Moraitika Holidays

Moraitika has a raised spot on Corfu’s eastern side. Generally speaking, this part of the island has calm as its middle name. But this place bucks the trend and errs on the lively – just the thing for families looking for a bit of a kick. It’s got a natural backdrop of olive grove-carpeted hills but, in the main, it’s purpose-built. There’s a parade of hotels and apartments running parallel to the sea, plus a kilometre-long strip of bars, restaurants and shops piggybacking either side of the coast road.

The town is 5 minutes’ walk from a sand-and-pebble beach, 5 kilometres in length. The water is Evian-clear and stays waist-high for a long way out, so it’s safe for young paddlers. Plus, it’s pretty much got everything on a plate. There are sunbeds and parasols, and the likes of pedalos and jet-skis to hire. Right across the sands, trees and gardens offer natural shade, and a band of beach bars dish out refreshments.

The original village of Ano Moraitika sits on the hill above the strip, and couldn’t be more different from the hurry and scurry below. It has been left to do its own, slow-winded thing. The mishmash of string-like lanes and stone houses are as wrapped in bougainvillea and stillness as they’ve always been, while home-grown tavernas and makeshift markets are dotted around and about. There are great views of the coastline and across to mainland Greece from the church of Theotokou Kimiseos, which balances on the higher slopes.

Moraitika practically merges with next-door Messonghi – only a river divides the 2. The latter is a former fishing village that knows how to turn on the charm. It has a long, sandy beach, while the little lanes are home to traditional tavernas and bars. The capital, Corfu Town, is 20 kilometres away and wears its history well. So much so that its Venetian-influenced old city and elegant arcades have been given the UNESCO stamp of approval.