Roumanades: Village History and Corfu Culture

Roumanades can be explored through historic traces in the surrounding area. Corfu also offers a wide range of cultural and natural attractions. When choosing a holiday apartment, you might first consider whether you are mainly interested in exploring the village’s history and the Trivolis mansion, or whether Corfu’s Old Town, museums and walking landscapes should be your focus.

Historic traces in the surrounding area

The Trivolis mansion features Venetian architectural influences. Construction began in the mid-18th century, towards the end of Venetian rule. Two historical points of reference therefore come together here: the period in which it was built and the Venetian influences in its architecture.

The history of the old village of Roumanádes also goes back a long way. Its name comes from the first settlers, the Romano family, whose origins are described as Byzantine. The old village is considered abandoned; today, only ruins and mass graves of plague victims can be seen there. If you would like to visit these traces of the past, check access conditions in advance.

Corfu: Old Town, museums and history

Corfu’s Old Town has preserved almost all of its historic urban fabric. Its buildings date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries; together with the two fortresses, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A digital guide provides residents and visitors with information on more than 80 sights within the city, complemented by high-quality audiovisual material. Check whether the guide is available before your trip.

In the Old Town, the Museum of Asian Art houses more than 11,000 objects from China, Japan, India, the Himalayas and Central Asia. From Corfu Port, the museum can be reached by bus route 2 on the Mantouki–Kanoni route. Checking the timetable before your trip will help with planning.

The Archaeological Museum of Corfu displays the Gorgon Medusa pediment from the great Temple of Artemis. The work dates to 585 BC and was excavated in 1911 near the Aghioi Theodoroi Monastery. The museum was built primarily to exhibit this pediment. The Kapodistrias Museum offers a different historical focus: through important artefacts and documents, its permanent exhibition explores the history of Corfu, Europe and Greece through the life of Greece’s first governor.

Architecture and everyday history also offer different perspectives on Corfu. The Achilleion summer palace was built in Gastouri in 1892 in the Pompeian style. Casa Parlante recreates the daily life of the island’s aristocracy in the 19th century in the historic Old Town, using moving figures and reproduced furnishings. Numerous festivals, folk celebrations and cultural events take place in the villages of the Achilleion municipal unit; the specific programme varies.

Walking trails and landscapes on Corfu

Those who enjoy exploring Corfu on foot will find routes of different lengths: in the Achilleion municipal unit, ancient paths run through the wooded mountains of Agii Deka, Stavros and Garouna and are suitable for hiking. The 180-kilometre Corfu Trail passes through several settlements; Benitses is one of its 13 daily stage locations. This means short routes through named mountain landscapes are complemented by a long trail with several stage locations.

Gardens and coastal villages are also part of Corfu’s landscapes. Mon Repos is set in a 258-acre park with numerous exotic, long-established plants. The lush garden on the hill near the Kapodistrias Museum offers views of Corfu’s landscape and across the island. In Benitses, the beach includes a narrow, organised sandy stretch alongside the marina, with facilities for people with disabilities.

When looking for a holiday apartment, these differences can help clarify the focus you want for your trip: historic traces in the surrounding area of Roumanades, or Corfu’s Old Town, museums, walking trails and landscapes. Decide which themes matter most to your trip, and use them to guide your choice of holiday destination.

Discover more destinations

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