A steep road leads from Agios Mattheos to the Pantocrator Christ Monastery and Grava Cave. The village, its mountaintop setting and the cave give the area a clear focus. It is also important to note that Agios Mattheos can be reached by car, but some parts of the village are accessible only on foot.
Getting Around the Village
Driving to the village and getting around within it are not the same thing: some parts of the village are accessible only on foot. Keep this in mind when considering Agios Mattheos as a place to stay. As road conditions can change, it is advisable to check the current situation before setting out.
The Monastery and Cave on the Mountain
The Pantocrator Christ Monastery dates back to the 16th century and is located on the mountaintop. It is no longer in operation and is closed to the public, so a visit to the monastery cannot be planned. From its mountaintop setting, there are views of the Adriatic Sea and the surrounding green landscape.
Grava Cave, also known as the “Cave of the Sea,” is also located on the mountaintop. According to islanders’ accounts, it is connected to the sea. The two sites offer different points of interest: the monastery is notable for its datable history, while the cave is associated with its traditional name and the story of its connection to the sea.
If you are considering Agios Mattheos as a possible place to stay, you can first ask whether the village and its mountain attractions are the focus you want, or whether cultural attractions in Corfu Town are also important. These are different levels of planning; the following sights belong to the wider destination of Corfu.
Corfu: Old Town and Museums
Corfu’s Old Town has preserved almost all of its historic urban fabric. Its buildings date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries; the Old Town and its two fortresses are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Anyone interested in the development of historic townscapes will find a different perspective here than at the mountain attractions of Agios Mattheos.
In Corfu’s Old Town, the Museum of Asian Art houses more than 11,000 objects from China, Japan, India, the Himalayas and Central Asia. The Archaeological Museum of Corfu offers another historical focus: it displays the Gorgon Medusa pediment from the great Temple of Artemis. The pediment was created in 585 BC and excavated in 1911 near the Aghioi Theodoroi Monastery. The museum was built primarily to exhibit this work.
From Corfu Port, bus line 2 runs on the Mantouki–Kanoni route to the Museum of Asian Art. Check the timetable before travelling. This connection is a guide for visiting Corfu Town, not information about how to get to Agios Mattheos.
More Perspectives on Corfu
The Kapodistrias Museum also offers a distinctive perspective on history: its permanent exhibition explores the history of Corfu, Europe and Greece through artifacts and documents related to the life of Greece’s first governor. The lush garden on the hill by the museum offers views of the landscape and across the island.
The Achilleion summer palace in Gastouri represents architectural history: it was built in 1892 in the Pompeian style. In the Achilleion municipal unit, old paths wind through the wooded mountains of Agii Deka, Stavros and Garouna and are suitable for hiking. Festivals, folk celebrations and cultural events are also held in the villages of the municipal unit; their programmes vary.
Those wishing to look beyond individual places and take in Corfu as a whole can also consider the Corfu Trail on a larger scale. The 180-kilometre route passes through several settlements; Benitses is one of its 13 overnight stages. This is a different kind of experience from the steep road to the monastery and cave near Agios Mattheos, and helps distinguish the local mountain attractions from an island-wide hiking route.
Discover more destinations: Afra, Perivoli, Anapaftiria, Acharavi, Gaios, Longós, Rantatika, Mpenitses.
For the broader travel overview: Corfu.
