Chlomos is one of the oldest and highest villages in Corfu, located in the southeast of the island, around 30 km from Corfu Town.
It stands on the eastern side of Mount Merovigli, at around 300 metres above sea level.
Chlomos is a very small village, with around 167 permanent residents.
Many of its houses are centuries old and built of local stone, contrasting with the colourful façades of newer buildings.
Thanks to its elevated location, Chlomos has a spectacular setting, offering wide views across the eastern coast and towards the southern part of the island.
The Village
Chlomos is one of the oldest and best-preserved settlements in Corfu, with the village dating back to the 13th century.
It is therefore among the island oldest surviving traditional villages.
Chlomos is remarkably well-preserved, but like many traditional villages in Corfu, its beauty comes with a visible sense of abandonment.
Alongside restored and inhabited houses, many traditional buildings have been left without maintenance for years and are gradually deteriorating.
In Chlomos You will see many buildings with peeling façades, damaged roofs and overgrown stone steps, revealing the village long-term depopulation as residents moved to the cities.
The Views of Chlomos
Because of its elevated position, Chlomos is known for its spectacular views across different parts of the island.
Thanks to this panoramic setting, it is often called the “Balcony of Corfu” in travel guides.
Look one way and you will see the eastern coastline stretching along the Ionian Sea.
Turn towards the south, and the landscape opens out towards Lake Korission and the surrounding countryside.
Why was Chlomos built here?
According to historical accounts, the first inhabitants of the area arrived from Byzantium in the 13th century, either as refugees or Byzantine mercenaries who settled on Corfu.
Later, particularly from the 14th century onwards, more people moved to the hilltop from other parts of the island.
Most of them came from the area around Lake Korission, moving to higher ground because of malaria and pirate raids.
At a time when pirate raids were a real threat to coastal communities, the elevated position offered protection and a natural lookout over the surrounding countryside and coast.
Being able to spot approaching danger from high ground was a significant advantage.
This also explains why Chlomos developed as a compact hilltop settlement rather than spreading out across the lowlands.
The Village of two squares
An unusual fact is that Chlomos has not one but two small traditional village squares.
They are surrounded by traditional houses, cafeterias and old buildings, alongside giant trees and lush greenery.
The cosy and intimate atmosphere of these little squares literally invites you to pause before continuing through the narrow streets.
How high is Chlomos?
At around 300 metres above sea level, Chlomos stands considerably higher than many of Corfu coastal settlements.
Like Lakones, Chlomos sits high above the coast, on the edge of a steep hillside.
These two villages are situated on opposite sides of the island, Chlomos in the southeast and Lakones in the northwest.
But even though Chlomos is that high, it is not the highest village on Corfu.
For comparison, Lakones, on the edge of the western hillside above Paleokastritsa, lies at about the same 300 metres.
Old Perithia, probably the best-known historic mountain village in Corfu, lies at around 400 metres.
Interestingly, its settlement is generally dated to the 14th century, making it younger than Chlomos, which is traditionally dated to the 13th century.
Strinilas, on Mount Pantokrator, reaches around 650 metres and is generally considered the highest inhabited village on the island.
Interestingly, even the highly positioned Pelekas, known for its elevated location on the western side of Corfu, is lower than Chlomos, at around 270 metres.
