The Mountain Villges of Ano Korakiana and Zygos...

Once over the Troumpetta Pass and zooming down towards Corfu Town, a narrow lane to the left leads 2km up to Ano Korakiana, a large village that is draped across a surprisingly long slice of mountainside. While most of the buildings are fairly recent in the village, it has several interesting old churches, the old building of the Elementary School (established in 1932) and the traditional building of the Agricultural Cooperation.  Ano Korakiana's claim to fame is that it is the the birthplace of loannis Kapodistrias, the first president of a newly independent Greece.

The road leading up the mountainside from Ano Korakiana towards Sokraki and Zygos is a joy to cycle up. Although on first glance the terrain looks impossibly steep, the road zig-zag's upwards at a comfortable angle around a multitude of hairpin bends. Each bend reveals an increasingly scenic landscape and you will want to stop frequently to appreciate it and take photographs. The view over the Corfu countryside towards Corfu Town and the Albanian coast opens up before you as you ride higher and higher up the mountainside.

At the top of the mountain you reach the quaint little village of Sokraki and ride downwards through Olive groves and woodland to Zygos where the road levels out and you head back towards Arillas.

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​The Route

From Arillas, head out on the road to Kavadades and turn right to Dafni and Agros where you pick up the main road from Sidari. Turn right towards Corfu Town, through Arkadades and into Troumbetas (there is a good taverna here on the right for a food/drink stop).

Head down through the Troumpetta Pass, through Skripero, and after about 2km turn left to Ano Korakiana (careful you don't miss the road). Ride into Ano Korakian and follow the road upwards through Sokraki and into Zygos. In Zygos, turn left to Klimatia and Episkopi.

In Episkopi, turn left onto the main road from Roda and turn right after 5km towards Agrafi and left after 3km to Velonades.

Head for Rachtades and Armanades (to avoid the hill at Magoulades) and into Kavadades and back to Arillas for a cool dip in the pool and a well deserved beer.