Near the popular town of Palaiokastritsa is one of Greece’s most important and oldest Byzantine castles, which dominates a tree-covered, 609-metre-high rock, the highest point above the island’s northwestern shore. Angelokastro, or “Castle of the Angel”, is believed by some to have been built during the reign of Michael I Komnenos or his son Michael II, rulers of Epirus, in the 13th century.

The once glorious fortress, whose inhabitants and guards defended it from Ottoman forces who invaded the island a few times, fell into disrepair as its strategic importance vanished. In recent times renovation work has been conducted on its impressive walls and arched entranceway. Apart from being afforded fabulous views of Corfu town, one can also visit a tiny chapel dedicated to Archangel Michael, which contains fresco fragments, and the chapel of Agios Kyriaki, which is built into a cave.