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Greek Islands
> Ionian Islands
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Corfu island
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Corfu
island in Greece
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Related
sites
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 Corfu
(Kerkyra) is the most important and most northerly of the
Ionian islands and is situated only 1 nm off the coast of
Albania and the Greek region of Epirus..
It offers gentle green uplands in the
south and rugged limestone hills in the north, rising to 906
m in the double peak of Pantokrator.
Corfu has traveled
through the ages and through many cultures, has gathered
wealth and grief, finesse and sweetness, knowledge and
grace. No one needs to search far to find them. He or she
will discern them for themselves at the first sight of her
buildings and her people... |
refreshing the page will bring up more
Corfu Island related sites
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Ancient history |
Corfu (ancient: Korkyra, Corcyra) is identified as the Homeric Scheria, the land
of the Phaeacians and their king Alkinoos. The oldest traces of human settlement
on the island point to the presence of farming peoples who may have come from
Italy.
Corfu was colonized by Corinth in 734 BCE, but developed into a powerful State,
which threatened the mother city. A naval victory by the Corinthians over the
Corcyraeans in the Sivota Islands (probably round the mouth of the River
Kalamas,
which is now silted up) was a major factor in the outbreak of the Peloponnesian
War. In 229 BCE the island was captured by Rome, and when the Empire was finally
split in two in 395 became part of the Byzantine Empire. |
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Medieval |
The medieval name of the island, now the accepted English name, is believed to
be derived from the Greek Koryfi (Peaks).
From 1386 to 1797 Corfu was held by Venice, thereafter it was briefly part of
the Napoleonic empire; and in 1815, together with the rest of the Ionian
islands, it was assigned to Britain.
On May 21st 1864, Corfu and the
Ionian Islands recovered their Greek identity,
and the long years of foreign occupation came to
an end. But it also signaled the end of Corfu
as the capital of the Ionian Islands. The
newly established Greek State could not allow
another pole of culture and wealth to exist
outside Athens, and the University and
other institutions had to be sacrificed. By
1900, Corfu was just another provincial town
with a glorious past.
In the course of its eventful history the island was frequently devastated and
plundered, so that it has preserved few relics of ancient or medieval times.
more
history source: corfu on line.gr |
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Corfu island today |
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The island's capital, Corfu town
(Kerkyra), is beautifully situated on a
promontory on the east coast, dominated by the Neo Frourio (New Fortress).
The ancient city is further south. Corfu is the seat of both, a Greek
Orthodox and a Roman Catholic archbishop. Sightseeing
- From the harbour you can go
either east on the road running above the
seafront (view), passing the old royal
palace, or south-east along Odos Nikiforou,
the town's busy main road.
- Visit Sidari at the North of Corfu to swim in the
Canal
d'Amour; lovers will
stay together for life.
- An attractive excursion from Corfu town is to the villa of
Achillion, 16 km south. This villa in Italian Renaissance style, situated at an altitude of 145
m, has magnificent gardens and panoramic views. It was built for Princess
Sissy of Austria and since then has been used as a holiday resort for many
kings and princes of all Europe. Today is a museum.
- Three kilometers
further south is the charming fishing
village of Benitses and
its remains of a Roman villa.
- Paleokastritsa - on the East side of Corfu Island - is a lively and attractive
tourist resort dominated by the Monastery of Panayia Theotokos on a high crag.
- Near the village
there are sea-caves. From here it is a 1.5
hours climb (with guide; stout footwear
required) to the ruined Angelokastro Castle
(13th c; panoramic views). Lots of
caves can be reached by tender or RIB.
- Gouvia is located 5 nm north of Corfu town and features a
Venetian arsenal of
1716.
- One can climb to the summit of Mount
Pantokrator for a beautiful view of the
surroundings and an abandoned monastery of 1347.
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Gerald
Durell:
Rod Heikell:
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