Mathraki ( el, Μαθράκι, grc, Μαθράκιον) is an island and a former community of the Ionian Islands,

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wit ...

. It is one of the

Diapontian Islands The Diapontian Islands or Diapontia Islands ( el, Διαπόντια Νησιά, Diapontia Νisia, also known as Othonoi Islands ( el, Νήσοι Οθωνοί, Νisoi Othonoi) are a Greek island group in the Ionian Sea. They are located the north ...

. Since the 2019 local government reform it is part of the municipality of

Central Corfu and Diapontian Islands Central Corfu and Diapontian Islands ( el, Κεντρική Κέρκυρα και Διαπόντια Νησιά ''Kentriki Kerkyra kai Diapontia Nisia'') is a municipality in the Ionian Islands region in Greece. It covers the central part of the ...

, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 3.532 km². Population 329 (2011). Mathraki is a 45-minute boat ride off the coast of Corfu (4 NM from Cape Arilas). It has three restaurants that double as general stores, villas and "rooms to let". Mathraki is a quiet island that manages to stay clear of tourists except for the occasional hikers that brave the rocky coastline. The municipal unit includes the three nearby islets Diakopo, Diaplo and Tracheia.

History

Mathraki was inhabited since the 16th century by settlers from the nearby islands of

Paxoi Paxos ( gr, Παξός) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, lying just south of Corfu. As a group with the nearby island of Antipaxos and adjoining islets, it is also called by the plural form Paxi or Paxoi ( gr, Παξοί, pronounced in Engl ...

and

Othonoi Othonoi ( el, Οθωνοί, also rendered as Othoni, grc, Ὀθρωνός , translit=Othrōnós) is a small and inhabited Greek island in the Ionian Sea, located northwest of Corfu, and is the westernmost point of Greece. Othonoi is the largest ...

. The origin of its name is unknown, but according to a popular tradition, derives from ''anthrakia'', because in the past the island had been burnt. It became part of Greece in 1864, when the Ionian islands were ceded to Greece by the British. Today it is a serene and tranquil place for holidays. In 2021 the only elementary school of the island re-opened after 21 years with only one student.

Historical population

References

External links

*Official site from Local Authorit
Official site from Mathraki Local Authority (Languages Greek-English-Italian
*Official site from Prefecture of Corf
Official site from Prefecture of Corfu (multi language)
*Website for Mathraki Island www.mathraki.ne

Populated places in Corfu (regional unit) Ports and harbours of Greece Islands of Greece Islands of the Ionian Islands (region) Landforms of Corfu (regional unit) {{Ionian-geo-stub