Mount Pantokrator, the highest point of the island, with its 906 meters above sea level, is located in the northeastern part of Corfu.
On its sides, nature is particularly green and generous, just like in the central part of the island where a large fertile plain stretches out.
It is here the domain of cypresses, olive trees several hundred years old, fig trees, vines and kumquats.
Controlled designations of origin on wine, olive oil and kumquat protect its agricultural lands.
Among ten vineyards, several can be visited.
Agrotourism and regional riches
Very old olive trees, the pride of the inhabitants of Corfu.
Adobe Stock / andras_csontos
Wine
White, rosé or red, Corfu wine has a particular flavor linked to the climatic conditions and the particular terroir of the island.
The largest wine estate belongs to the Theotoky family and is located in the heart of the island in the valley of Ropa.
The products are all stamped organic farming and the family offers a particularly tasty visit / tasting.
Theotoky, Ropa Valley, 49100, Corfu.
Phone.
: +30.6945.593016 & +30.6949.691358.
The olives
In the Corfiote tradition, a girl's dowry was counted in the number of olive trees.
In the village of Aghios Matteos, the Dafnis family, who have been pressing olives in their mill for several generations, offers a visit to a small eco-museum, to learn all about the fruit and its exploitation.
Its brand "The governor" is regularly recognized with international awards.
The Governor, Aghios Matthaios, open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Phone.
: +30, 2661 075 701 and +30 69 39 33 42 00.
The kumquat
The kumquat is a small citrus fruit native to China which arrived in Corfu through the intermediary of the British agronomist Merlyn in 1924. In less than a century, the small fluorescent orange fruit has invaded all orchards in the north of the island. to become the emblem of Corfu.
Distilleries like that of the family business Lazaris offer it in all forms, liquor, cream, candies, jams and even cosmetic products.
Lazaris distillery & artisan sweets
,
Ethniki Achilleiou, 49084 Kerkyra.
Phone.
: +30 26610-33400.
The Vassilakis distillery is one of the most famous in Corfu.
Since 1950, this family has specialized in local products and offers many products made from grapes, olives and Kumquats that can be discovered and tasted on site, in Aghios Ioannis.
T. vasilakis & son, Triklino, Corfu.
Phone: +30 26610 52440 and +30 26610 52166.
Corfiote specialties on the table
The
pastitsada
, a pasta dish accompanied rooster or beef casserole.
Adobe Stock / Artur Nyk
In addition to the traditional Greek Mediterranean cuisine in which the local olive oil is the guest of honor, Corfiot cuisine also keeps the memory of the different periods of the history of the island.
As an aperitif, ouzo goes very well with
nouboulo
, a pork tenderloin marinated in wine or
sykomaida
, a fig paste in grape must wrapped in a walnut leaf. Also try Tsitsibira beer, a ginger-based beer, brewed on the island since 1842, to supply English soldiers.
On the menu, of Venetian inspiration, the
sofrito
is a dish made with “soft fried” beef
.
Also to taste, the
pastitsada
, a pasta dish served with rooster or beef in a casserole dish and the
doors
, meatballs served with a scarlet red sauce. If you prefer fish, you will be spoiled for choice: try the
bourdeto
, a spicy fish with paprika, or the
savouro,
a sauce made with bay
leaves,
raisins and rosemary, which spices up the fish. The
bianco
still other ways to season the fish with potato and lemon juice.
As for the desserts, if the pastries of Corfu are so tasty, it is because the butter with which they are prepared is famous, all over Greece, to be the best and the creamiest.
And to finish, why not taste a Kumquat digestive liqueur with
mandolas
, caramelized almonds, or
mandolato
, a kind of soft nougat with honey?
Our best restaurants in Corfu
In Plo and its terrace by the water.
Adobe Stock / Aleh Varanishcha
Eating well is part of the Corfiote art of living.
Suffice to say that the range of possibilities is gigantic.
Our favorites :
Kokoria taverna, a small traditional taverna in the pink and yellow alleys of the city center where all the specialties of the island have a taste of authenticity.
Certainly the best
pastitsada
in the capital.
Parga 7, Kerkyra.
Phone.
: 2661 035002. Price: between 15 and 25 €.
In Plo, a magical place, on the edge of the old town, between the new fortress and the old port, with your feet in the water.
Very nice terrace, good cuisine with all the Corfiote specialties.
In Plo, Nikolaos gate, Faliraki, Corfu.
Phone.
: +30 26610 81813, +30 69 36 77 83 13. Price: between 25 and 35 €.
Ambelonas Corfu / Vineyard, a fine gourmet restaurant in the beautiful setting of a vineyard 10 km west of Kerkyra towards Pélékas.
Very successful marriage of Greek and Italian flavors accompanied by organic wines.
Eparchiaki Péléka, Karoubatika
,
Corfu 491 00. Tel.
: +33 69 32 15 88 88. Price: between 15 and 30 €.
Etrusco, the gourmet restaurant of Corfiote chef Ettore Bottrini, crowned with the prize for the best restaurant in Greece in 2020. An unforgettable journey into the world of flavors.
Open daily from 7:30 p.m. to midnight, Kato Korakiana, Dassia.
Phone.
: +30 266 10 93 342. Reservations recommended.
Menu from 120 €.
Read also
Four good reasons to go to Corfu this summer
Practical notebook
GO
By plane:
direct flights from Paris, Nantes, Marseille, Lyon or Athens.
By boat
from the ports of Anconna and Bari in Italy, or Igoumenitsa in Greece.
MOVING ON THE ISLAND
Car rental
The island is large, renting a car is recommended.
Corfucarrentals.com, at the airport and all over the island.
Phone.
: + 30 2663 095779
Unless you prefer to hire a Vespa to stay in the Venetian spirit of the island.
Corfuvespatour.com, Ioanni Theotoki, 67, between the port and the old town of Kerkyra.
Phone.
: +30 69 87 07 13 31.
OR SLEEP
Cavallieri Hotel, ideally located on the edge of the old town with free parking.
Stay in a 16th century mansion with sea views and bar restaurant on the roof terrace.
Kapodistriou 4, Corfu, Tel.
: +30 266 1039 041. 153 € breakfast included.
Siorra Vittoria, 5 minutes from Liston, a hotel which is housed in an aristocratic residence built in 1823, tastefully restored.
We have breakfast there in the flowered garden under the large trees.
Stephanou Padova 36, Kerkyra, Tel.
: +30 266 10 36 300,150 €, breakfast included.