Corfu at a glance.
The name “Corfu” derives from the spears of a fortress, which can be seen from far away. It is an island with lush vegetation, olive groves and sandy beaches. Due to its strategic position, Corfu has been conquered repeatedly, first by the Romans and, later on, by the French, the Venetians and the British, all of whom have left their cultural mark. Prime examples are Napoleon’s barracks (Liston) and the Palace of Michael and George, home to one of the greatest collections of Asian porcelain in the world. Ever since the 70s, Corfu has become a famous tourist attraction, with visitors from all over the globe. This has also led to a booming tourism services industry.What is Corfu known for?
- The lush landscape.
- By the endless and beautiful sandy beaches.
- The long, fascinating, and turbulent history.
- Also the beautiful sightseeing.
- It is the densest populated Hellenic(Greek) Island.
- By the many Unique monuments left behind by the colonial rulers.
- The fantastic Cuisine is influenced by Venetian and Greek food.
- A strong tourist infrastructure with exceptional luxury hotels among the best in Greece.
- Corfu town is the only Kastropolis in Hellas(Greece), a city surrounded by the walls of its castles.
- It was the first Hellenic(Greek) island to open its doors to the first tourists.
- Corfu was the first Hellenic University in 1823 and still operates today. The Ionian Academy.
- The first commercial bank on Greek territory was here. The Ionian bank.
- Also, the first electricity factory on Greek territory was operating here before 1860.
- The first theater in modern Greece was in Corfu.
- And the largest square in the Balkans is the Esplanade square.
- This island is the place with the largest musical and intellectual tradition by far in Greece.
- Corfu has the only Georgian-style Palace outside the UK, the Palace of Saints Michael and George.
- It was the birthplace of many Royals of Europe, i.e Philip Prince of Edinburg.
- The Durrells family were residents of Corfu from 1936 to 1940.
- Is the home of the only cricket team in Hellas.
- The old city of Corfu, A UNESCO Heritage monument, keeps its multicultural character with Venetian, English, and French influences.
- And finally, the fact that this island never felt Ottoman oppression.
How to come to Corfu?
In recent years, Corfu has become one of the favorite destinations for Greek tourists, especially during the Easter holiday, which has gained nationwide attention with its unique traditions.
Also in August when Greek and Italian visitors mingle with those from further north.
Since the Egnatia highway has been built the island is easily accessible for residents of northern Greece too.
From the port of Igoumenitsa on the mainland, there is a very frequent modern ferry service, some crossing to Corfu in just over an hour, ferries from Igoumenitsa also land in the southern harbor of Lefkimi.
More ferries to Corfu comes from the city of Patras and take between 6 to 7 hours to arrive. Also, the ferries from Italian ports are quite busy.
For most visitors though, the gate to the island is the international airport Ioannis Kapodistrias which is connected with many major European airports. The flight from Athens takes 45 minutes while most European airports take between two to three and a half hours.
