Mparmpati: Barbati Beach and the cliffs of Mount Pantocrator

Mparmpati between coast and mountains

Mparmpati has a striking coastal setting: above Barbati Beach rise the steep cliffs of the foothills of Mount Pantocrator. The beach is 950 metres long and an average of 20 metres wide. These measurements describe a long stretch of coastline and its average width; together with the cliffs, they create a clearly defined landscape. When choosing where to stay, the beach and the mountain scenery are equally central.

Barbati Beach is accessed via a path that connects directly to the area's road network. The beach has facilities for people with disabilities. If a particular feature is important for your trip, check the specific facilities and their current availability in advance. The waters at Barbati Beach are suitable for snorkelling; conditions may vary. The beach scenery and an activity in the water are thus distinct reasons to include the area in your travel plans. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Mparmpati, access to the beach can be a practical factor in choosing a location.

Corfu as a wider travel destination

In the wider travel destination of Corfu, the Old Town offers a different perspective from Mparmpati's coastal scenery. Its historic urban fabric is almost completely preserved; the buildings date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Together with its two fortresses, the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Museum of Asian Art in the Old Town houses more than 11,000 objects from China, Japan, India, the Himalayas and Central Asia. The Archaeological Museum of Corfu displays the Gorgoneion Medusa pediment from the great Temple of Artemis: it was created in 585 BC and excavated in 1911 near the Monastery of Aghioi Theodoroi. The museum was built primarily to display this pediment.

Further cultural attractions on Corfu range from art collections and archaeology to everyday life and social history. Casa Parlante recreates the daily life of the island's aristocracy in the 19th century in the historic Old Town, using animated figures and reproductions of furnishings and decor. Through significant artefacts and documents, the permanent exhibition at the Kapodistrias Museum explores the history of Corfu, Europe and Greece through the life of Greece's first governor. The Achilleion Summer Palace was built in Gastouri in 1892 in the Pompeian style.

For getting around Corfu: from the Port of Corfu, the Museum of Asian Art can be reached by bus line 2 on the Mantouki–Kanoni route. Check the timetable before your trip.

On Corfu, experiences of the landscape and outdoor activities are also part of the picture. In the municipal unit of Achilleion, ancient paths wind through the forested mountains of Agii Deka, Stavros and Garouna and are suitable for hiking. The Corfu Trail is 180 kilometres long, passes through several settlements and includes Benitses among its 13 places with named daily stages. These represent different scales of hiking: paths through forested mountains on the one hand, and a long route with named stage locations on the other.

Mon Repos is another green highlight on Corfu: it lies in a 258-acre park with numerous exotic, mature plants. The lush garden on the hill at the Kapodistrias Museum offers views of Corfu's landscape and across the island. Numerous festivals, folk celebrations and cultural events organised by the municipality take place in the villages of the municipal unit of Achilleion; the specific programme varies. Check event dates if a festival is a deciding factor in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kokkini Parelia, Katsimatika, Vitalades, Aghios Georgios, Episkepsi, Pélekas, Lakones, Gazatika

For the wider travel guide: Corfu.