The village of Ano Perithia, also known as Palia Perithia, is a picturesque settlement in northern Corfu. Situated at an altitude of approximately 450 meters on the slopes of Mount Pantokrator, it is located about 8 km from the Kassiopi area.
Much has been said about the origin of the name Palia Perithia, and perhaps the most accurate explanation is that it derives from “Peri-thea,” meaning it is visible from the surrounding mountains. The version suggesting a connection to the many churches, most of which surround the village, does not hold, as the village must have been established in pre-Christian times, before the construction of churches.
The village has been known since at least 300 BC when a destructive tsunami hit the island’s coast. Those who survived sought a safer land away from the sea. In the 14th century, the inhabitants faced continuous pirate raids and the malaria that plagued the shores. Many sought refuge in the village. When the fear of pirates subsided, the residents faced malaria from the mosquitoes of Lake Antinioti. Until the late 1940s, during the mosquito season, all villagers, upon the first bites, would seek refuge in Palia Perithia to protect themselves and spend the dangerous six months there. It was a prosperous place with around 1,500 inhabitants until the mid-20th century.
From the early 1950s, when mosquito eradication was completed and the fear of malaria no longer existed, Perithiotes spent only the three summer months in the village, which led to the closure of the school.
In the 1960s, as tourism began to develop, primarily in the neighboring areas of Kato Perithia, Kassiopi, and Acharavi, many Perithiotes found work there, and gradually the village was abandoned.
Palia Perithia is an architectural gem with around 130 houses, mostly built in Venetian style using local stone. The village’s churches, built in a circular arrangement around the settlement, are particularly impressive. At the entrance of the village stands the red bell tower of Agios Iakovos tou Persi, a notable religious monument.
Since 1980, Palia Perithia has been designated as a Historical Preservable Monument.
Palia Perithia resembles a ghost village that evokes admiration and charm, taking you back in time through its ruined mansions. It combines natural beauty with architectural wealth from the Venetian-dominated era.
