Byzantine Castle of Angelokastro: A monument to wild beauty

Elusive and lonely, it is located at the highest point of the northwestern coast of Corfu, at an altitude of 300m. Its strategic and impregnable position – the western side was not fortified, as the cliffs are almost vertical – overlooking the southern Adriatic Sea, makes it one of the most important Byzantine castles in Greece.

It is surmised that Angelokastro was named after the despot of Epirus, Michael I Comnenos. In 1272, it passed into the hands of the Angevins, while during the Venetian period (1386 – 1797) the fortress housed the seat of a local governor (Castellan).

At the highest point of the cliff, visitors can admire the church of Archangel Michael, with an inscription on the lintel informing them it was reconstructed in 1734 by the Castellan Aloysius Regginis. Further along, the picturesque chapel of Saint Kyriaki, decorated with 18th century murals, is almost carved into the rock. The spectacular view encompasses the entire western side of the island. Gazing into the mesmerizing blue depths of the Adriatic Sea is mandatory, along with a deep breath, before making your way back down.