Welcome to Corfu Life and its Forum
Corfu Town, (Kerkyra in Greek) is the largest capital of all the Ionian Islands, and boasts a population of approx. 37,000. Corfu was one of the first Greek islands to suffer from mass tourism in the 1960's. Its has been a favourite with the British since victorian times, around 490,000 visitors passed through last year and its home to approx. 10,000 Ex-pat's at the last count. Staying in Corfu Town is more expensive than in other parts of the island and it can get very crowded, but it can be a very good to use as a holiday base in which to explore the rest of the island. Venetians, French and British have all had a hand in developing the town and the results are impressive and attractive, especially since 1994 when public buildings were cleaned up for a EU summit. The island was never occupied by the Turks so it has a very differant character to the rest of Greece.
The town is divided into two parts, the old and the new areas.
The old part contains churches of various denominations, a amze of cobbled streets and the 'Old 12th C. Fortress' which watches over the town. The old fortess is separated from the rest of the town by a moat and this area is one of the most quiet and beautiful spots in the city. There are fishing boats, tree-shaded grass and a 60 foot metal bridge which now stands where the old draw-bridge used to be. The Turks beseiged the island in 1537 and 1571 and it is during this period that most of the fortifications were built by the Venetians. The fortess has been inhabited continuously for 1500 years and historically it is probably the most important monument on the island. But it is also one of the most beautiful places on the island with great views of the city and during the summer this is where the sound and light is performed.
The new parts hold a cosmopolitan air, full of shops and cafes, and the 'New 13th C. Fort'. The New fortress was built between 1576 and 1588 in an effort
to protect more of the houses of the people of Corfu. The Venetian fortifications are considered a masterpiece of military architecture. Of the four gates to the fortress only two survive, the Porto San Nicolo at the north end of the esplanade and the Porta Spillia, east of the fortress. Later the British and the French added fortifications of their own.
The main focus of the town is the 'Spianada', on the esplanade itself the men compete in weekend cricket matches, the only place in Greece where the sport is played. If you can't have baseball then watching a visiting British team in a cricket match, drinking the local ginger beer or a gin and tonic is the next best thing. The French were the ones who turned the Spianada into a public square and park - one of the biggest in Europe - where the crowds wonder at night. Though its been rather spoilt since part of it was turned into a car park. Before the nineteenth century it was a large empty lot that was used for defensive purposes. The French planted trees and created one of the most attractive town squares in all of Greece. Bordering the south side of the Spaniada is the Ionion Acadamy the first University in Greece, founded by Ioanis Capodistrias in 1808. The acadamy had a library and a botanical garden and classes were taught in Italian. It was almost completely destroyed by German bombs in 1943.
North of the square is the French designed Liston, built to resemble the rue de Rivoli in Paris it arcades hold elegant cafes and restaurants. Beware it can be very expensive.
There many other places to visit in and around Corfu Town, in fact Corfu is noted for its weird collections, such places of interest are:
The Ionian Bank, which houses a Museum of Banknotes;
Serbian War Museum (the Balkan Wars of 1915-17, not the recent one);
The Byzantium Museum is housed in a restored 15th century church;
Solomos Museum is dedicated to the island's poet;
The Theater of San Giacomo (City Hall) is constructed entirely of hard limestone in the style of the Italian Renaisance had it's foundations first laid in1663; its the most elegant of the Venetian buildings, in the baroque style, between Evgeniou Voulgareos Street and a modern square. It was an open arcade, a loggia, a sheltered meeting-place for the nobility. In 1720,it was converted into a theatre 'San Giacomo'.
The Palace of St. Michael and St. George to the left of the Liston, was built by the British in 1824 and used as the official residence of the Governor. Its the seat of the Ionian Senate and the headquarters of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, created for the purpose of awarding medals to residents of Malta and the Ionian islands who had performed important service for the Great Britain. Prince Philip was born there. It was the site of the 1994 EU Summit meeting.
St. Spiridon's Church, home to the island's patron 'mummified' saint, is just behind the Liston. The church is impressive and worth visiting, but ensure you are suitably dressed. There is a St. Spiridon procession four times a year. Most of the boys on the island are named Spiros after the saint.
Achillion Palace, a villa built for the Empress Elizabeth of Austria in 1890 as a memorial to her son, Rudolf, after his death by suicide. The villa, Neoclassical in style, features numerous statues and motifs associated with Achilles both inside and out. The gardens are also set with a number of statues commissioned by the Empress, including the famous 'Dying Achilles' by German sculptor Herter. Part of the villa is now a museum, with a casino housed on the second floor. Opening Time: The rooms are open daily 9am to 4pm.
Archaeological Museum, on the boulevard along the waterfront. Although it is small, it is worth visiting particularly to see the pediment from the Temple of Artemis that is housed there. The temple dates from 590 BC and is south of Corfu Town. The pediment on display in the museum features a Medusa and is regarded as a fine example of archaic sculpture. The museum has some other interesting sculptures too.
Telephone: (0661) 30680. Opening Time: Tuesday to Sunday 8.30am to 2.30pm Admission: EUR3 (adults), EUR2 for students from countries outside EU.
Museum of Asian Art, the building housing this collection of Chinese and Japanese works of art is a beautiful neoclassical structure built by theBritish in 1820 when the Ionian Islands were ruled by Britain. The museum is a peaceful oasis exhibiting Chinese porcelain and art through all the main dynasties, as well as some Japanese prints, ceramics and sculpture. The Museum is situated at the north end of the Esplanade in Corfu Town.
Opening Time: Tuesday to Sunday 8am to 2.30pm.
Special ticketing package for the Archaeological Museum, the Old Fortress, the Church of Antivouniotissa and the Museum of Asian Art: EUR8 (reduced EUR4).
It is known from numerous archaeological finds that the city of Corcyra lay to the south of the present day city, on the peninsula whose southern tip ends at Kanoni. South of Corfu Town is a clifftop terraced view site of Kanoni, overlooking an inlet that contains two tiny islands. One of the islets can be reached via a causeway and bears the Monastery of Vlakherna. The other islet is known as Mouse Island, and legend has it that it is actually a ship turned to stone. A small boat ferry will carry you to Mouse Island to visit the 13th-century chapel set among the trees.
There are many more places to visit, just to numerous to mention here.
While in Corfu Town do not forget the shopping its one of the richest shopping areas in Greece. Corfu's shopping streets are a mirror of its history and many of the goods you wil find on sale there will take you back in time to the Corfiot market-place of the 19th century. Objects and goods from Corfu's natural resources and its popular traditions will enchant you with their quality and originality.
Gold and silver is worked with a skill which has its origins in Byzantium, with Western influences. The jewellery that you will find here has been made by local craftsmen, unique pieces at reasonable prices.
The manufacture of ceramics is also an old story in Corfu, where artisans have been producing them since ancient times to meet the needs of the inhabitants.
Handcrafted carved wood ornaments and useful objects are what you would expect to find on an island with so many millions of olive trees. Incomparable work is on display at family-run workshops in the old town and in the countryside.
Koum Kwat in the form of both a liqueur and a sweet preserve is on sale everywhere and everyone buys it. It is not the most unusual purchase but it is perhaps the most essential ('You went to Corfu and you didn't bring me back some Koum Kwat?')
It is not difficult to find local honey with its delicate flavour and discreet fragrance, considering the abundance of ingredients (dampness-flowers-bees) and it is just what is needed to complete a good breakfast.
Wine from local grapes is of excellent quality but is hard to find due to the lack of materials. The few systematically cultivated vineyards, the peculiar subsoil and the heavy rainfall limits the production of the wine so praised by Homer. Where it does exist however, weather permitting, it is of exceptional quality and well worth sampling.
Also of note is those wishing to escape from the hustle and bustle in the town can head for the interior to enjoy some spectacular scenery and greenery. Corfu has, for instance, 43 different kinds of orchids growing wild in the countryside, and there are countless olive groves. Corfu's has an excellant bus system both in Corfu Town, and to the surrounding area's, and a semi-private bus system that services points all over the island. In and around Corfu town taxis are the easiest way to get around, and are the only means of transport to the harbour and airport; agree on the fare beforehand. Hiring a car is the most popular way to get around and there are numerous car rental companies around the island, but cars may be difficult to come by in high season; it is best to book with an established international rental company prior to arrival. Mopeds and motorbikes are easily available for hire.