Corfu and its countryside have a long history. From ancient times, in the Byzantine Empire and the Venetian rule, the island’s inhabitants created and developed settlements and villages, which sometimes survived the passage of time and sometimes disappeared with it. In this article, we will explore the abandoned – ruined villages of the island of Corfu and try to get to know them a little better.
Before leaving the Corfiot north, we will get to know Platarades. The present village is believed to have existed between the present-day villages of Vatonies and Arakades in northwestern Corfu. The name of the settlement was first mentioned in the 15th century and seems to have its roots in the surname Plataras, who lived there at that time. The village’s existence is attested in various notarial documents, but we have no further information. The most important element of the settlement was the church of Panagia Platerni, probably the fundamental reason for its establishment. Platarades were gradually abandoned and ceased to exist around the 17th century.
