Valanio

A village with many historical facts and reports that testify to its long existence.

Built at the beginning of the 15th century, it managed to become a reference point for the love of its inhabitants for music, since almost all of them are involved in this exquisite art.

The well-known inside and outside the island,  Choir of the village Valanio, is called “Koro” and has managed to spread elements of our tradition, through the songs that are identified with the Ionian and Corfiot tradition but also with their “arekia”, ie their improvised songs which look similar to the Cretan mantinada.

Back in time, the first inhabitants settled in the area in 1390 AD.

There are many families that from generation to generation are connected with the history of the village, bear the surnames Vasilakis, Krasakis, Hartofylakas, Rados, Anifantis and Kaloudis and are one of the oldest, well-known families in Valanio.

The name of the village probably comes from the word “balneum”, that means baths standing for the place, that the Romans used as their baths.

It is said that today’s small lake Mavrolimni, located in the area between Valanio and Kyprianades, once hosted, one of the Roman Baths of the time.

Of course, as is often observed in the settlements of the island, there are other versions of the origin of the name of the village. One of them reports that the village took its name from the oaks that existed in the area before the creation of the Corfu olive groves.

As seen in the majority of the villages of Corfu, so this area is particularly blessed, with the rich vegetation that surrounds it and many surprises that you will find scattered in several places.

Depending on your climbing skills and your willingness to explore, you can take the most alternative trails in the area, walk on the dirt road on your left, before the first houses of the village as you ascend from Kyprianades.

There you will find “Vrysoudia” an area with running water and springs, where the women of the village used to wash their clothes in the past.

A little further up, through a path you can discover caves, small gorges and impressive rocks that add the landscape something of their wild beauty.

One kilometer outside the village of Valanio you can find “Ortholithos”. The area owes its name to the approximately 80 meters high rock that is located there, above the bed of the Blind River, the largest river on the island. The river we are facing, according to Mr. Iakovos Vasilakis and the Meteorological Station that he created in Valanio, descends rapidly during the months of October-May and more “calm” during the other months of the year.

In addition, it is worth noting that according to the information we obtained, there is another path more inaccessible that leads to a waterfall unknown to most.

Located in the area “Bania” as the locals call it, this is the only waterfall on the island where water flows all year round thanks to the large spring called “medical fountain” which literally gushes through the riverbed. the locals can guide you on how to get there.

For those of you who enjoy walking, you can choose the path starting  from the village

Valanio, through paths with rich vegetation and trees and plants that impress with their colors and challenge you to photograph them, you can be led to the neighboring villages such as Sokraki, Zygos, Klimatia etc.

It is also impressive that many people claim to have seen foxes on these routes, of course it is somewhat unlikely to meet them but not impossible if you are lucky enough.