Corfu, My Lover
More to Come.
Corfu, Greece / February & March 2025
Lawrence George Durrell was an expatriate British novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer, a bestselling author and one of the most celebrated writers in England. Born in India to British colonial parents, he attended the Jesuit College at Darjeeling and was sent to England at the age of eleven for his education at St Edmund’s School, Canterbury. He spent from 1935 to 1939 on Corfu. His book ‘Prospero’s Cell’ was his love letter to the Island. His younger brother Gerald wrote a semi-fictional trilogy The Corfu Memoirs incorporating ‘My Family and Other Animals’ on which the popular TV series, ‘The Durrells in Corfu’ is mostly based.
This 1975 documentary reflects on Durrell’s years on Corfu. This 16mm film print was in near new shape, still unopened in a shipping can from the lab, physically un-run, but exhibited severe negative scratching, high grain, and colour had turned red. It was discovered in a shed amidst an abandoned consignment of dried dates from Alexandria. After sitting in its container for nearly 50 years, the restoration was done in 2022.
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The picturesque mountain village of Afionas is on the foothills of the Akra Arilla cape between the bays of Arillas (north) and Agios Georgios Pagon (south), both with beautiful sandy beaches. Especially the small winding alleys and typical Corfiot houses in the south of Afionas (old village centre) are worth seeing. The central church of the village “Agios Ioannis”, built in 1636 and located directly on the village square of Afionas, is a good starting point for exploring Afionas. Next to the church is the monument to Hector Yalopsou, a naval officer who was killed in Imia in 1996 and came from Afionas.
Afionas is particularly famous for its tavernas with a great view of the sea, the sunset and the diapontic islands. The sunset can be admired from a bench at the “Afionas Sunset” vantage point, but it is even more comfortable to enjoy the sunset with a good bottle of wine from the terrace of one of the many taverns such as Three Brothers, Anemos or Evdemon (Evdaimon). Afionas has quite a few good taverns, almost all of which offer a wonderful view of the great surroundings, the Ionian Sea, or the Diapontic Islands (Mathraki, Othoni, Erikousa) and typical Corfiot cuisine. From the taverns of Dionysos and Porto Timoni, in the very south of the town, you have an incredible view of the horseshoe-shaped bay of Agios Georgios Pagon, which is famous for its long sandy beach and the “framing” foothills of the mountains, offering sea views as well as mountain and landscape views.
The tavern La Pergola, located a few meters north of the church “Agios Ioannis”, is especially known for the fact that you can still “look into the pots” or look at the dishes in the kitchen and choose what you would like to eat. In the very north of Afionas, about 125 m north of the cemetery church, you can find the restaurant “The Night Owl”, which is also known for good food. In addition to culinary experiences, Afionas also has highlights for hikers to offer – the hike to the twin bay “Porto Timoni” and further to Cape “Akra Arilla” with the chapel “Agios Stylianos” is one of the most beautiful and popular hiking tours on Corfu and offers many beautiful photo motifs (more about this can be found further down on this page under “Hiking tours”).
If you want to bring souvenirs to friends or relatives, it is also worth visiting the shop “Olives & Sea”, which is located near the church square in Afionas. The German owners Rainer and Heide sell a lot of products like olive oil, thyme honey, porcelain and table linen. The owner is also an artist and organizes art exhibitions, as well as painting courses. Another souvenir shop is the “Elaia Afionas”, which offers carvings and products from olive wood as well as selfmade jewellery.
Distances from the mountain village of Afionas to Corfu City, to the airport and ferry port of Corfu and to other places in the area.
The mountain village Afionas is about 33 km away from Corfu town (Kerkyra) with its ferry port. The distance from the international airport from Corfu (CFU) to Afionas, located 3 km south of the island capital Kerkyra, is approx. 36 km.
Rental cars can also be hired at the airport. Furthermore numerous taxis offer a transfer from the airport to Afionas. The one-way taxi ride costs about 60,- EUR.
The sandy beach of Agios Georgios Pagon (Pagi) is in approx. 1.3 km distance (within walking distance), the sandy beach of Arillas in approx. 2.8 km distance. If you want to enjoy the nightlife, you are in good hands in Arillas.
Activities and sports in Afionas in Corfu
In Afionas itself there are no water sports facilities, but in Agios Georgios Pagon (Pagi), about 1 km away, there are various water sports, see the leisure activities and sports facilities in Agios Georgios Pagon (Pagi) on Corfu.
Hiking tours in Afionas and the surrounding area
Furthermore Afionas is a popular starting point for many beautiful hiking tours:
Below Afionas is the famous double beach Porto Timoni, also called “twin bay”, one of the most beautiful bays on Corfu. These are basically two beaches separated by a narrow strip of land. The beach on the left is called Limni and has turquoise water, while Porto Timoni with dark blue water is on the right. You can reach both beaches in about 20 minutes. On the way there you can rest in one of the two taverns “Porto Timoni” and “Dyonysos”. If the way is too difficult for you, you can cross by rental boat from Agios Georgios. Another hiking destination is the microbrewery Corfu in Arillas.
- Hiking – We have already put together the following hiking tours in Afionas for you. It is best to install the komoot App on your smartphone (komoot App (Android / Google Play Store)or komoot App (App Store for iOS devices)), then you can easily follow the tours:
- Agios Georgios Pagon – Afionas – Porto Timoni Beaches – Akra Arilla/Agios Stylianos chapel – Porto Timoni Beaches – Afionas – Agios Georgios Pagon Round trip
- Of course we would be pleased if you could click on “Like” for our hiking trips in the komoot app or share the hiking tours with other Corfu tourists ;-)
Car rental Corfu and transfer Corfu airport – Afionas
You can book a rental car in advance online or at the airport. Furthermore, you can arrange the transfer as follows: by taxi, shuttle service, or by bus. Here you can find information about the Transfer from the airport to Arillas and Afionas.
Nearest major places of the bay Agios Georgios Pagon (Pagi) on Corfu
- Agios Georgios Pagon (Pagi), about 1 km away.
- Agros, approx. 9 km away (in Agros there is a medical centre and a pharmacy).
- Arillas, about 2,8 km away.
- Paleokastritsa (Palaiokastritsa), about 20 km away.
- Corfu city (Kerkyra), approx. 36 km away (sightseeing and shopping).
RADIO GORGEOUS:
https://www.radiogorgeous.com
https://www.scottwilliams.co.uk/property/the-durrells-house/
https://www.deezer.com/en/show/371262
https://www.theoldie.co.uk/article/my-bonnie-and-clyde-parents
https://nypost.com/2019/11/02/adopted-woman-found-birth-parents-and-they-were-famous-con-artists/
Adopted west London woman discovers birth parents were notorious criminals
