The island has two names: Greek - Kerkyra, and Italian - Corfu. This is one of the largest Greek islands, and its specificity is that it was never captured by the Turks: in the Middle Ages, it was first owned by the Kingdom of Naples, and then by the Republic of Venice, from which many sights remained. This is the most "Italian" Greek resort: while the rest of Greece languished under the yoke, opera and theater flourished here, temples and palaces were built.
Top 10 attractions in Corfu
Paleo Frurio
The entire urban center of the main town of the island of Corfu - Kerkyra - is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the Middle Ages, the city was part of the Venetian Republic, and was so well fortified that it was called Castropolis - a walled city.
The main tourist attraction of Kerkyra is the old Venetian fortress Paleo Frurio. It was built by the Byzantines, then significantly rebuilt and fortified by the Venetians, and the last buildings on its territory date back to the 19th century. The fortress stands on a promontory turned into an artificial island. Once upon a time it was possible to get here only via a drawbridge, and the rocks around the fortress were additionally cleaned up and turned into another line of defense. The palace of the ruler stood here, but it has not survived, but you can see the church of St. George, built in the style of classicism in 1840.
Paleo Frurio is the highest point of the city, it has an observation deck with beautiful views, and there is a high cross, in turn visible from almost anywhere in Kerkyra.
Neo Frurio
Neo Frurio is the second fortress of Kerkyra, built in 1577-1645. to protect against the Turks. The Ottoman Empire tried to capture Corfu in 1571-73 - and soon after that, the construction of another fortress was urgently started to protect the port. The name of the architect of the fortress is known - it is the Italian F. Vittelli. Two gates and two bastions have survived, on which you can still see the Venetian coats of arms. Underground passages connected Neo Frurio with the city and with the old fortress.
This fortress was subjected to a serious siege in 1716 and managed to withstand. Corfu remained the only part of Greece that was never conquered - also thanks to these fortifications. Not far from the fortress, there is a monument to Admiral Ushakov, the commander of the Russian squadron in the Mediterranean at the very end of the 18th century, when the island of Corfu was no longer liberated from the Turks, but from the French troops.
Achillion palace
Corfu was a favorite vacation spot for the Bavarian empress Sisi - Eugenia Amalia Elizabeth, wife of Franz Joseph I. She began to come here especially often after the tragic death of her only son, Prince Rudolf.
Especially for Empress Sisi in 1890, a Greek-style palace was built in Corfu, designed by the architect Rafael Caritto. Many sculptures on a Greek theme were commissioned for the park, and its main decoration was the "Dying Achilles", as well as a small "Temple of Heine" - a memorial pavilion with a statue in memory of the beloved poet of the Empress.
Since 1907, the palace passed to the last German Kaiser Wilhelm II. He installed another statue of Achilles, no longer dying, but in full bloom and armed, but the order to remove the statue of Heine.
During the First World War, there would be a hospital here, then an orphanage. It is now a museum that is sometimes used for international congresses and conventions. The palace has preserved its original interiors, a collection of paintings and sculptures, and the garden is carefully looked after.
Asian Art Museum
The museum is located in the door, which was built in the early 19th century as the residence of the Governor of Malta and the Lord Commander of the Ionian Islands, Thomas Maitland. It is called the Palace of St. Michael and George. In front of the building, there is a monument to Frederic Adam, commander of the Ionian Islands in 1824-1832, who became famous for doing a lot for the development of Corfu: building public buildings, doing charity work, etc.
The collection of the museum is an extensive collection of the diplomat and Greek ambassador to Paris and Vienna at the beginning of the 20th century, Grigorios Manos. All his life he collected various oriental exotics, and at the end of his life he handed over his collection to the state in order to create a museum on its basis. The museum continues to grow, now it contains more than 10,000 exhibits related to different countries of Asia: India, Pakistan, China, Japan - the last two collections are the most extensive and interesting. All exhibits are provided with signs and information stands in Greek and English, and in addition to the main exposition, there are temporary exhibitions from the museum's funds.
Cathedral of Saint Spyridon of Trimifuntsky
The main shrine of Corfu is the cathedral, which houses the relics of St. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky, one of the most revered saints in Greece and Russia.
Saint Spyridon lived in the III century, was a native of the island of Cyprus and bishop of the Cypriot city of Trimifunt. The bishop was known for his righteous life, humility and the fact that miracles were worked through his prayer. His relics were first hidden from the Arabs in Constantinople, then they stayed for some time in Epirus, and in the 15th century they were transferred to Corfu. Tradition attributes to St. Spiridon saved the island from starvation in 1533, in 1716 - from the Turks, and in 1941 - from German bombing.
The cathedral itself, where the relics of the saint are now kept, was built in 1589. The frescoes of the cathedral date from the middle of the 19th century, but they copy those murals that were created at the beginning of the 17th century by the Greek icon painter and founder of the Ionic school of painting, Payotis Doksaras.
Liqueur factory "Mavromatis"
The island is famous for its liqueurs from kumquat, a citrus plant that came to Europe from China. The first kumquats were brought to Corfu in 1924 by the British and the factory was established in 1965. In the north of the island, near the villages of Nymphes and Platonas, there is a huge plantation of kumquats, the yield of which reaches 140 tons per year.
The plant specializes in the production of dessert spirits and traditional Greek sweets, also mainly from citrus fruits. More than 20 types of different liqueurs and ouzo are made here, both in simple bottles and in very beautiful souvenir bottles. This liqueur is one of the most interesting souvenirs that can be brought from Corfu to friends. There is a tasting room at the plant, where excursions with a story about the production are conducted.
House-Museum of John Kapodistrias
John Kapodistrias is a famous Russian and Greek politician of the 19th century, a native of the island of Corfu. He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire from 1816 to 1822, but after the outbreak of the Greek uprising he left the Russian service and in 1827 became the first ruler of independent Greece. A monument to him is erected on the island of Corfu.
In the town of Kukuritsa, 9 km. from Kerkyra at the end of the 18th century, a small summer residence was built - the summer residence of the Kapodistrias family. Now there is a museum dedicated to this family. It was created in 1981 by Maria Desilla Kapodistrias. She was a distant descendant of John Kapodistrias himself and in many ways continued his traditions: she was the first female mayor of Corfu.
The house has preserved authentic furnishings of the 18th-19th centuries, personal belongings of the count himself, for example, his awards (and he only has six Russian orders!), A prayer book, pictorial portraits of himself and his friends, miniatures dedicated to the Vienna Congress, an active participant of which there was a Russian foreign minister and much more. This museum will be of interest to anyone interested in Russian history.
Monastery in Paleokastritsa
The monastery was founded in 1225, and its earliest present buildings date back to the 17th century. This is a picturesque place: the monastery has become the center of a tourist suburb, where people come to relax and have fun. There is a factory for the production of olive oil and a winery, the products of which can be purchased, under the monastery there is a popular beach, and next to the monastery itself there is an observation deck, with cannons left over from Admiral Ushakov. The territory of the monastery is well-groomed, buried in flowers.
The main church was consecrated in honor of the icon of the Mother of God the Life-Giving Spring - it is very much revered in Russia as well. At the monastery there is a small museum with ancient Byzantine icons and - quite unexpectedly! - the bones of a mammoth. They were dug during the construction of one of the buildings and have remained as a museum piece.
Mount Pantokrator
The highest point of the island (906 m.) From here you can see not only the island itself as a whole, but also the coast of Albania and Italy. A trekking route about 3 km long from the village of Staraya Perita to the Preobrazhensky Monastery has been laid to the top. You can also go up by car, but the road for vehicles can be quite extreme.
In addition to the monastery with a 19th century temple, there is a small recreation area on the mountain with cafes, souvenirs and observation decks.
Aqualand water park
The largest water sports center on the most popular beach in Corfu. A huge complex, about half of which (which is more than 7 thousand sq. M.) Is occupied by the water park itself with many water attractions, and the rest is a green park area with playgrounds, cafes, massage parlors, souvenirs, etc.
The water park itself is divided into three zones: children's, family, and extreme. The latter presents 12 options for high-speed slides, available only to visitors with a height of 140 cm. There are several pools - both "paddling pools" for the smallest and deepest - with waves and Jacuzzi and a large relaxation area with sun loungers.
