A corner of paradise to spend your holidays? Certainly Fanò – Othoní, nicknamed “the Salento of Greece,” captures the eye at first glance with a few houses, old mule tracks, and a succession of bays that are difficult to spot from the mainland.
Far from mass tourism that swarms the Greek islands, it preserves authenticity and its own character thanks to this “isolation.” It’s hard to find trendy hotels and venues here because life continues to move to the rhythm of the sea and the port’s arrivals.
What to See in Othoní
One of the Greek islands most enigmatic, Fanò is part of the Diapontine Islands in the northwest sector of Corfu. Despite its compact size of about 6 kilometers in length, it stands out for prominent peaks that reach 400 meters in height. From some viewpoints it’s even possible to see some Italian coastlines in the distance if the sky is clear. It isn’t an island to visit by following a rigid list of monuments; discovery mainly comes from the sea, the trails, and the small villages scattered among the olive groves. The main attractions are beaches, caves, the nineteenth‑century lighthouse, and the panoramas that unfold as you move inland.
Calypso Beach and the Odyssey Myth
The most famous beach is Aspri Ammos, which translates from Greek as “white sand”… a fairly apt name. The reason to visit it, however, is the presence of the Calypso Cave, a wave‑shaped cavern that, according to legends, is the one Homer described in the Odyssey. According to the myth, the nymph held Odysseus here for seven years before allowing him to resume his voyage to Ithaca. It’s certainly one of the Odyssey’s sites to see for those who fell in love with Nolan’s cinematic version.
The most beautiful beaches of Fanò
Aspri Ammos isn’t the only spot to pause for a swim. Othoní’s coast alternates sandy beaches, pebble bays, and small rocky harbors. On the northern coast lies Fiki, a long beach of sand and pebbles lapped by particularly clear waters. The seabed is suitable for snorkeling and, according to local testimonies, preserves remains of ancient amphorae and traces of old shipwrecks.
Other gems? Imerovigli with white, ultrafine sand offers an open and minimalist landscape with vegetation so lush it reaches almost to the sea. For those seeking more services, near the port and town center there is the Ammos Bay, perfect even for travelers with families.
Trails, olive groves and inland villages
The island’s interior tells another tale. Leaving the coast, the paved road gives way to trails, dirt paths, and ancient mule tracks that traverse stands of cypress, olive groves, and Mediterranean scrub.
The island hosts 13 small villages, some made up of only a few houses. Among them is Horió, reachable from Ammos and known for its panoramic position. At sunset the view broadens over the sea and the other Diapontine Islands. As you walk, you encounter old ruins, stone walls, chapels and dry riverbeds. Some routes descend toward secluded coves, where the seabed hosts sea urchins, starfish, and numerous species of fish.
The Lighthouse and the Remains of the Venetian Fortress
On the northeast coast lie the remains of a Venetian fortress; continuing to walk you reach the lighthouse, which remains profoundly evocative even though it is not among the Mediterranean’s most flamboyant beacons.
Where Fanò is Located and How to Reach It
Fanò sits in the stretch of sea between the Strait of Otranto and the northern Ionian Sea. It is the westernmost island of Greece and lies very close to the coasts of Apulia and to Corfu. The best way to reach it from Italy is to fly to Corfu and then continue by sea; during the summer season the number of ferry and motor‑ship connections increases.
