Ano Korakiana: Village History, Churches and Art

Ano Korakiana lies at the foot of Mount Pantokrator. The settlement extends from east to west, while cobbled lanes connect its picturesque neighbourhoods. If you are looking for a hotel in Ano Korakiana, you can get a sense of the village through its cultural and architectural themes: old churches, the village’s history and a private museum of sculpture are at the centre of its appeal. These features give the place a distinct profile for travellers planning a stay on Corfu who are interested in village history and art.

Churches, Lanes and Local History

Ano Korakiana was built in the 14th century in a location protected from view and pirate raids. The time of its founding and its sheltered location are two aspects of its early history. The village has 37 old churches in total. The Church of Agios Athanasios at Nerosyrmi is the parish church of Ano Korakiana and is protected as a historic monument. The total number describes the village’s collection of churches, while the parish role and monument protection identify Agios Athanasios as a particular building. In this way, the village as a whole and a specific point of reference for its religious heritage come together.

A maze of cobbled lanes connects the picturesque neighbourhoods. The east-west extent of the settlement and the links between its neighbourhoods describe two different scales of the village: its overall form on the one hand, and the connections within its townscape on the other. Alongside the churches, the lanes and neighbourhoods are another distinct subject for those interested in the layout of Ano Korakiana.

Sculpture in the Village

The private museum of sculpture in Ano Korakiana displays works on a range of themes created by the sculptor Aristidis Metallinos. This adds a focus on art to the village’s history, churches and network of lanes. The works on display are by a named sculptor and cover various themes. This offers a way to distinguish the village’s historical and spatial features from sculpture as a subject in its own right when choosing a destination.

Corfu in the Wider Picture

In the wider destination of Corfu, Corfu Old Town offers another historical perspective. Its historic urban fabric is almost entirely preserved, and its buildings date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The Old Town and its two fortresses are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The difference lies in the scale of the places described: on one hand, the village and its neighbourhoods; on the other, the almost entirely preserved urban fabric and its fortresses.

Museums on Corfu also have different focuses. The Museum of Asian Art in Corfu Old Town houses more than 11,000 objects from China, Japan, India, the Himalayas and Central Asia. 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. While the Museum of Asian Art centres on its extensive collection and the regions it comes from, the Kapodistrias Museum’s exhibition takes a historical approach through the governor’s life.

The Kapodistrias Museum sits on a hill amid a lush garden with views of Corfu’s landscape and across the island. This adds a landscape perspective to the museum’s themes. In the wider destination of Corfu, the municipal unit of Achilleion also has ancient paths through the wooded mountains of Agii Deka, Stavros and Garouna that are suitable for hiking. The villages in the municipal unit also host numerous festivals and folk celebrations, as well as cultural events organised by the municipality.

Discover more destinations: Vatos, Chlomos, Gimari, Alepou, Kato Pavliana, Kokkini Parelia, Dafnata, Mpenitses

Go to the main travel overview: Corfu.