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Corfu guide
About Corfu
Corfu is the ancient Phaiax according to Homer, the island that Odysseus found the hospitality and warmness during his adventurous journey to his home Ithaca. Corfu is the island of beautiful Aphrodite, of Love and Romance. Many people adored it throughout the years, such as as princess Elizabeth of Austria, who built the Achillion Palace. Corfu is the link to Greek and European civilizations, which are reflected clearly to the architecture and the way of life.
Corfu is unique, because every part of the island has different natural beauty and charm. It is an ideal destination for every visitor, offering both relaxing and lively holidays.
Whilst you are on holiday in Corfu, we recommend you try from the variety of local products:
Noumboulo
Cooked pork meats as well as smoked and dry salami and sausages.
Olive oil and Corfiot olives
Since the Venetian occupation the local product of Corfu is the olive oil and the olives. The olives are small and black; you can eat naturally or served in a Greek salad.
Koum Kouat
The trademark of Corfu. You can find this exotic small orange in a lot of varieties such as liqueur, dry sweets and sweet with syrup.
Mantolato
Soft nougat with honey and either mixed nuts or fruit. The edges are coated with wafers.
Mantoles
Caramelized almonds.
Ginger beer or Tsitsimbira
A refreshing soft drink originated by the British influence. You can still find it in local kafeneia (old Greek coffee shops) in some villages or Corfu Town.
Wines
The locals produce their own wine after they have cultivated different varieties of grapes in their vineyards. You will have the chance to taste white, rose or red depending on your preference. In Kalami Beach taverna, we offer a selection of Corfiot wines.
Kalami guide
About Kalami
In the northeastern Corfu, there is a scenic horseshoe-shaped bay, which captures every visitor under its spell. In Greek language, Kalami means reed and the name is given to this seaside village because of the reeds in the centre of the beach in front of the houses.
Kalami is a traditional fishing village, which combines the scenery of the countryside amongst the mountains with lush of greenery and the crystal waters of Ionian Sea.
Kalami is characterized by two coves, Kouloura and Cavo Kefali.
In the past, Kalami was a thinly populated village with a police station and an olive press. Fishing was a way of families’ living, but the main income for the locals was the sale of the olive oil. The people were collecting the olives one by one and they carried them with a horse or a donkey to the olive press. A very difficult and hard work.
In the one side of Kalami beach, there was a small pier, which is still preserved, for the taxi boats to Corfu Town. The boats were the only transport for the village people to go to Corfu Town and sell the olive oil.
Kalami started to be well known when the famous, Nobel Prize nominated writer, Lawrence Durrell found this beautiful bay as the perfect spot to concentrate on his writing. He built the White House on a promontory on the side of Cavo Kefali, just a few steps from the sea. His inspiration led him to write the best seller Prospero’s Cell and guided the readers to discover Kalami. Durrell lived here between the years 1936 – 1939. When World War II started, he left Corfu.
In 1970 Corfu met the tourist development initially with the Club Meditteranee in Dassia, which welcomed French tourists. In 1974, a kafeneion (traditional local café) opened on the ground floor of the White House in Kalami. Trekkers or boats with French tourists were stopping at the kafeneion for a drink. Then tourists from other countries started to visit Corfu spending their holidays in some of the most attractive resorts of the island. The village people were letting some rooms, which were available in their houses, as their children had left the village, living in Corfu Town for work or education.
In 1977 the tourist demands were becoming more and more. Kassiopi was a big attraction with a satisfactory capability in accommodation, just 7km from Kalami village. More and more tourists from Kassiopi and neighbouring resorts were visiting Kalami discovering its unique beauty as a quiet unspoiled village.
My family owned a small house on the beach, which was used before the war for housing the Albanian workers for the gathering of the olives.
In 1980, the family decided to renovate the small house to a snack bar. In 1985 the little snack bar turned into the taverna Kalami Beach offering home cooked Corfiot and Greek food.
Corfu was already a popular tourist destination and the locals were occupied in tourist businesses for a qualified way of living. It is preferable for someone to work in a taverna, bar, travel office, hotel, apartments or club, socializing with happy people who are enjoying their holiday, as opposed to working hard for the collection of the olives.
The explosive tourist development turned the little fishing village of Kalami to one of the most popular resorts of Corfu with a dynamic of 1500 beds, three tavernas, three mini markets, three bars, three travel offices and 2 tourist shops. Kalami is still the charming bay with the shingle beach and the clear cobalt-blue sea. Ideal for swimming , the beach is awarded with the blue flag.
This is Kalami, my village, where I was born. I live, I work and I have the privilege to meet people from different cultures, making friends every year. Even though Kalami has changed, it is still an unspoiled village. Each one of us, the people who work in Kalami, has the care, the love and the respect for what we do, as we cannot forget from where we started.
The visitors who come year after year prove that Kalami is a unique paradise. Kalami promises unforgettable, relaxing holidays in Corfu.
We are looking forward to seeing you in Kalami!
Nikos Katsaros
Kalami Events
Varcarola
Every year, Kalami hosts the traditional festival on the sea which is growing more spectacular every year.
Varcarola is translated as “serenade under the moonlight” and for the romantics, this is a night you will never forget.
The source of the Varcarola originates from the Corfiots’ passion of music and singing. The hard working men would show their feelings and emotions through their songs. They would sing about their love for Corfu, the sea, their hard daily life and their longing for romance. This festival continues every year, only, because of the dedication from the locals, who wish to protect their heritage and traditions.
Small fishing boats slowly sail through the sea, which is illuminated by floating candles and lights up the bay of Kalami. A larger boat appears like a ghost in the night, with the local choral group singing the traditional love songs called “cantades” and are accompanied by musicians.
This is the most amazing evening throughout the entire summer. You can enjoy your evening meal in Kalami Beach Taverna, which is situated on the beach. The local choir will serenade you, whilst you watch a spectacular show on the sea, with a finale of multi-coloured firework, which adorn the night.
Visit Kalami and enjoy this traditional romantic night!
Google Map
Kalami Beach Taverna is ideally located on beachfront of Kalami bay. Kalami is 32 km from Corfu Town and 8 km from the famous Kassiopi.
As you drive on the main road to northern Corfu, you will find on your right hand a crossroad and the sign “Kalami – Kouloura”. You turn right and follow the road all the way down, turn right on the bottom and this road will lead to Kalami village. As you enter the village of Kalami, you will find on your left hand an open private parking area available for the taverna’s customers. Within 7m you will be at Kalami Beach Taverna. The taverna also has easy access for disabled people.
