Greece

CorfuIsland

Corfu este cea mai nordica dintre insulele

Ionice si una dintre cele mai populare destinatii

ale Greciei. Cu o lungime de 58 de km si o latime de doar 25 km, Corfu

este insula padurilor si a muntilor cu case mici,

albe, ascunse in vai, cu plaje cu nisip auriu si locuitori vestiti pentru

ospitalitatea lor.

Conform mitologiei, numele Corfu

(Kerkyra, in greaca) deriva din numele nimfei Korkyra, de

care zeul marii, Poseidon s-a

indragostit, rapind-o si ducand-o apoi pe

aceasta insula care ulterior i-a preluat

numele.

canal d’ amour

In centrul insulei se afla muntele Pantokrator cu o inaltime de 906 m.

Aici, cu mai bine de 100 de ani in urma, imparateasa Sissi a Austro-

Ungariei a fost cucerita de frumusetile insulei si a hotarat sa

se stabileasca aici, refugiindu-se de problemele familiale. Imparateasa a

construit aici un palat in care si-a petrecut ultimii 10 ani din viata.

Turul orasului Corfu incepe in piata centrala situata

intre vechea fortareata si noua

fortareata. Aici poti vizita biserica Sf.

Spiridon din secolul al XVI-lea, primaria orasului, constructie

din secolul al XVI-lea in stil venetian,

Parlamentul Ionian – 1852, Palatul

construit pentru imparateasa

Elisabeta a Austriei continuand cu

Paleokastritsa si Sidari, orasele din

nordul Insulei, unde vei putea admira canal d’ amour.

Corfu Greece, is the most popular of the Ionian Islands. It is a very green island and a mixture of

the civilizations that have passed through at various times.

The town of Corfu (Kerkyra) impresses and charms the visitor with its two forts, narrow

streets, tall houses, arcades, Venetian-built Town Hall, church to Saint Spyridon, the corfu island's patron saint, flower-filled gardens, and balconies with their superb wrought-iron fences. Flooded with sights, Corfu is a small paradise on Earth.

From Paleokastritsa to Kanoni, from the Achillion to Pontikonissi  and  the Corfu's northern  coast,  one will  find crystal water scenic coves greenery

and vegetation that 'sinks' into the deep blue sea.

arcade built by the French

during their administration of the

island

The Palace of Sts. Michael and George (Palaia Anaktora). The Gardens are to the right of the statue immediately after the arch to its right. The statue of Sir Frederick Adam, a British governor of Corfu, is at the front

The Palace, located in the village of Gastouri, was erected in 1890 for Elizabeth (Sissy), the Empress of Austria as the solace of her soul. It was used as her summer retreat. Later the Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany bought the Palace. Directly below, on the coast, is the unusual Kaiser’s bridge, the stone built jetty where the Kaiser set out on his yacht for swimming trips.

Achillion Palace

terrace garden

Achillion - Sissy Palace

This luxurious villa was built for the Empress of Austria, Elisabeth von Wiltelsbach (more familiarly known as

Princes Sissy), by the Italian architect Raffaele Carito in 1892.

The loved Queen - whose life became a movie- gave preference to Corfu over all the other islands of the Ionian Sea, during her cruise in the Mediterranean islands, when

she wanted to overcome her personal problems. After loosing her family members, she decided to buy the place,

where today the palace is built, and reside in Greece, which she so loved so much because of its natural

beauties, its greek history and mythology. Sissi , fascinated by the mythology of Ancient Greece, named her Palace in honour of the hero Achilles and

adorned the halls and gardens with statues depicting gods and heroes. Later the Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany bought

the Palace.The popularity of the Achillion Palace can be gauged from

the fact that the much hyped JamesBond movie – “For Your Eyes Only” was shot at this magnificent palace and

immortalized. 

Achillion Palace-Emperess Elizabeth of Austria's summer home

Achilles

Paleokastritsa Monastery

Pontikonissi and Vlaheraina monastery as viewed from the hilltops of Kanoni

Pontikonissi, Corfu

Bay of Palaiokastritsa from Bella Vista in Corfu

Kerkyra - park next to the old fortress

Sidari - the beautiful coastline

Paxos- The village of Lakka

Paxos- The town of Gaios

Gaios

The olive soaps

local productbuy Koumquat Liquorin a bottle shaped like

Corfu

Shell from Palaiokastritsa Monastery

Photos from CorfuGREECEJuly 2008

Nice holidays!