Corfu In Greece, A Dream Island

Greece is always one of the favorite destinations for tourists who love culture and landscape. It offers endless attractions, many of them distributed among its beautiful islands. Among them we will find off the coast of Albania, in the Ionian Sea, a beautiful vestige of the past wrapped in hills and plains surrounded by water: Corfu. This island will delight everyone, as it will meet the most varied needs, from a lively nightlife to paradisiacal beaches. 

Living culture in Corfu

Corfu has a rich heritage of ancient cultures. From the most classical Greece to the Byzantine Empire, passing through Ottomans, Venetians or English, the emerald island is full of corners that transport us to bygone times.

Lovers of history and culture, but also lovers of leisure tourism, will enjoy its narrow streets and its unique squares and monuments. Having an ice cream or coffee in the Spianada, one of the largest square in all of Greece, will allow us to enjoy the true heart of Corfu’s social life.

Its history was forged by numerous battles and in the old town we will be aware of the manifest strategic nature of the island, which was the domain of various cultures that, naturally, have left their mark. Proof of this are the two fortresses that surround the capital: the so-called Old Fortress and the New Fortress.

The strengths of the capital

Corfu has its old town, which was declared a World Heritage Site  in 2007, protected by those two great fortifications that we have mentioned.

The one known as Old Fortress is a Byzantine work from the 8th century, later completed during the Venetian rule in the 15th century. It is situated on a prominent promontory in the eastern part of the city and has a small moat.

One hundred years after the renovation of this fortress, in the 16th century, the New Fort was built. Located on the hill of Agios Marcos, the fortress was a crucial defensive element against invasions, being close to the port, to the northeast of the citadel. The walk through its medieval corridors, although tiring, is highly recommended.

Religion has its place in Corfu

The island is full of temples of various religions. Both Catholic and Orthodox tourists will find Corfu a place of retreat and prayer, as the city is full of basilicas.

The first of these temples  stands with typical Venetian features near the Spianada, it is the Holy Chapel of Saint Spyridon. Its bell tower is the highest in the city and the entire temple is dedicated to the patron saint of the island.

Another Catholic temple is the cathedral of the capital, which presents Venetian architecture on the outside, in contrast to the austerity of its interior. A cathedral dedicated to San Giacomo.

In counterpoint we have the Orthodox Church of San Antonio and San André, whose marble chapel will leave us speechless.  And on the south face of the old fort we will find a neoclassical church from 1840 dedicated to Saint George.

But without a doubt the main temple on the islet is the one dedicated to Hera, a classical Greek goddess, the legitimate wife of Zeus.

Leisure offers in Corfu

The island is bathed by the Ionian Sea, which makes it possessed of beautiful beaches  and corners that invite the romanticism of a couple’s picnic, a dream vacation for the whole family or a solitary retreat to rest and meditate.

Places such as Skudi, Jalicunas, Marahias or Perulades stand out. And we must also mention Paleocastricha, a beach between cliffs from which you can access sea caves. Leisure complexes where you can go scuba diving and tan in front of crystal clear waters.

But if in addition to resting we want to browse art and culture, we must visit the Archaeological Museum or the Museum of Asian Arts.  Another good option is to visit the many craft shops in the region, where you can buy beautiful souvenirs.

And you cannot leave Corfu without visiting two more places of interest. The first of these is the palace and preferred residence of the Austro-Hungarian Empress Sissí, the Achilleion, her ostentatious retirement residence in Greece.

The second essential place is the Canal D’Amour, a charming network of passageways and caverns between the rocks. Located in Sidari, it is a unique enclave in which to lose yourself and be imbued by the beauty of nature in the best company.