Things to see and do Gouvia

How to describe such an authentic place?

Firstly, its history: that of Dr. Kavvadia, an orthopedic surgeon, who cultivated this place like a small secret garden, cherishing his olive trees of a local species called "Lianelia" with the certainty that they would develop curative virtues in response to his good treatments. A force of thought turned into a miracle of nature, as the olive oil produced today in this olive grove, in addition to being excellent, possesses antioxidant properties.

Then there's the hard work of the doctor's grandson, Apostolos, a good-natured and passionate fellow who has taken over. The grandfather was a forerunner in his time, unknowingly using permaculture and sustainable agriculture. The grandson has had his farm certified organic, and continues the family tradition by taking great care of these hundred-year-old trees.

So it's hardly surprising that Dr. Kavvadia's and his grandson's olive oil has won numerous awards and accolades. This dedication to a job well done is reflected in the labels, which are handwritten and numbered over 4,000 times per production run! It's a fascinating process with a unique result, and the humble owner is happy to show you around the farm.

The tour is well worth the detour! In an hour and a half, you'll learn all about the process of extracting oil from olives, permaculture and compost, in a bucolic and enchanting setting.

The visit ends with a tasting of the two types of oil produced here, and organic vegetables from the garden in the form of mezze.

A nice way to reward all the efforts made by Apostolos and his family is to drop by the store and take away with you some of this golden liquid, conscientiously produced under the sun of the Ionian Islands, with a love of terroir and tradition that commands respect.

In our opinion, it's a Corfu must!

Imposing remains of a shipyard built by the Venetians when they dominated the island. The arsenal was built by the water and the bay served as a port. The walls and columns are virtually intact. There are also remains of the th century town. The use of the arsenal ended in 1798, when signing the treaty ending the Republic of Venice.