The Antinioti Lagoon is a small lake and wetland area in the municipal unit of Thinali, in the northernmost part of Corfu. Two channels on the eastern and western sides connect the lagoon with the Ionian Sea, which cuts off the small island on the northern shore.
History Of The Antinioti Lagoon
The swampy area that is now the Antinioti Lagoon was once home to the anopheles mosquito, which infected people with malaria. Therefore, the area was uninhabitable for centuries and received the name Antinioti, which is Greek for ‘anti-youth’ or more freely translated as ‘enemy of the youth’.
Nowadays, the area surrounding the lagoon is still largely undeveloped and has become a protected nature reserve under the Natura 2000 Treaty.
Description Of The Antinioti Lagoon
The Antinioti Lagoon has a surface area of 188 hectares. Local fishermen use it to farm grey mullet, sea bass, and eel, while duck hunting also takes place.
Fresh water from several springs and small torrents originating as far as Mount Pantokrator fill the lagoon while it drains into the sea at two places. To the west, a 200-meter-long channel mouths between Almyros Beach and Antinioti West Beach. To the east, a 100-meter-long channel mouths next to Agios Spiridon Beach.
The surrounding area is very green and beautiful with many wild flowers, reed beds, and aquatic plants, some of which that don’t grow in other parts of the island. The nature reserve is also home to a large variety of birds, amphibians, and reptiles.
The Antinioti Lagoon In Literature
The Antinioti Lagoon appeared in Gerald Durell’s autobiographical book My Family and Other Animals as the ‘waterlily lake’.
How To Get To The Antinioti Lagoon
The Antinioti Lagoon is situated in the northernmost area of Corfu and can best be reached with a private vehicle, like a rental car, or scooter.
By car, the Antinioti Lagoon is a 4.5-kilometer drive from Acharavi, 8 kilometers from Kassiopi, and about 43 kilometers from Corfu Town. The easiest point to access the lake is via Agios Spiridon Beach.
The nearest bus stop is on Road 2217 (Tzavrou-Kassiopi-Sidari). Green Bus line S5 between Kassiopi and Sidari passes by there, but only runs during the summer season.
What To Do At The Antinioti Lagoon
You can’t swim in the Antinioti Lagoon, but the surrounding nature reserve is a great destination for a day trip. There are 4 beaches, a ruined monastery, and the area is great for walking, hiking, and horse riding.
To the east of the lagoon is Agios Spiridon Beach, on the island to the north you can find Gialiskari Beach and Antinioti West Beach, and to the south of the western channel is Almyros Beach.
The island to the north of the Antinioti Lagoon can be reached via a bridge over each of the two channels, but only the eastern bridge can be crossed by car.
There is an unpaved road from the eastern bridge to Antinioti West Beach but alternatively, you can also make a beautiful hike along the northern shore of the island. The route is marked, crosses Gialiskari Beach, and offers beautiful views of the sea and the coastline of Albania.
Hidden in the forest of the island, you can also visit the remains of the ruined Monastery of Agia Aikaterina. To the south of the lagoon, there’s a horse riding school offering horseback riding trips through the beautiful area.
