Old Perithia (gr. Palaia Peritheia) was a deserted village. It is located high up, off the main road between Kassiopi and Acharavi. It is strange driving in the mountains, coming across this semi deserted village with a few sheep and a couple of Tavernas in the middle! Even more interesting, walking around just wondering about those who used to live here.
Perithia was built in Byzantine times around the 14th century when people fled their coastal homes in fear of the pirates raiding there coastal villages. Even when this threat subsided the villagers were still not able to return to their original villages and homes due to an outbreak of malaria carrying mosquitoes. Old Perithia grew and boasted eight churches, each one belonging to a different family in the village. There was a school, a police station and even a court. Over 1,500 people lived in Perithia.
In 1912 the village was made part of the Municipality of Kassiopi. As tourism developed, down on the coast, more of the village inhabitants and families moved down to the 'new' coastal resorts. By 1955 the village was occupied only during the summer months. After these months the remaining villagers would come down to their olive groves to harvest their crops. By 1975 most of the villagers had moved further down the mountain and only a few remained.
When we set the cache there were only six people living in the old village throughout the whole year, they tended the local crops and looked after the live stock. Since then bits of the village have been redeveloped into accommodation, tavernas etc.
Thanks to David, Wendy and Carl for their offers in maintaining this cache.
THERE IS NO NEED TO ENTER THE GROUNDS OF THE CHURCH TO FIND THIS CACHE.
Small note on cache maintenance: There is a local cache guardian. Name and contact info on file with geocaching.com.