Agioi Deka

Agioi Deka, a small village, perched on the slopes of the mountain of the same name. The mountain is not particularly high (576 metres), but the view from the top, which can be reached by foot, is one of the best on the island. The footpath begins at the north-west corner of the village, and anyone asked will show you the way. The route leads you firstly through olive groves, and then up to slopes covered with evergreen oak and myrtle, and after 20 minutes around, to a little plateau hidden between the rocky peaks. The Church of Pantokrator (The Almighty) is located here, and a bit further west stands the chapel of the Prophet Elias. There is easy access to the higher north-east peak, with its stunning view.
The inhabitants of the village have always been hospitable, with a mood for celebration. They love music and singing and always sing in small gatherings. In the history of the place, there have been active and militant people, with a love for the arts and letters, while several have made a remarkable course in their field.
This hospitality and warmth will be experienced in the traditional taverns where you can rest, drink your coffee, eat and drink.

1.How many permanent residents does the village have? 

According to the last census in 2011, the village has around 420 permanent residents . During the summer, this number almost doubles due to people who own homes in the village and come to vacation for several weeks .

2.What do the residents do for a living? 

The residents are involved in various professions such as entrepreneurs, private and public employees, farmers, carpenters, priests, builders, bakers, electricians, plumbers, and artisans .

3.What products are produced in the area? 

The primary products produced in the area are seasonal vegetables and fruits for family use, olive oil, nuts such as almonds and walnuts, potatoes, and small vineyards. There are no greenhouses in the area .

4.Is there anyone who sells products? 

There are two small farms where vegetables are grown, some animals are raised, and products are sold to individuals and some stores. Specifically, the largest almond grove on the island of organic cultivation is located at “Ktima Flarena,” and it also produces excellent virgin olive oil, which has received health certification from the TEI Kefalonia .

5.If yes, is the point of sale visitable and how many people can it accommodate? 

It is visitable for all ages and can accommodate approximately 30-50 people at the same time .

6.Are there vineyards in the area?

The oldest vineyards of the village were always located on the outskirts and at the top of the mountain, as the climatic conditions favored them. Nowadays, there are few small vineyards that only serve the needs of the owners, while the blend of grapes is reinforced with the purchase of varieties mainly from Achaia and Zakynthos. Mr. Spyros Poulis, a resident of the village, has been trading grapes for years and takes orders from the villagers for the wine of the year. Winemaking is a process that traditionally takes place during the harvest period, and many families in the village make their own wine, which they mature in wooden barrels and store in traditional damijanas.

7.If yes, what varieties are grown?

Traditional local varieties such as kakotrygis, marzavi, and skopelitiko.

8.Is there a lake, river, or waterfall?

There are small waterfalls at various points, both on the outskirts and at the top of Mount Pantokrator, where they, along with the rich and lush vegetation, make up a unique natural beauty scene.

9.Is there a point with acoustic peculiarities (e.g., reeds, ravine, stream with nightingales, etc.)?

There are various points of special acoustics such as the Pitiri Ravine, which is 12.30 meters long, 4.40 meters wide, and 2.50 meters high. The right side of the cave has natural decoration with stalactites. Two species of bats inhabit the interior of the cave: a) rhinolophus hipposideros and b) rhinolophus ferrumequinum. Additionally, due to the rocky terrain, many caves have been created, such as the Bouzavieri Ravine, the Charon Ravine, and the Nanos Ravine. Recently, Dutch speleologist Rene van Vliet explored these specific caves, and his findings can be found on the speleocorfu.gr website. At the top of the mountain, the ground is flat, creating a small plateau. At this point, the homonymous church of Pantokrator is located, as well as the buildings of the old monastery. It is worth mentioning that Harilaos Florakis had found refuge in the Charon Ravine when he was on the island as a prisoner in the Corfu prisons. In his autobiographical documents, he mentions the said point, where the village baker, Antonas, visited him and gave him bread.

10.What animals are there around the village, in which season, and at which points? 

1.Birds,

2.Reptiles,

3.Vipers, snakes, foxes,

4.Frogs, etc

The entire mountain range, the topography of the countryside, and the nearby geotemachia constitute a broader ecosystem for many species of birds, reptiles, and mammals. Specifically, mammals such as hedgehogs, lizards, foxes, squirrels, blind mice, and rabbits inhabit the area. Several species of snakes such as astritis, vipers, lafiatis, tyflitis, saita, dentrogalia, sapitis, and many reptiles such as the large green lizard, frogs, toads, turtles can also be found. The birds that inhabit the area are partridges, woodpeckers, hawks, robins, sparrows, crows, and even eagles in specific periods. In particular, the royal flight of eagles passes towards the end of July and the beginning of August.

11. What does the vegetation of the area include, in which season, and at which points? 

1.Flowers

2.Edibles [vegetables, mushrooms, tea, chamomile, oregano, capers, figs, etc.]

3.Trees and shrubs

The area is characterized by lush vegetation, with the most characteristic being the presence of ancient olive groves, while there are coniferous trees such as cypresses and oaks, as well as carob trees, blackberries, laurel, myrtle, oregano, thyme, reiki, phaskomilo, asphodels. Also, flower blooms are spread everywhere in the spring, from daisies, chamomile, anemones, and forget-me-nots.

12.How many churches are there in Agioi Deka village?

There are many churches and chapels of historical significance in the village of Agioi Deka. These include the following: the Church of Agioi Deka, the Church of Agios Spyridon, the Church of Panagia Odigitria, the Church of Agios Iakovos, the Church of Agios Stylianos (private), the Church of Agios Nikolaos Petras (private), which is located above the old aqueduct built by the British commissioner Frederick Adam in the 18th century, the Church of Agios Dimitrios, the Church of Pantokrator (at the top of the mountain), and the Church of Prophet Elias (Ayi Lias, also at the top of the mountain).

13.Is there any festival, procession or other event and when?

In the village, there are three festivals: Prophet Elijah on July 20th, Pantocrator on August 5th, the eve of the Savior’s feast. This festival is one of the most popular in the wider area and takes place in the courtyard of the church of the same name at the top of the mountain. The festival of Odigitria on August 23rd, while on the eve of August 22nd, there is a procession of the epitaph. In addition, during the Easter period, apart from the epitaph, two more processions take place. On Easter Monday, a service is held early in the morning at the Pantocrator church on the mountain, and then the image of the Virgin is carried in procession to the Odigitria church. On Thomas Sunday, the image of the Resurrection is carried in procession to the church of St. Nicholas, near the village of Stavros. Also, during the summer season, several cultural events take place, such as the Kantada Night in August. A music night with the island’s cantadors, where they sing while crossing the narrow streets of the village and end up at the Níkandros crossroads, where they continue to sing with a crowd of people eating and drinking while enjoying the panoramic view of the entire wider area and the city. The festival of Odigitria also takes place there. Additionally, with the care of the Cultural Association, theatrical performances are also hosted during the summer. There used to be a theater group, with very good examples of theatrical events throughout the island, which can be searched for in video recordings.

14.Where does the water of the area come from?

The village’s water supply comes from the aqueduct, which pumps water from a 240-meter deep well. Generally, the area’s soil is rich in water deposits, while there are also spring beds from the top of the mountain .

15.Are there any public sources or fountains with drinking water?

In the past, the quality of the water was excellent, and the village’s water was famous for its cleanliness. People from the surrounding villages visited the village to take water from the public fountain at Kontou. Generally, there are four public fountains at Kontou, Tresasia, Monoti, and Pigadaki. Additionally, inside many homes, there are wells in the basements that serve household needs .

16.Is there any point of historical interest?

There are reports and findings that place the creation of the village in the post-Byzantine period, specifically in the 16th century AD. The first inhabitants came from Crete, where they built the first church of the Ten Saints, which gave the village its name. Therefore, the first churches, the bell tower of the church of Panagia Odigitria, with the Byzantine bells, are elements of historical interest. Also, for the area of Augustata, located at the northwest end of the village, it is said that it took its name from Catherine Augusta Palaiologina, who lived in the area with her husband and despot of Mystra, Thomas Palaiologos, brother of the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine Palaiologos.

17.Is there any bridge, olive press, or other landmark?

The village’s location offers a panoramic view of the entire island, from north to south. There are some points with a better visual angle, such as the Aloni site where many visitors stop or from the Níkandros crossroads. In the village, there were several olive presses in the past, as they were almost engaged in olive harvesting. Today, what is better preserved is the “Grigoropoulos Bros” olive press, with the characteristic inscription engraved on stone. There are many old houses in the village, typical of the Corfiot countryside architecture. In some of them, there are cisterns, while stone lintels with the characteristic key in the center dominate the windows, as shown in the image.

18.Did any famous person live or pass through here?

In 1877, the Irish writer Oscar Wilde visited Corfu. During a visit to Mount Pantokrator, he was enchanted by the view, the tranquility, the aromas, and the colors of nature and wrote the poem “Santa Deca,” dedicated to the beauty of the area.

19.Are there any famous people from the village who became famous elsewhere?

Three distinguished personalities emerged from the village: A) Gerasimos Zochios: Born in the early 19th century. He studied at the Ionian Academy, the Academy of Athens, and in Paris. He is the founder of the Naval Retirement Fund (NAT), from which thousands of sailors retire. His statue dominates the center of the village next to the old elementary school. B) Ioannis Zochios (1840-1912), son of the previous one, studied medicine in Athens and Paris. In 1880, he was elected a regular professor at the Medical School of the University of Athens, in the Physiology and Anatomy department. He was a deep student of general history and ancient philosophers. C) Erotokritos Moraitis (1895-1978), a medical philosopher with studies in Padua, Italy. He brought to light valuable information about the endocrine glands. A fighter for justice, he led the establishment of the Autonomous Organization of Agricultural Credit in Corfu in 1929 .

20.Do you remember any stories from the past that your grandmothers used to tell you?

The Pierri family mansion was always a topic of discussion, with the most characteristic story being that of Vanda Pierri, who lost her life when she was attacked by a shark off the coast of the Fortress. She was only 16 years old.

21.Is there any special custom?

On Holy Thursday, the Trizonia custom is revived. It is a very old custom of the village, where children climb to the Skafidouli site, at the foot of the mountain, in the shade of a huge rock, carved, according to testimonies, by a sculptor who wanted to create the image of the Virgin. There is still an arch at the top of the rock. On the eve of Saint Spyridon on December 11th, and on the eve of the Ten Saints on December 22nd, a large fire is lit in the courtyard of the two churches to ward off evil.

22.What kind of food do you usually eat?

Traditional Corfiot dishes, such as sofrito, pastitsada, plemona, stakofisi, bianco fish, bourdeto, tsigareli, savóro, pastanáka.

23.Is there any local specialty in your cooking [e.g. neratzosalata]?

Savoro is a very old recipe with French influences, and it is usually made on March 25th. It is boiled anchovy with oregano and raisins in an aromatic white sauce with plenty of black pepper. Plemona is a red dish made with veal lungs. It is cooked with plenty of bay leaves and red pepper.

24.Is there any cultural, musical, dance, theatrical, or other club?

The Cultural Association of Agioi Deka was founded in 1954 and continues to operate without interruption to this day.

25.If so, what activities does it have and when do they take place?

According to the Association’s statute, it can undertake actions that promote the local identity and the particular characteristics of the village, with an emphasis on elements of tradition and the village’s history. Some of these are: the serenade night, theatrical performances, festivals, outdoor cinema, painting and photography exhibition, traditional dance performances, etc.

26.What would you like foreigners to know about you?

The villagers have always been hospitable, with a festive mood. They love music and singing and always sing in small gatherings. They were active and militant people, with a love for the arts and letters, while many had a remarkable professional career in their science. There are mapped hiking trails both through the narrow alleys and streets of the village and throughout the mountain of Pantokrator, with a unique view from wherever you are, with a large attendance of people all year round. On the public road of the village, one will find three traditional shops to rest, drink coffee, eat and drink.