I was meaning to ask when I was out there this year, I can be a kind of nut for history and geographical facts, but Id love to learn more about Gravia island itself.
Ive looked for information on the net regarding the island and found very very little.
Each time I visit Arillas, I stare out at Gravia and wonder if it was ever part of Arillas, or Afionas... if people have and do go on it from the boats... how large it is to actually walk upon... and any sort of history. Id be fascinated to know. Perhaps it was once used by war-vessels as a place to hide... or pirates?!?
Who knows...? Well, locals might. Id be interested to hear from Dimitris on this. Maybe someone else has already asked the question?
Well, I'm sorry Sam. Gravia has bothered us for years. We keep looking at it and once got speedboated round the back. Now we just watch it from Graziella and Dimitris makes jokes with me, which I adore.
There are three islands and I am ashamed I can't name them all. Gravia, Mathraki and Othraki??? Someone please come to my rescue and explain! I have read about them all and want to visit. One has a fabulous hotel I can't afford to stay in. I would pitch a tent on the beach.
Please help with information. I know a lot, but not all of it.
Phil
I know nothing about Gravia except we sit and look at it like many others. I believe there are small sandy bits where you can lie in peace if you get a boat out there. But it must be really hot with not much shade.
Phil - the other islands are Mathraki, Orthoni and Ericoussa. Have never been to Orthoni, went once to Ericoussa - nothing much there but good for an amble round and very peaceful. Mathraki (apart from Arillas) is sheer heaven. Have spent hours wandering around the island. Very hilly but just so beautiful. You can get the local ferry from San Stef but don't go on a holiday or name day or you'll never get on it!
Thanks Ann. bit more knowledge never hurts.
Phil
I think this might be one for Dimitris to answer. I thought there was some tie up with Hercules, I'm probably wrong.We did sneak around the other side last year when we hired a boat (not supposed to do that) much the same as the Arillas side.
We went round the other side of gravia on a boat and as Paul D says its the same as the side you an see, no beaches or anything, its just a big rock. We were told the locals used to keep goats there years ago to avoid paying some sort of tax.
Gravia sometimes called Kravia is not in the same island group as Matthraki, Othoni and Erikousa which are further out and further north.
Gravia and the 2 smaller islands Sikia and the end one Yineka as you know are just off the coast of Arillas.
The resort report on the Agni.gr web-site says the writerwas told there are lovely sandy beaches on the othe side of Gravia. Having been around in a boat I certainly didn't see any .... just big rocks and cliffs into deep water.
A snorkeling friend fishes there in the deep water but said you can get on land with care in places. It is just a lump of rock though so not much walking. The sea was too choppy for us to risk damaging the boat by landing.
Don't know about any history but have read that legends state it is a ship of Odysseus turned to stone (karavi is a word for boat).
Go to http://www.afionas.gr for more about it. Click on the Union Jack and then choose History.
Dennis
The Island complex of Gravia is consisted of three Large rocky islands with some vegetation the largest Island called Gravia has a small bay 10 metres long and one or two wide with pebbles on the front side overlooking Afionas which can be visited by a small boat or pedalo or a canoe when the sea is calm.
the second island is the Sykia which means fig tree ( it takes the name from a fig tree that used to grow on it).
Then the smaller rock is the Gynaika which means Woman. It takes the name from the fact that as you look at it from Arillas while the north waves smash on it's edges, it looks as if a woman is sitting there washing her clothes on the water by smashing them on to the rocks.
The Gravia island is inhabited by a small number of goats that have been left there from the ancestors of the Graziella family where they still live in a wild state.
that's for now
I have to do some work
Many thanks all of you. I am glad to have learned so much more about it all.
Phil
I agree, Phil.
Thanks for the information, Dimitri. I find it fascinating.....
lynn xx
I never knew any of that Dimitri....so thank you for taking the time to post.
When looking from the clifs to the north
Dot thinks Gravia looks like a gigantic Crocodile crawling its way towards Arillas
(http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7034/sl370587b.jpg)
I love looking at it though John - never quite caught it at that angle. It can look like all sorts of different things from different angles.....one of my favourite pastimes when I am there.
Samwell
Apparently Corfu and all the islands are the tops of ancient mountains from the era when the Mediterranean was formed (the Atlantic broke through the gap at Gibraltar ... I watch the History channels !!).
I have always been interested in the natural world and love the TV history and geographical documentaries. So naturally some things I see in Corfu around Agios Georgios and Arillas etc fascinate and puzzle me.
Some things I have been trying to clarify for my own web-site before posting them but it is difficult finding experts. I am part way there.
Dennis
we sit on the beach watching the dragon to make sure it doesnt creep up on us!! but it does look more like a crocodille doesnt it?!
ger x
yes I can see a big old croc, great pic John
Ang
It has always fasinated me and even more so now, Ive seen it as a croc, a turtle, and as Sandy says different things from different angle's but I havent noticed the woman doing her washing on Gynaika before I will have to look for her in October. Viv
We saw dolphins when walking up the the track to San Steph and told many people about them.
It was only the following year when they were in the same spot that we realised they're actually rocks in the sea.
june
Ha ha yes i fell for that one too June.......and have many more.....
riggers.....
We must have spent more hours than anyone sitting and watching Gravia. Our Dimitris had a big joke with us two weeks ago, saying he would get the army out to put it back when it moved. (Little s*d.) There are many others who are as fascinated by that set of rocks as we are. This thread proves it.
Dimitris bless, has given us a bit of history to work with. I am sure that on behalf of the forum we thank you and all the others who have joined in. Jen and me have done mezes at Graziella with local red wine watching Gravia every time we have been to Arillas. Thomas will confirm. What an amazing way to spend an afternoon.
Phil
Wow, yes, thank you Dimitris!
Really fascinating, Ive always wonderd about it! Maybe one day Ill venture onto it, if possible. I cant beleive Figs used to grow there to?!! And still has goats!
Myths, legends, history, stories, tales etc... all interest me when its a place or object I like :D
Thank you everyone else to have contributed too.
:)
Do you wish you were going out to Gravia now on this boat?
YES !!
Phil YES! Jen YES!
Ah, we did that in June, but yes, I'd love to be there repeating the experience........
lynn xx
For several years Gineka, the smallest island of the Gravia group has interested me since we took a small boat trip around the area and I was puzzled by the white rock perched on the top.
Run Samwell's video "Quick scan around Arillas's bay" and pause it near the end when you see the island with a white rock on the top. The rock even shows up on satellite photos. Photographs from several angles show that it is separate from the island with gaps underneath (see below). But how did it get there ?
It is at least 1km offshore so could not have rolled there from the mainland of Corfu
So has it been there since pre-history times when the Mediterranean was much lower and the islands were attached to the rest of Corfu ?
Did one of the great Greek mythical heroes hurl it from Afionas or Ariilas in a huge temper ?
It shows how sad I am that such things fascinate me and I searched the net for information. I had puzzled over this so many times that a few years ago I tracked down an International expert on Tsunamis and sent him my photos etc. I knew the Med had had its share of huge tsunamis in ancient times and this expert confirmed that it WAS probably a huge tsunami which deposited this quite large rock there. He could think of no other explanation and said he had seen similar things in Japan.
Could it have been about 8000 years ago when an avalanche of 6 cubic miles of rock etc on Mt Etna in Sicily fell into the sea causing waves taller than a 10-story building to spread across the entire Mediterranean Sea at speeds of up to 450 mph, slamming into the shores of three continents in only a few hours .
Something more to ponder on Phil when sitting on your bench in Arillas !
Dennis
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2qjMArVSlOU/Td7NUICAhNI/AAAAAAAAAZo/O5_R58jr0Ac/Img_7916a.jpg)
What a fascinating story....
Quote from: iluvsangeorge on May 27, 2011, 01:09:19 AM
Something more to ponder on Phil when sitting on your bench in Arillas !
I can see that happening.... :D
Seriously though, what an interesting story and I would of never thought of the likely explanation. I think a mythical Greek hero sounds more exciting though ;)