About Corfu
Corfu
It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands. Its northern part lies off the coast of Sarandë, Albania, from which it is separated by straits varying in breadth from 3 to 23 km (2 to 15 mi), including one near ancient Butrint, while its southern part lies off the coast of Thesprotia, Greece. The island is part of the Corfu Prefecture and includes twelve of the sixteen municipalities or communes in the prefecture and communities of Ereikoussa, Mathraki, Othonoi, and Municipality of Paxoi, which are all separate islands. The principal town of the island is also named Corfu, or Kérkyra in Greek, as is its municipality. Corfu is home to the Ionian University.
Links
Island’s name/Mythology
The island is connected to the history of Greece from the beginning of Greek mythology. Its Greek name, Kerkyra or Korkyra, is related to two powerful water symbols: Poseidon, god of the sea, and Asopos, an important Greek mainland river. According to myth, Poseidon fell in love with the beautiful nymph Korkyra, daughter of Asopus and river nymph Metope, and abducted her, as was the custom among gods of the era's myths. Zeus was a serial offender. Poseidon brought Metope to the hitherto unnamed island and, in marital bliss, offered her name to the place: Korkyra, which gradually evolved to Kerkyra (Doric). Together, they had a child they called Phaiax, after whom the inhabitants of the island were named: Phaiakes. This term was transliterated via Latin to Phaeacians. The island's history is laden with battles and conquests, indicative of Corfu's turbulent position in a historical vortex lasting until the modern period. The name Corfu is an Italian corruption of the Byzantine (Koryphō), meaning "city of the peaks", which is derived from the Greek (Koryphai) (crests or peaks), denoting the two peaks of Palaio Frourio. In shape it is like the sickle, to which it was compared by the ancients: the concave side, with the town and harbour of Corfu in the centre, lies toward the Albanian coast.
Old town
The town of Corfu stands on the broad part of a peninsula, whose termination in the Venetian citadel is cut off from it by an artificial fosse formed in a natural gully, with a seawater moat at the bottom, that now serves as a marina and is called the Contrafossa. The old town, having grown within fortifications, where every metre of ground was precious, is a labyrinth of narrow streets paved with cobblestones, sometimes tortuous but colourful and clean. These streets are known as kantoúnia and the older amongst them sometimes follow the gentle irregularities of the ground; while many are too narrow for vehicular traffic. A promenade rises by the seashore towards the bay of Garitsa together with an esplanade between the town and the citadel known as Spianada with the "Liston" arcade to its west side, where restaurants and bistros abound
Sights
The visitor that will wander around the city of Corfu, the suburbs, the communities and the greater area of the Municipality of Corfu, will have the chance to discover the 'dowry' that nature and man gave to Corfu. The 'Old City' recalls past ages; the European influences are visible everywhere and harmoniously coexist, giving to the city a special color. There are no mosques and minarets in Corfu. No stamp of Asiatic occupation can be found on the island. Here that Europe meets Greece and the nature ungrudgingly spread hundreds the shades of green and blue, the Corfiot Civilization developed with significant particularities that make him stand apart. Palaces, fortresses, museums, libraries, galleries, churches, interesting public buildings and privet mansions, public, privet and archaeological sites, sites of natural and special interest, traditional houses, verdurous olive groves, picturesque ports and blue beaches make an unexpected puzzle on the area of the Municipality of Corfu, that lives speechless even the most demanding visitor.
Pontikonisi Island
Pontikonisi Island in the background with the Vlaheraina Monastery in the foreground. The shuttle boats that ferry people to and from Pontikonisi can be seen moored in the marina near the Monastery. Pontikonisi is home of the monastery of Pantokrator. It is the white stone staircase of the Monastery of Pantokrator that when viewed from afar gives the impression of a (mouse) tail that gave the island its name: Mouse island. The trees at the lower left of the picture are from the hills of Kanoni. The hilltops at the upper right corner is the southern part of the island with Perama, Kaiser's Bridge, Benitses and Mesonghi forming an arc of popular beaches and tourist attractions as one gazes southbound from Kanoni. Farthest south is Lefkimmi and cape Kavos.
In several parts of the old city may be found houses of the Venetian time. The old city architecture is strongly influenced by the Venetian style as it was under Venetian occupation for a long time. The small and ancient sidestreets and the style of the old buildings with their trademark Venetian arches are strongly reminiscent of Venice. Of the thirty-seven Greek churches the most important are the city's cathedral, the church dedicated to Our Lady of the Cave. Saint Spyridon church, where inside lies the preserved body of the patron saint of the island; Finally the suburban church of St Jason and St Sosipater, reputed the oldest in the island, named after the two saints who were probably the first to preach Christianity to the Corfiots. The nearby island named Pontikonisi (Greek meaning "mouse island") although small is very green with many trees, and the highest natural point, (not counting the trees or man made structures such as the monastery), is about 2 m. Pontikonisi is home of the monastery of Pantokrator. It is the white stone staircase of the Monastery that when viewed from afar gives the impression of a (mouse) tail that gave the island its name: Mouse island.
Museums
Downtown Corfu you will find important museums; the historic centre of Corfu was declared one of the UNESCO Monuments of World Cultural Heritage in the summer 2007 and is itself the most important sight of the island. The past of Corfu is right here, before your eyes, at the city palace, the two fortresses, on traditional buildings and mansions, very easily accessible and evident .
The richest historical collection is at the Archaeological Museum, where the predominant exhibit is the stunning 6th century BC Gorgo gable.
The Museum of Far Eastern Art , the only one of its kind in Greece and one of the finest in Europe is housed in the Palace of Saints Michael and George, and constitutes the most important monument of the period of the British rule
An Orthodox church of the 15th century, dedicated to Virgin Mary Antivouniotissa, has been turned into a Museum, to house the religious expression of the Byzantine tradition, combined with the influence from the west.
A little after that, there is the house of Dionysios Solomos, National Poet of Greece, and it is home to the museum bearing his name, as well as to the significant Corfu Studies Society.
The historic building of the Ionic Bank has been home, since 1981, of the Banknote Museum, unique for Greece and one of the most interesting worldwide
The hacienda of Mon Repos, in the splendid park of Palaiopolis, houses part of the Archaeological Museum with exhibits from the ancient town of Corfu.
In the villages and the nearby islands you will visit museums which present the history, the people, the popular art, customs and traditions of the places.
The Historic Folklore Museum of Messi is housed in a well preserved 19th century cottage and it contains really rich collections of traditional clothes from Corfu, everyday life items, tools, cooking utensils, and home and professional items ( Sinarades )
The Olives Museum is housed in a perfectly preserved oil mill of the early 20th century, and it displays a rich collection of tools and means for the elaboration of oils and the extraction of olive oil ( Kinopiastes ).
The Kapodistrias Museum , with an exhibition of personal items of Ioannis Kapodistrias, a Minister of the Ionian State, the first autonomous State to be founded on Greek territory, Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia , one of the main contributors to the Swiss Constitution and the first Governor of Greece( Evropouli ).
At Benitses village, a few km outside Corfu town, there is the Sea Museum, which displays the wealth of the sea .
The Folk Museum of Paxos displays a local house and really interesting exhibits, that portray the living conditions in a local house during the past centuries ( Gai, Paxos ).
More info at:
http://www.corfu.gr/web/guest/visitor/sights/museums
http://www.corfuvisit.net
The Achilleion
Statue of Achilleús Thnēskōn (Achilles Dying) in the gardens of the Achilleion.
Empress (German: Kaiserin) of Austria Elisabeth of Bavaria, also known as Sissi, was a woman entranced by beauty. She lost her only son, Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, when he committed murder-suicide in the Mayerling affair of 1889. A year later, in 1890, she built a summer palace in the region of Gastouri to the south of the city, with the powerful mythical hero Achilles as its central theme.
The palace, with the neoclassical Greek statues that surround it, is a monument to platonic romanticism as well as escapism. It was named Achílleion after the Homeric hero Achilles. The structure is filled with paintings and statues of Achilles, both in the main hall and in the gardens, depicting the scenes of the Trojan War.
The Imperial gardens on the hill look over the surrounding green hill crests and valleys and the Ionian sea. The centrepiece of the gardens is a marble statue on a high pedestal, of the mortally wounded Achilles without hubris and wearing only a simple cloth and an ancient Greek hoplite helmet. This statue was created by German sculptor Ernst Gustav Herter. The hero is presented devoid of rank or status, and seems notably human though heroic, as he is forever trying to pull Paris's arrow from his heel. His classically depicted face is full of pain. He gazes skyward, as if to seek help from Olympus. According to Greek mythology, his mother Thetis was a goddess.
In contrast, at the great staircase in the main hall is a giant painting of the triumphant Achilles full of pride. Dressed in full royal military regalia and erect on his racing chariot, he pulls the lifeless body of Hector of Troy in front of the stunned crowd watching helplessly from inside the walls of the Trojan citadel.
In 1898, Empress Sissi was assassinated at the age of 60 by an anarchist in Geneva, Switzerland. After her death the palace was sold to the German Kaiser Wilhelm II. Later it was acquired by the Greek State. The Achilleion has been converted into a museum.
Annex of the National Gallery in Corfu
http://www.nationalgallery.gr/
Other Links
