Corfu is a very green island and a mixture of the civilisations that have passed through at various times. Corfu town impresses and charms the visitor with its two forts, narrow streets, tall houses, arcades, Venetian-built Town Hall, church of Saint Spyridon (the island’s patron saint), flower-filled gardens, and balconies with their superb wrought-iron fences.

Flooded with sights, Corfu is small paradise on Earth. From Paleokastritsa to Kanoni, from Achillion to Pontikonissi (Mouse Island) and the northern coast, one will find crystal clear water, scenic coves, greenery and vegetation that ‘sinks’ into the deep blue sea. On this cosmopolitan island it is easy to combine a professional business trip with luxurious relaxation.

 Achillion Palace

 Achillion Palace is situated high up in the village of Gastouri, nine kilometres from Corfu Town.  It originated at the end of the 19^th century when Empress Elizabeth of Austria (1837-1898) built the Palace. The Empress, known as Sissi, had grown to love the island during her numerous visits, and she set her mind on a residence that resulted in the fairy-tale Achillion Palace being built between 1889 and 1891 by the Italian architect Rafaelo Carito.

Sissi was fascinated by the mythology of Ancient Greece; she especially admired Achilles, and dedicated the palace to him. The statue of Achilles dying, as well as many others, which represents gods and heroes from Greek mythology, embellishes the Palace garden.  Sissy did not live long to enjoy her creation. She was assassinated in Geneva (1898) and the Palace remained empty until 1907, when Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany bought it.

The Kaiser removed the two statues of Achilles, built the House of the Knights, in order to house his battalion, and he rearranged the gardens. During the World Wars, the palace was used as a hospital and headquarters. After World War II, Achillion became a public estate.

Inside the palace, one can admire the fresco of the reception chamber showing Achilles dragging the dead body of Hector in front of the Trojan walls. Today the Achillion Palace is one of Corfu’s most popular sights and its visit is a genuinely unforgettable experience.

The Church of St. Spyridon

 Situated at the far end of the square of the Ionian Bank, the Church of St. Spryridon is by far the most venerated place of worship on the island. It shelters the body of St. Spyridon, the patron Saint of Corfu and one of the great Saints of Greek Orthodoxy, and in consequence draws a constant stream of pilgrims from all over Greece all the year round.

 The church was built in 1589, but most of the decoration, as well as the big bell-tower, were completed a few years later. It is a single-nave basilica, a type prevalent in Corfu; two white marble railings, made in Venice in 1852, separate the main nave from the raised area in front of the sanctuary. Imposing silver and gilt lamps and massive chandeliers presented to the church as pious offerings hang from the ceiling.

 The Byzantine Church of Pantocrator at Mouse Island

A small Byzantine church dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ crowns the tiny islet at the entrance to the lagoon of Chalikiopoulo opposite Kanoni. It is in shape of a Greek cross with an octagonal dome in the centre, and has one central three-sided apse behind the altar. It can be dated to the eleventh or twelfth century.

The Monastery of the Blessed Virgin

 The Monastery of the Blessed Virgin stands on a rocky peninsula, on the West Coast of the island in the village of Palaeokastritsa.

 According to tradition, a monk built the monastery in the thirteenth century. It now consists of the church in the centre, surrounded by an extremely picturesque complex of courtyards, rows of monks’ cells, oil-presses, archways, store-rooms and abbot’s quarters.  There is an open terrace and a garden on the south side of the church, from which the view sweeps on a magnificent panorama of rocks, hills and an open sea.

CORFU TOWN

Corfu Town itself is a remarkable city to visit.  With a Venetian and French influence, it has many buildings and walks to admire.  The Venetians ruled Corfu from 1386 to 1797 and the architecture has a strong Italian influence, with little squares and ornate Venetian wells nestling below elegant churches and bell towers.

City Hall

The most elegant of the Venetian buildings is the historic City Hall, in baroque style. It was first built between 1663 and 1691 as an open arcade and a sheltered meeting-place for the nobility. It is built of hard limestone and is decorated on its two main frontages with stone masks and medallions bearing various historical inscriptions and symbols. In 1720, it was converted into the theatre ‘San Giacomo’.

 The Liston

 The Liston, with arcaded buildings on the north side of the Lower Esplanade were planned during the Imperial French Occupation.  Begun in 1807, they are reminiscent of the larger and longer ‘Arcades’ of the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, which were built at about the same time.  There are many cafes and bars here where you can watch the world go by.

 The Palace of St. Michael and St. George

 The Palace is generally considered the finest of the British buildings in Corfu, stands along the northern side of the Esplanade.

 The design and supervision was constructed by Sir George Whitmore and drawn in a Georgian style, and is was the first neo-classical building in Greece. The Palace was inaugurated on St. George’s Day, 1823. It was the official residence of the Lord High Commissioner and was at the same time the seat of Order of St. Michael and St. George.Since April 1981 the robes, medals and other insignia of the Order are displayed in special showcases in the throne room of the Palace.

 Reading Society of Corfu

 This society is the oldest Cultural Institution in modern Greece, founded in 1836.  It contains a unique library dealing with the history and culture of Corfu and the other Ionian Islands.

 Capodistria Mansion

 At the northern end of Capodistria Street is the Capodistria Mansion, which is  an outstanding example of neo-classical architecture. It was built in 1853 for a brother of John Capodistrias. The building, with its marble façade and Corinthian pilasters of pink stone from local quarries, is considered one of the most beautiful in Greece.

 Ionian Bank

In the little paved square off Nikiphorou Theotoki Street stands the handsome building of the Ionian Bank, built in 1846. A complete collection of Greek and Ionian paper money from 1839 up to the present day is on display in the first floor of the building. At the extreme end of Moustoxydi Street stands the historic Ionian Parliament building in neo-classical style, with a Doric portico.

 The Old Fortress

 The Old Fortress consists of two peaks that were for many centuries topped by castellated towers. The eastern one was used as a powder magazine and the western one was first fortified by the Byzantines in the second half of the twelfth century.  Between the sixth and thirteenth centuries the town of Corfu lay within the walls of the Byzantine fortress. Later, a new town was built outside the fortress.

The Church of St. George was built in the eighteen-forties. The frontage, consisting of six Doric columns and a pediment, is typical of the simplified classicism of the time. The church was turned over to Orthodox cult at the end of British Protectorate.

 An artificial canal separates the fortress from the town, which is named “El Bazaro”. The two castles still dominate the fortress but the medieval town within the fortress is not shown, although there were five hundred and fifty houses at the time.

The New Fortress

 The New Fortress was built on the hill of St. Mark between 1572 and 1645. The British built the surviving buildings within the fortress. Among these are the ‘defensive’ stone building, and the brick building, now housing the Corfu Naval Station. The entire structure is honeycombed with an interactive network of vaulted chambers and galleries, stairs, ramps and ventilation shafts. There are two gates; the eastern one is topped by a beautiful relief of the winged lion of St. Mark, the emblem of Venice. 

MUSEUMS TO VISIT

The Archeological Museum

 The entire ancient finds of the island, mostly of the archaic period, are kept in the New Museum overlooking the Bay of Garitsa. The most impressive exhibit is the west pediment of the Doric Temple of Artemis dating from 590-580 B.C.; it is one of the largest surviving sculptural groups of its kind in Greece and dominates the main hall. Other interesting exhibits include the sixth century funerary capital of Xemvares. Also worthy of note in the anteroom is the ‘boustrophedon’ inscription, forming an epigram in Homeric hexameters and dating from the early sixth century B.C.

The Museum of Asian Art

 A rich and highly interesting collection of objects d’art, mostly Chinese and Japanese, is on display on the first floor of the Palace of St. Michael and St. George. This collection was presented to the Greek Government in 1928 and consists of 10.000 items. The collection includes some beautiful bronze wares of the Chou (1027-256 B.C.) and Han (206 B.C.- 220 A.D.) dynasties.

 The classical period of Chinese art is represented by a great variety of porcelain of Sung (960-1276), Ming (1368-1644) and Ch’ing (1644-1912) dynasties. The Japanese collection contains much more porcelain ware, wooden masks of the “No” theatre, suits of Samurai armor, Utamaro woodcuts, beautiful eighteenth century silk and rice paper Kakemonos, and books illustrated with prints. The collection has been recently enriched by a donation, comprising four hundred and fifty interesting items from Japan, India, Nepal, Tibet, Thailand and Korea.

 The Byzantine Museum of Corfu ‘Antivouniotissa’

 This museum is one of the most significant in Greece. It is housed in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Antivouniotissa where a wide flight of steps leads up from Arseniu Street. The church has been entrusted to the Greek state by the owners, along with its numerous icons, frescoes and paintings and rich collection of silver.