Kato Korakiana, Corfu 49083

Tel 030 661 93516, 97010 Fax: 030 661 97011

History - Civilization

Corinthians and Athenians during the ancient times, Romans, Byzantine Emperors, Normands, Andiganians, Stavrofori, Enetians, French, Russians, Turks, and English until 1864, when all Eptanisa (the 7 islands of Ionian Sea) united with Greece.

In 1867 the island of Corfu was separated into 13 municipalities and Kato Korakiana made up for those years as an important part of municipality of APILIOTON, until 1912, when the dissolution of all Municipalities came and Kato Korakiana as well as the other villages of Corfu were made autonomous communities.

According to the tradition, in the beginning of 11th century the oldest village which had Archangel Michael as a patron, was devastated from coursers.

During the after years, the Turkish fleet ashore in the sea area of Ipsos and Dasia and disembarked there, so again Kato Koriakana was devastated and massacred totally from Turks during 1537 and 1716.

It is worth pointing out that in the church of Zoothochou Pigis, a building of 13th century, the bayoneting of barbarians on the old holy icons are still visible even today.

Since it was a fertile land as we have already said Kato  Korakiana was divided among the rich landowners during the endless years of Feduarchias, so it may be the only village of Corfu with so many mansions and lands.It is enough to say that Theotiki family who located from 1458, owned a wide land from Kommeno to Ipsos.

However and many others such as Kartanos, Smaramagkas, Polulas, Skarpas, Ntorias, Venier, Skiadas, Basan, Agas, Mylonopoulos, Mimbeli, Merlin owned great lands in Kato Korakiana.

Among all these mansions the ones that are still preserved are the mansion of Skarpa in Kommeno, Theotoki and Merlin in Krevatsula, Milonopoulon in St. Basilios and of Polyla-Bibeli, former hotel "Kastelo" in the center of Kato Korakiana, a unique ornament of the whole island.

"KASTELO", an old medieval tower, which renovated in the end of the previous year from the Italian baron Luka Bibeli, has a unique architectural structure as the Florentine, the Gothic and the East style coexist harmoniously creating an  optical nirvana and the memory of an old romantic time.

During this century the tower "hospitalized" many famous personalities such as the Emperor of Austria Fragiskos Iosif, the King of Italy Victor Emanouele, the Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selasie and the King of Greece George B’ who was a permanent resident from 1936 to 1940.

The 12 churches of the village, which have been built from 13th to 18th century, are very important but those that really dominate are Zoodoxos Pigi, St. Nikolaos, and St. Dimitrios.

Kato Korakiana has owned a school since 1854, in the contrary of all the other villages in Corfu. The school was established with the help of the famous Eptanisian poet Gerasimos Markoras who is supposed to be our first teacher. In his honor the philharmonic of Kato Korakiana was taken his name.

During the First World War Ipsos was an important merchant port which served not only Kato Korakiana, but  also the whole South Corfu.

PHOTO ALBUM