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!