It is their jewel Ionian Islands, the Benjamin of the Ionian, an island with such incomparable beauty that makes you talk at every step.
For Paxos the reason, this small island in the south of Corfu, next to the coast of Epirus.
Everything here is enchanting, from the impressive colors of the waters and the traditional villages to the beautiful beaches and the picturesque harbors.
Despite the fact that they have been discovered by vacationers for a long time and have entered the world tourist map for good, Paxos has not altered their authentic atmosphere. And their extremely cosmopolitan character.
This little earthly paradise with its characteristic Ionian architecture and obvious Venetian influences, the mansion Gaios is its capital. If you ever get there, you will see at the entrance of two islands standing vigilant guards of the port.
Panagia is one and Agios Nikolaos the other, who have long undertaken the task of protecting the emba on the island from the weather.
An island that mythology wants to have created by Poseidon, who with a blow of his trident cut a part of Corfu, wanting to house his love for Amphitrite there.
But we will not talk about the beautiful and green Paxos, which have Venetian heritage their vast olive groves. Nor for their natural harbors with blue waters, impressive caves, 64 churches, thermal springs or their great cultural heritage.
We will go opposite the traditional Gai to see the island of Agios Nikolaos, which also has history sites, although it may not seem at first glance.
It is probably testified by the remains of the Venetian fortress, the two chapels and the windmill. But also the testimony for the disembarkation of the major of the English army, a certain Theodoros Kolokotronis!
Panagia and Agios Nikolaos protect the capital of Paxos. Uninhabited both, Panagia is located 200 meters from the coast and bears the historic monastery of Panagia ton Vellianiton which celebrates the Fifteenth of August.
Next to it one can meet Agios Nikolaos, who as it is placed forms a small but impressive fjord. Giving to the already impressive Paxos a note of northern Europe.
This anchorage for those who are eagerly seeking the beauties of the Greek land is the great jewel of Gaius, covering almost the entire entrance to the bay. It took its name from one of the two churches in its small body.
Its history is rich and is inextricably linked to the adventures of Paxos. The old Venetian castle of the 15th century still dominates. Which was built to protect the local population from pirate attacks.
Agios Nikolaos is also very close to Gaios, essentially creating a floating corridor between them. In case of emergency, the inhabitants could easily and quickly cross to the salvation of the fortress.
Η Venice gained control of Corfu in 1386 and took Paxos with it, from the kingdom of Naples. They remained under Venetian rule until the dissolution of the Peaceful Republic by the French in 1797. And as it was the jewel of the region, it was transferred to another prince and aristocrat each time, as a timar.
The famous castle was built in 1423 by Baron Adam San Ippolito II, nephew of the first feudal lord of Paxos. The aristocrat received permission from the Most Serene to build the fortress at his own expense, as pirate attacks had multiplied in his years.
And it was motion-matte, as it is handed down to us. This castle, and a second one in Lakka that has not survived, have ensured tranquility and prosperity on the island for some decades. The huge olive groves of Paxos are also of Venetian heritage, planted by the Venetians in order to acquire wealth-producing resources. Thus, Paxos evolved into an oil production center.
Saint Nicholas reappears in the settlements of History in 1537, in the events that would escalate the following year in the so-called Battle of Preveza, when the Genoese Admiral Andrea Doria, head of the fleet of Hairedin Barbarossa. The sea around Agios Nikolaos was filled with corpses.
Beylerbeyi Barbarossa later avenged the devastation inflicted on him by the Christian alliance by looting the Paxos from one end to the other. He then attacked the castle of Agios Nikolaos and Paxos and the second legendary pirate of the Mediterranean, Turgut Reyes, turning the island into a stronghold for a while.
In 1571 the destruction of Paxos was completed with a new Ottoman invasion. Loutsali Pasha slaughtered the inhabitants and those who escaped fled to Diapounda Islands.
The Paxos passed into French hands in 1797, then came to the Russians and the Turks and again back to the French, this time the Imperial French Bonaparte.
We are now in 1810, when the English blockade the French-dominated island and the inhabitants groan from hunger. And so in May 1810 they revolted, expelled the French and raised the English flag at Agios Nikolaos.
The French, however, folded and recaptured the island, punishing the insurgents by example. And then, in 1814, part of the English army landed in Lakka of Paxos to take the island. The castle of Ai-Nikolas was occupied by the major of the British army Theodoros Kolokotronis without dropping a rifle.
Ο Kolokotronis He served in the Greek expeditionary force of the English army in Zakynthos since 1810 and it was his rich action against the French that had brought him great positions.
This military unit (Second Greek Light Infantry Regiment of the Duke of York) was established by Sir Richard Church in 1813 specifically for the occupation of Paxos. In his ranks he also numbered fugitives from mainland Greece.
Agios Nikolaos is now uninhabited and only part of the walls, the gunpowder depot, the tank, the observatory and some cannons survive from the famous castle.
In the small Ai-Nikola you will find two churches, Agios Nikolaos and Agios Ioannis.
The first, which has given its name to the island, is a part of Panagia ton Vellianites and is mentioned since 1686.
Agios Ioannis belongs to two local families and is mentioned in the catalogs from 1805…