Sidari: Sandstone and Bronze Age

Sidari is shaped by an impressive natural coastal landscape: at Canal d’Amour, sandstone formations create a striking scene. There is also an archaeological trace from a distant past. During a rescue excavation at Canal d’Amour, remains from the Bronze Age were found in the upper layer. At this named location, two different perspectives therefore come together: the natural shape of the coast and a specific find from the past.

For planning your trip, this combination makes Sidari a tangible destination, without suggesting that landscape and history tell the same story. Canal d’Amour is known for its sandstone formations; the excavation find adds a historical dimension to this picture. When deciding where to spend your holiday, you can consider whether this particular mix of coastal scenery and history matches your interests.

Corfu as a wider setting

Within the wider destination of Corfu, the Old Town offers a distinct historical focus. Its urban fabric is almost entirely preserved, and its buildings date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Together with its two fortresses, the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A digital guide for residents and visitors helps you find your way around the city: it offers information with high-quality audiovisual material on more than 80 sights. Check whether this service is available before your trip.

Corfu’s museums also offer different perspectives. The Museum of Asian Art in the Old Town houses more than 11,000 objects from China, Japan, India, the Himalayas and Central Asia. From Corfu Harbour, the museum can be reached on bus route 2, on the Mantouki–Kanoni line; check the timetable before travelling. The Archaeological Museum of Corfu offers another historical perspective. It was built primarily to display the Gorgoneion Medusa pediment from the great Temple of Artemis, excavated at Paleopolis. The pediment dates from 585 BC and was excavated in 1911 near the Aghioi Theodoroi Monastery.

Through the life of Greece’s first governor, the Kapodistrias Museum explores the history of Corfu, Europe and Greece in its permanent exhibition of artefacts and documents. The lush garden on the hill by the museum offers views across Corfu’s landscape and the island. The Achilleion adds another historical site: the summer palace was built in Gastouri in 1892 in the Pompeian style.

Scenery and activity on Corfu

Corfu offers different scales of activity for active days. In the municipal unit of Achilleion, ancient paths wind through the wooded mountains of Agii Deka, Stavros and Garouna and are suitable for hiking. The Corfu Trail is on a very different scale: it is 180 kilometres long, passes through several settlements and includes Benitses as one of its 13 overnight stops. These details help distinguish between paths through a mountain landscape and a long route with multiple stages.

The landscapes and destinations also vary. Mon Repos lies in a 258-acre park with numerous exotic, long-established plants. Benitses Beach includes, alongside the marina, a narrow, serviced sandy beach with facilities for people with disabilities. Numerous festivals and folk festivals, as well as cultural events organised by the municipality, take place in the villages of the municipal unit of Achilleion; the programme varies.

Choose the right focus for your search

When choosing an apartment, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on. Is Sidari, with its sandstone formations and Bronze Age find, the deciding factor, or are you more interested in other topics across Corfu, such as the Old Town’s history, collections, hiking trails or events? This way, you can tailor your search to the destination that best suits your holiday interests.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gazatika, Kentroma, Boukaris, Perivoli, Alepou, Kato Pavliana, Gaios, Vatos.

For the main travel overview: Corfu.