The best hikes from bus stations in Αποκεντρωμένη Διοίκηση Πελοποννήσου Δυτικής Ελλάδας και Ιονίου

Monemvasia was an important base and fortress in the Byzantine Empire. Until Greek independence in 1821–30, it was considered the Gibraltar of the East due to the great difficulties associated with attempts at conquest. In its heyday, between 10,000 and 25,000 people lived here. From 1715 onwards, population decline began, and it became a dying village. By 1971, there were only 32 inhabitants.

(2/2) Shortly after its construction, the fortress was reinforced with an angular fort called Scarpon. The New Fortress played an important role during the last Ottoman siege in 1716, during which military operations were concentrated on the western front of the city. Under British protection (1814–1864), several modifications were made to the fortress, as it was considered particularly important for the defense of the island. The most important was the construction of the imposing defensive barracks, which dominate the upper level of the fortress and were substantially redesigned at that time. A second barracks from the time of British protection (which now houses Corfu's naval base) has been preserved on the lower level of the fortress, along with gunpowder magazines, underground water tanks, and a network of tunnels for communication between the various parts.

(1/2) The New Fortress, an excellent example of a late Renaissance fortification, was built during Venetian rule (1576–1578) at the northwestern end of Corfu Town on the rocky hill of St. Mark's. It is part of the fortification complex, a project entrusted to the engineer Ferdinardo (Ferrante) Vitelli. The name "New" served to distinguish it from the existing fortification to the east of the town, which has since been called the "Old Fortress." The New Fortress, like the entire western front, adheres to the principles of the bastion system. It consists of two fortification levels. The low level is located to the northeast and protected the commercial port of Spilia. It has two monumental gates. The eastern gate is crowned with the winged Lion of St. Mark, the symbol of the Serenissima, the Republic of Venice. The high level, with the two bastions of the Seven Winds (Sette Venti), protected the town from the west, from the landward side.

Unbelievable how extensive the fortress is

There are good cafes here with great views.

Angelokastro is one of the most important fortified complexes of Corfu. It was an acropolis which surveyed the region all the way to the southern Adriatic and presented a formidable strategic vantage point to the occupant of the castle. Angelokastro formed a defensive triangle with the castles of Gardiki and Kassiopi, which covered Corfu's defences to the south, northwest and northeast. The castle never fell, despite frequent sieges and attempts at conquering it through the centuries, and played a decisive role in defending the island against pirate incursions and during three sieges of Corfu by the Ottomans, significantly contributing to their defeat. During invasions, it helped shelter the local peasant population. The exact period of the building of the castle is not known, but it has often been attributed to the reigns of Michael I Komnenos also known as Michael I Angelos, the Despot of Epirus, who took Corfu in 1214. Admission 2025: 10€

The hiking trail continues here...not quite easy...

The walk up is worth it to enjoy the beautiful view.