Sidari is one of the most popular and lively tourist resorts on the island, particularly favoured by British tourists. It is a reference point for the whole island and anyone who visits Corfu will definitely visit Sidari, specifically for its beaches which are renowned for their sandstone geological formations.
Located about 35 km northwest of the centre of the island, it is essentially a village. Opposite are the Diapontia islands of Ereikousa, Othoni and Mathraki, to which there is regular sea transport as well as organized boat trips. Buses link Sidari with the neighbouring areas of Arillas and Agios Stefanos Avlioton.
Until the late 1980’s it was simply a beautiful, but predominantly deserted ,beach. In the 1990’s it became a booming development offering the tourist a variety of accommodation options ranging from large hotels to studio apartments. The main street has a wide variety of shops, supermarkets, ATMs, tavernas, restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs. International cuisine of all kinds is to be found from British fish and chips or Sunday roasts to Indian curry, Italian pizza and pasta, Chinese, traditional Greek and seafood. Music of all genres resounds from the eateries and is as diverse as the dining options. Sidari buzzes day and night in summer and is a bustling hive of activity.
Beaches
Sidari is characterized by its beaches. Three beaches dominate, with their kaleidoscope of blue-green waters and glorious, golden sand.
The main beach of the area is next to the port, being sandy, large and very shallow. It has sunbeds and umbrellas for hire and offers a variety of water sports for those who enjoy white-knuckle, high adrenaline, inflatable rides i.e. Flyfish, Rapid Radar, Twister, Ringo and Big Skimmer to name a few. Paragliding, wakeboarding and waterskiing are also available.
The last beach is called Apoptrypti and is accessible via a narrow road that starts from the outskirts of the resort. This picturesque beach, surrounded by massive sandstone rock faces, has characteristic, muddy sand which is excellent for the skin. It is an organized beach with umbrellas and sunbeds for rent. There are water sports and jet ski hire as well.
Archaeological interest
In Sidari, at the Canal D’Amour archeological site, the remains of the first confirmed settlement of the island, dating back to the Neolithic Age, were discovered and explored in the 1960s by Professor Augustine Sordina.
Sidari, back in time
It is one of the few places where the stratigraphic sequence includes remains of the Mesolithic period in Greece and Ancient Neolithic period of the western mainland and island.
During the Mesolithic period before the Neolithic, when people lived by hunting and gathering rather than by agriculture, the data suggests that hunter-gatherers also made war.
The Neolithic economy was boosted by the cultivation of domesticated plants like cereals and legumes as well as stock breeding of domestic farm animals as a food source. The appearances of ceramics and stonework were new elements as was the building of houses made of straw.
Initially utensils were basic, while later their surfaces were decorated and engraved. Similar decorative techniques also appear in northwestern Greece and the Adriatic, suggesting interaction between Neolithic communities. In Sidari there are archaeological findings to show that life continued until the Bronze Age, (beginning of the 6th millennium), when it was abandoned as a result of being covered by river alluvium.
Source
ΡΗΓΑΚΟΥ, Τένια (2018). “Τα αρχαιολογικά ευρήματα των τελευταίων ανασκαφών στην Κέρκυρα: 36η εφορεία προϊστορικών και κλασικών αρχαιοτήτων”, http://www.corfu-museum.gr/index.php/el/59-corfu-notes/319-2014-03-05-14-21-59
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