt. Pantokrator in the north. These coastal areas however also act as a way-station for migrating birds, including flamingos which we rarely see in our country, while thousands of butterflies nest in the surroundina bushes, attracted by the salt. If we detour eastwards from Argirades to the beaches in that direction, we arrive at the beautiful little harbour of Petriti and other smaller coastal communities. If we’re in an exploring mood and leave the main roads, we’ll discover small villages and remote coastal areas. Our travelling guides us under serene olive trees, a scene that does not prepare us for the tall and majestic trees that we’ll come across while travelling inland through northern Corfu.

     The village of Marathias lies in the narrowest part of Corfu, where the eastern and western shores are only 6 km apart. Some attractive beaches in the area are Marathia of Vitaladon (which we mentioned previously) and Skidi. It is also worth walking to Mega Cholo where you will discover a very beautiful beach.

     Continuing our acquaintance with southern Corfu, we follow the road to Kavo, the southernmost community on the island. After a charming journey through olive and cypress trees we reach Lefkimmi. This region is rich in vineyards from where the famous Corfiot wine is produced in small quantities. Five communities -the so-called “pentichora”- make up Lefkimmi: Riglades. Anaplades, Ag. Theodoroi, Potamoi and Melikia.

     Here tradition is still very much alive in the old houses, the small shops and the workshops, where you can see a different aspect of the large village. Renting a small boat to discover the enchanting spots on Corfu is a good idea and you can swim in the lonian Sea without anyone else around. However you can visit other beaches by motorcycle or by foot, such as Boukas, Ai Thanasi, Ag. Nikolao and Itia that are just as beautiful.

      The Monastery of the Blessed Virgin of Angelon (Angels) lies just outside Lefkimmi and dates back to the 17th C. The monastery was founded by the sons of Kapodistria Varlaam in order to keep their vow to the Blessed Virgin, who saved them from a terrible storm. In the years that followed it was used as a sanctuary for the sick during the cholera epidemic. When the British later arrived on the island, they burnt all the buildings other than the church in order to sterilize the place.

     The sea at Lefkimmi was the scene of a naval battle in ancient times, when the Corfiotes defeated the Corinthians in 434 BC. An added attraction to the area is the navigable river that crosses Lefkimmi and which ends up in the sea. Those vacationing here can swim at the beaches at Petriti, at Alikes and at other nearby beaches. Lefkimmi is planning to become Corfu’ s second most important port and has already developed a sea route to Igoumenitsa. The port is being expanded and the road to Corfu is being modernised. Day-trips to Paxoi and Parga are also available from here.

      Passing over the little bridge at the channel we reach neighbouring Kavo. The village has developed tremendously with respect to tourism: rooms for rent, hotels, tavernas, restaurants and bars are all there to entertain the young foreign tourists that inundate the area. Kavo’s beautiful beach is surrounded by olive and cypress trees. A short distance away, near the Cape of Asprokavos, lies the small fortified Monastery of the Blessed Virgin of Arkoudilla, which was also built by the Varlaam brothers, who had vowed to build two monasteries in the name of the Blessed Virgin. Directly opposite is the scenic islet of Paxoi. Daily excursions to the islet are available. Returning to Lefkimmi, do not forget to stop off at the village of Spartera, built on a hill overlooking the valley, which offers a spectacular view of the region.

       We leave behind us the villages of Dragotina and Neochori and continue on the road back, travelling towards Ag. Mattheos without stopping off at Lake Korission. The Castle at Gardiki, a half-demolished Byzantine fort, catches our attention just before we enter the village. The Corfiotes consider this a twin to the fort at Angelokastro. The octagon-shaped fortress was built during the same period -and by the same Epirus Archbishop- as that in Palaiokastritsa. It consists of an ellipsoidal enclosure supported by eight six exist today. The surrounding walls were decorated with plinth lascias characteristic of Byzantine art. The remains that you can see to the right of the current entrance to the castle may possibly belong to a chapel of the fortress.

     Ag. Mattheos is a large village spread amphitheatrically on the slopes of Mt. Gamilio - the ranges named thus because in accordance with mythology the wedding (“gamilio”) ceremony of Alcinous took place here. The village is hidden inside an impressive forest that is perfect for walkers. The old stone houses stand out among the new ones – an harmonious combination of past and present. I paved road leads us to the monastery of Christos Pantokratoras, built on the top of a hill in the middle of the 4th C. Here findings from the Palaeolithic Era were discovered in Grava’s Cave, also known as Pelao’s Hole. A local legend has it that one of the cave’s galleries ends up in the sea. If we do not want to continue on to the town of Corfu, we can follow the dirt roads that end up at some small, isolated beaches. Before reaching the end of our excursion, it is worth stopping at the beautiful village of Vouniatades – Upper and Lower Pavliana. You should visit the Church of Ag. Dimitrios in Upper Pavliana to admire the iconostasis, carved in local stone by the Kardami family.