Corfu island.

The magical island of Corfu is located in the Ionian cluster, off the coast of Epirus, Greece. It is the second largest of the Ionians Islands, and home to the Ionian University. It is a land that combines a sophisticated atmosphere, verdant hillsides, sparkling blue waters and long sandy beaches. 
It is no wonder that it attracts thousands of visitors each year, all of whom agree that Corfu Island is the ultimate spot for either a singles vacation or for a family holiday.

Up until the early 20th century, it was mainly visited by the European royals and elites, including Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany and Empress Elisabeth of Austria, today it is also widely visited by middle class families, (primarily from the UK, Scandinavia and Germany) leading to mass tourism. 
It is still popular with the global elite however, and in the island's northeast the homeowners include members of the Rothschild family and Russian oligarchs.

Beautiful spots in the city of Corfu

Spianada, the bigger square of the Balkans, is the centre of the city, adorned with 19th-century remarkable works of French architecture. Here you can watch cricket games, or participate in musical concerts organised throughout the year.

There’s no way to miss this square if you visit Kerkyra(capital of Corfu) because its really big, probably the largest in the Balkans as it’s not the usual town square we know but more of a big open space, like a small park!

Listón, the city’s trademark, where the aristocrats used to enjoy their evening promenades. The characteristic arcades form the most romantic background setting for a welcome cup of coffee at one of the town’s cosy cafés.

The Rotonda. It was built in 1816, a circular building with Ionian columns. It’s a memorial dedicated to the Sir Thomas Maitland, a british lord.

Museums:
Archaeological Museum: Here you can admire important finds from the temple of Artemis and excavation finds from the ancient city of Corfu.

Byzantine Museum: It is housed in the Church of the Virgin Mary Antivouniotissa and houses an interesting collection of icons and ecclesiastic items from the 15th to the 19th century.

The Banknote Museum showcases an almost complete collection of Greek coinage from 1822 to the present day.

sites located around the city of Corfu
Achilleion is a fairy palace built among cypresses and myrtles by the Empress Elisabeth of Austria, who wished to escape from life at the Austrian court. Elisabeth truly fell in love with the island, and she dedicated this palace to Achilles as she cherished the belief that he represented the very soul and fairness of Greece.

Kanóni (meaning canon) offers from its circular terrace an amazing view across the island of Pontikoníssi (meaning Mouse Island), one of the most photographed spots of Corfu! According to the legend, this rocky islet was a Phaeacian ship that was turned into stone.

Corfu is unique in providing so many diverse holiday locations. Its beaches are no exception, with long sweeping sandy bays, little rocky coves, or deserted bays. Corfu can easily offer you all of these beaches.

 


Local customs.

Every year, Easter is gloriously celebrated on this island. In fact, this is considered as the best  Easter celebration in Greece. Τhis local Easter custom of Corfu involves the throwing of water-filled clay pots from the windows of the houses onto the streets below.

On Good Saturday morning, people in the Old Town throw ceramic pots filled with water from their windows. As the pot falls onto the ground, it breaks and makes a loud noise. This noise means that the message of the Resurrection of Christ must be heard loudly and that Death has been beaten. This custom was brought to the island by the Venetian conquerors in the 16th century and keeps on till today.

Mythology and History

The island is connected to the history of Greece from the beginning of Greek mythology. Its Greek name, Kerkyra or Korkyra, is related to two powerful water symbols: Poseidon, god of the sea, and Asopos, an important Greek mainland river. According to myth, Poseidon fell in love with the beautiful nymph Korkyra, daughter of Asopus and river nymph Metope, and abducted her. 
Poseidon brought Korkyra to the hitherto unnamed island and, in marital bliss, offered her name to the place: Korkyra, which gradually evolved to Kerkyra. Together, they had a child they called Phaiax, after whom the inhabitants of the island were named: Phaiakes.

The island's history is laden with battles and conquests. The legacy of these struggles is visible in the form of castles punctuating strategic locations across the island. Two of these castles enclose its capital, which is the only city in Greece to be surrounded in such a way. As a result, Corfu's capital has been officially declared a Kastropolis ("castle city") by the Greek government. 
Corfu was long controlled by Venice, which repulsed several Turkish sieges, before falling under  British rule following the Napoleonic Wars.

Corfu is truly a vacationers' paradise, as it has an excellent tourist infrastructure that includes nightlife venues, car rental agencies, travel agencies, and an endless selection of hotels, rooms for rent, apartments, studios, villas that will satisfy all types of visitors, from those who are looking for discount holidays to those who prefer luxury hotels and resorts.

How to get there

By Plane:

Athens, Salonica

Europe (in Summer)

By Ship

Patras (10h.)

Igoumenitsa (2h)

Sagiada (1.h)

Italy (Bari, Brindisi, Ancona, Otranto)

look here: Minoan lines

By Bus

Salonica (via Igoumenitsa)

Athens (via Igoumenitsa)
Terminal: 100, Kifissou st.

Information:
Olympic Airways (Athens): 210/9292111, 9666666
Olympic Airways (Corfu): 26610/386994/6
Patras Port Authority: 2610/341002
Corfu Port Authority: 26610/32655
Igoumenitsa Port Authority: 26650/22235
Bus Terminal (Athens): 210 5124910-1, 5132601
Bus Terminal (Corfu, urban transport): 26610/32158
Bus Terminal (Corfu, inter-island transport): 26610/39862/31595
Bus Terminal Salonica: 2310/536260     travel guides on amazon

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