Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Arkoudila is a ruined monastery at Cape Asprokavos, the southernmost point of Corfu. The monastery is hidden in a dense forest on the cliffs above Arkoudilas Beach and it takes a hike to get there.
The monastery was built around 1700 by the sister of a noblewoman who also built the Church of Agios Theodoros in Lefkimmi. The land on which the monastery was built was donated to the Quartanos family by the ruling Venetians. Above the entrance where the bell tower is located, you can still see a carved relief of the coat of arms of the Quartanos family.
Until the end of the 19th century, the complex was used by monks who looked after its maintenance. After that, the monastery was abandoned and in the 1920s it started deteriorating due to negligence.
Nowadays, the monastery is ruined and partly overgrown, but you can still admire large parts of it. The walk through the forest is also a treat by itself and you can enjoy the spectacular views from Cape Asprokavos and visit the stunning Arkoudilas Beach.
The origin of Arkoudilas, the name of the area, is subject to debate as people have come up with several different explanations of where it might come from. The most commonly accepted interpretation is that its name is derived from the name of a plant or tree that was common in the area. Another interpretation is that it was misspelled or incorrectly derived from the word Akrodilon, a reference to the high location above the cliffs.
