Kato Korakiana is situated on the north east of island Corfu and just 12 km. from the town of Corfu, while the distances from the airport and the port are 13 and 11 km, respectively.
Kato Koriakana was established as autonomous community in 1912. Its land is 14 square meters and its population, according to the last census of 1991, was 3.214 inhabitants, but today is estimated to be more.
It is bounded on the south by the town of Corfu, on the west and north by the community of Ano Korakiana, on the north east by the communities of St. Markos and Spartilla, while its whole east part is washed by the Ionian Sea, at the magic and famous beaches of Ipsos, Dasia, Krevatsoula, Merlin and Dafnilla.
Its climate is mild, mediterranean, and the country is both flat and hilly with fertile soil, where the oil-tree, the vineyards as well as many other fruit bearings of every season thrive.
Kato Korakiana is an ideal place for vacations of every kind, since it provides many alternatives solutions for every taste and financial standing.
From luxury vacations in big hotel complexes equipped with all the modern facilities, to economic vacations in very clean furnished rooms with friendly prices, or to comfortable quite campings, hostels, pensions, villas, all with magnificent view to both the green land and the clean blue sea.
Famous beaches such as Ipsos, Dasia and Dafnilas are awarded with blue flags from E.C. every year. Here is also CLUB MENTITERANE, the first Tourist complex in Greece, built in 1953 and also the first club MENTITERANE around the world.
The numerous community shops, which are all under the supervision of Local Authority, during the tourist period consist a polymorphous commercial activity.
Shops of every kind, Super Markets, Tourist Shops, Jeweler’s, Restaurants, which offer traditional Greek and International cuisine, peaceful taverns, Discos, Bars, cafes, patisseries, and whatever you wish. Additionally, with the initiative of Local Authority many and various cultural events, festivals,are taking place every year.
Kato Korakiana is provided with 20.000 beds combining the peaceful traditional Tourism with the most modern conveniences.
For those who also want to combine their vacations with sea sports, here they will have the opportunity of keeping themselves busy, taking lessons from experienced teachers of water-ski, windsurf, diving, underwater fishing.
Additionally, boats for tours around the beautiful Corfu and the opposite coastlines, car and moto rentals are under your disposal. All the same, the tourist offices of the area are always willing to help you in any information you many need.
The final obtaining of Kato Korakiana, is the beautiful and lee (ward) port of Ipsos, more than 10.000 m2 sea area with 200 positions available for cutters. The same area is provided with light, water, telephone, and it is developed to a modern International Submarine.
All these are taking place within very clean areas, since the community has 4 dustcarts, experienced staff in the service of cleaning, as well as many litter baskets in every 50 meters all around the village.
The communitiess of Ipsos, Dasia, Dafnilla, and in general the whole community of Kato Korakiana, are under the police supervision 24 hours the day, providing the visitors a safety place. In the case of emergency, 2 consulting rooms, and 2 pharmacies, as well as the Medical Center of St. Markos just 500 meter from the center of the village are always open to help you.
The village has frequent bus service, (every 20 min.). Kato Korakiana is a genuine Tourist Village with great tradition to Tourism affairs and always in the service of its visitors.
History - Civilization
Kato Korakiana has its roots in the prochristian years and as an integral part of Corfu, it followed the fate of the island in the changes of the many conquers:
Corinthians and Athenians during the ancient times, Romans, Byzantine Emperors, Normands, Andiganians, Stavrofori, Enetians, French, Russians, Turks, and English until 1864, when all Eptanisa (the 7 islands of Ionian Sea) united with Greece.
In 1867 the island of Corfu was separated into 13 municipalities and Kato Korakiana made up for those years as an important part of municipality of APILIOTON, until 1912, when the dissolution of all Municipalities came and Kato Korakiana as well as the other villages of Corfu were made autonomous communities.
According to the tradition, in the beginning of 11th century the oldest village which had Archangel Michael as a patron, was devastated from coursers.
During the after years, the Turkish fleet ashore in the sea area of Ipsos and Dasia and disembarked there, so again Kato Koriakana was devastated and massacred totally from Turks during 1537 and 1716.
It is worth pointing out that in the church of Zoothochou Pigis, a building of 13th century, the bayoneting of barbarians on the old holy icons are still visible even today.
Since it was a fertile land as we have already said Kato Korakiana was divided among the rich landowners during the endless years of Feduarchias, so it may be the only village of Corfu with so many mansions and lands.It is enough to say that Theotiki family who located from 1458, owned a wide land from Kommeno to Ipsos.
However and many others such as Kartanos, Smaramagkas, Polulas, Skarpas, Ntorias, Venier, Skiadas, Basan, Agas, Mylonopoulos, Mimbeli, Merlin owned great lands in Kato Korakiana.
Among all these mansions the ones that are still preserved are the mansion of Skarpa in Kommeno, Theotoki and Merlin in Krevatsula, Milonopoulon in St. Basilios and of Polyla-Bibeli, former hotel "Kastelo" in the center of Kato Korakiana, a unique ornament of the whole island.
"KASTELO", an old medieval tower, which renovated in the end of the previous year from the Italian baron Luka Bibeli, has a unique architectural structure as the Florentine, the Gothic and the East style coexist harmoniously creating an optical nirvana and the memory of an old romantic time.
During this century the tower "hospitalized" many famous personalities such as the Emperor of Austria Fragiskos Iosif, the King of Italy Victor Emanouele, the Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selasie and the King of Greece George B’ who was a permanent resident from 1936 to 1940.
The 12 churches of the village, which have been built from 13th to 18th century, are very important but those that really dominate are Zoodoxos Pigi, St. Nikolaos, and St. Dimitrios.
Kato Korakiana has owned a school since 1854, in the contrary of all the other villages in Corfu. The school was established with the help of the famous Eptanisian poet Gerasimos Markoras who is supposed to be our first teacher. In his honor the philharmonic of Kato Korakiana was taken his name.
During the First World War Ipsos was an important merchant port which served not only Kato Korakiana, but also the whole South Corfu.
