Corfu is the aristocratic island of the Ionian sea. The mythical island of Corfu magnetizes every traveler who visits it.
Rich cultural heritage, wonderful architecture, riveting nature and idyllic beaches are some of the elements that make it special!
Pontikonisi, the cosmopolitan Paleokastritsa, Mon Repo, Achillion and a host of other attractions will take you to another era when knights, aristocrats and princesses roamed the cobbled streets of the island.
Romantic Corfu is waiting for you to explore.
The capital of the island is an open-air museum full of elements of Greek and Western architecture that take you back in time. The old town, “Xopoli”, with its historic center has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a tour of the narrow cobbled cantonments with their colorful laundry, admire the imposing houses with Venetian architecture and relax in the small squares that mushroom here and there. Feel an aristocrat in Spianada Square with the imposing Liston, a complex of buildings with French architecture and impressive arches and have fun in the secular bars of the island.
Apart from the city, however, the hinterland of Corfu also hides small treasures. Visit the villages of the island such as Agios Stefanos, the picturesque Kaminaki, Kalami and Afionas that will magnetize you with their simplicity. Palia Perithia, the “ghost village”, the traditional settlement of Sinarades, Agios Matthaios with the stone mansions and the fishing village of Kassiopi are suitable for endless hours of exploration!
In Corfu you will find some of the most beautiful beaches of the Ionian. Halikounas, the largest beach on the island, is located along the lagoon of Korissia and its endless sandy beach looks like a desert! Next to the lagoon of Korissia you will meet Issos with the impressive cedar forest. Paleokastritsa with its crystal clear waters and rich vegetation is one of the most cosmopolitan beaches as well as Glyfada near the city and Agios Gordios. If you are looking for peace and seclusion, we recommend Rovinia with its white pebbles and turquoise waters and Stellari the exotic desert beach with the lush landscape. But we kept the best for you for the end! The Canal d’amour is one of the most beautiful beaches of Corfu. The sea has done its miracle and has created a thin strip of shore on the sandstone rocks, caves and passages that make the landscape magical!
TIP: Corfu is ideal for holidays during the Carnival where events similar to the Venice Carnival are organized but also for the Easter period where you will meet the impressive custom of breaking the jugs. All the festivities on the island are accompanied by the sounds of the Philharmonic Orchestra!
Activities
- If you want to explore the western and eastern beaches of Corfu, rent a boat and get ready for endless dives in the crystal clear waters of the Ionian Sea. Apart from the beaches of the island, he also went to Diapontia, the islets north of Corfu with the wonderful seabed.
- If you are a fan of hiking in Corfu you will find a highly organized network of walking routes. Be patient and you will discover some of the most beautiful places on the island. The most famous paths are the Corfu and the path of the Hermit.
- You can also go for nature walks on horseback in Gouvia and Avlaki, enjoying the freedom offered by riding!
Finally, if you are looking for a little adrenaline then do not be late, in Corfu you will find diving centers, water sports and paragliding.
Sights
The Old and New Fortress are located in the port of the island and are excellent examples of fortress architecture. In the Old Fortress of the 16th c. you can admire the lions of St. Mark, the English barracks, the Tower of the Sea and the church of St. George.
- If you go to Corfu, you can not miss the “Achillion”. The imperial palace of the grieving princess Sisis of Austria-Hungary. “Pompeian style” with neoclassical elements and luxurious interior is the diamond of the island. In the gardens of the palace you can admire the impressive statue of Achilles the Dead.
- Another trademark of the island is the aristocratic villa “Mon Repo”. Summer residence of the English Commissioner Frederick Adam, a gift to his wife Corfu. Inside the villa you will find the museum of Paleopolis as in the area was the ancient city of Corfu. Take a tour of the beautiful gardens of the house and you will admire more than 2,000 rare plants from the British colonies.
- The most important church of Corfu that is worth visiting is Agios Spyridonas, protector of the island. It has the tallest bell tower in the city, impressive frescoes and heirlooms and there is kept the relic of the Saint.
- Corfu in the consciousness of the Greeks is identified with Pontikonisi. The small island opposite Corfu is definitely worth a visit for the famous “Kanoni”.
- In Angelokastro built in the 12th c. you will face with awe the church of Agia Kyriaki in a tiny cave.
- The Palace of Saints Michael and George houses the Museum of Asian Art where you will find a huge collection of exhibits from countries of the Far East.
- We suggest you also visit the Archaeological Museum with the huge gable of Gorgos, the Byzantine Museum in Panagia Antivouniotissa and the Museum of Dionysios Solomos, the national poet of the Greeks. In Corfu you will find the only Banknote Museum in Greece.
Corfu gastronomy has its own special aroma that stands out and tastes from local products and pure ingredients of its fertile land!
The olive groves of Corfu produce olive oil of exceptional quality and black olives. Vineyards that offer “intoxicating” wines such as rosaki and kakotrygis. Juicy merlin oranges, mandarins and aromatic bergamots as well as the special “kumquat” color orange the countryside of the island. Special cheeses such as Corfiot gruyere and cold cuts such as salado (salami) and noumboulo fumikado will give a spark to your meals. And of course we can not miss the tsitsimbira. The sparkling soft drink with lemon, ginger and sugar that is produced only in Corfu and will cool you down on hot summer days.
Corfu, however, is also famous for its local specialties that combine Mediterranean with Western cuisine. Pastitsada with beef or rooster, Bourdeto with scorpion and spicy red sauce, Sofrito with beef and white sauce but also Savoro, fried fish with garlic, vinegar and petimezi will surely satisfy your delicious cups.
And to leave you with a sweet memory of the island, definitely try nougat, made from tahini, honey and whole crunchy almonds, fogatsa, a kind of bun and noodles with roasted and caramelized almonds.
TIP: Do not forget to try the local traditional drink, Kum Kwat liqueur, as you will not find it anywhere else!
