The village of Old Perithia is an architectural gem built on the slopes of the Almighty in northern Corfu 8 km. From the area of ​​Kassiopi, approximately in the middle of Mount Pantocrator. It combines natural beauty with architectural wealth yesteryear. Old Perithia has about 130 houses built mostly by Venetian architecture and are built of stone. The location of the village was dictated by the fear of raids and malaria that tormented the coast. Many years ago the residents started to leave because of an epidemic, until reached the current situation of abandonment and desolation. Much has been said about the origin of its name Old Perithia and perhaps the wisest be that came from the "On-Sight" because the village is viewable screen from the mountains surrounding it. There stands the assumption that the name is related to the numerous churches, most of which are around the village. Namely surrounded by the divine (On-aunt), as the village should be built in the pre-Christian era, which means that then, however, even before mason churches, and he was given this name.  

 

 

The remains of the mansions that resist the ravages of time and make the village to remind "ghost village" travel the visitor to Venetian era. The wilderness of this area exerts a mysterious charm and urges visitors to naturalistic walks to discover any point of the village in the verdant nature. The stone houses, built of local stone yet resist pressures Wolverine time and stand imposingly but tired from the unequal battle. In addition, though the houses, particularly impressive are the churches which are built in a circle around the settlement and reveal the deep faith of Corfu. At the entrance of the village stands the steeple of St. James the Persian, a remarkable religious monument. Impressive mansion is the village school, with crest of the local lord Skordilis its entrance. This school functioned until 1940. The newest village Perithia has no tourist development. It is worth to visit and enjoy but the delights of the local homemade cuisine in the taverns of the area .

 

 

Personalities

 

Christos Tsirigotis was the first Greek psychiatrist, born in Old Perithia 1841. George Salvanos was born in Old Perithia in 1892. He was Lieutenant Commander and from July 1939 to April 10, 1941 the VII Alpha Border Sector (Complex KARANTAG) Line Metaxas' MALIAGKA-margin-PARTALOUSKA-NTASAVLI PERSEK-BARMPAZORA ". Then we meet as a Warrant Officer in 1913, as a Second Lieutenant in 1914, as the Captain from 1921 to 1922 in the Asia Minor campaign, as Major (Chief of Staff of the Division VIII fortification KALPAKI) in 1925, the War College in 1928, as Colonel (Commander of the 34th Infantry Regiment) in 1935-37 as adjutant of the King in 1938 - 39. Again in Epirus, as Chairman of the Committee fortification KALPAKI and Chief Infantry Division VIII of the first half of 1939, where, despite the objections of the Governor of Division Lieutenant Katsimitrou Char., displaced in Macedonia.    

  The stone houses, built of local stone yet resist pressures Wolverine time and stand imposingly but tired from the unequal battle. In addition, though the houses, particularly impressive are the churches which are built in a circle around the settlement and reveal the deep faith of Corfu. At the entrance of the village stands the steeple of St. James the Persian, a remarkable religious monument. Impressive mansion is the village school, with crest of the local lord Skordilis its entrance. This school functioned until 1940. The newest village Perithia has no tourist development. It is worth to visit and enjoy but the delights of the local homemade cuisine in the taverns of the area .

                                                                                 

                     

                     

 

 

 

 

 

                                      

 

 

 

 

 Procession (Supplication) in Old Peritheia

Like every year, this year, the last Sunday of July was celebrated in Old Perithia the procession in honor of the Virgin, 1863 after relevant pleas had saved the youth of the village from a deadly epidemic.

It appears that epidemics were common in Corfu and destroyed many villages. Such an epidemic struck Perithia the year 1863, a year before the Union of the Ionian Islands with Greece, which decimated the children. Perhaps it was diphtheria. As told by elders of New Perithia, Old Perithia risked being left without people. Deaths of young children and adolescents was a daily occurrence. Despair had seized the inhabitants. Not knowing what to do, they resort to big doleful mother Mary. - Change of compression, discharge of sick existing, O Virgin Mother of God ... remembered and chanted the prayers to the Virgin Mary. And immediately clergy and people bear the image of the Virgin with prominent Abbot of I. M. Almighty, Archimandrite. Meletios and devoutness and crash the procession around the village. The next day, miraculously, illness fell in a few days stopped completely. So the youth Perithia saved ... Simple and solemn litany has worldliness other processions with music and other pompous events that do not fit at all in the sanctity of the ceremony. The people and the priests only part singing with emotional uplift the Comforter rule of Virgin Mary, hope of the hopeless. So this day, as on August 15 celebrates the I. N. In Y. Th. Zoodochos Pigi Old Perithia somewhat regains its former glory and revive old joys and sorrows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Procession (Supplication) in Old Peritheia 1975

 

 

*Taverna " The Old Perithia" :

Enjoy authentic Corfiot cuisine in a beautiful area, overlooking Mount Pantokrator.

For more information visit our website: 

http://www.alkinoostaverna.com