The island Corfu

Korfu is located in the northern Ionian Sea and with the area of 590 sqkm it is the second largest island after Kefallonia. The island extends over a length of 60 km, the width varies between 5km and 30 km.
Korfu has about 120000 inhabitants.

Korfu rightfully is called the "green island", because nature has done a masterpiece here. The landscape is dominated by olive trees and cypresses .The Venetians made their contribution to this extremely sumptuous vegetation for Greek conditions in the 16. Century by planting thousands of olive trees. In spring a sea of flowers and grasses, the sumptuous green changes only insignificantly in autumn.
Although there is tourism on the island you will find romantic fishing villages, clean beaches and bays with clear water.

Odysseus, the hero of the antiquity, was found here at the beach by the beautiful Nausikaa.

Korfu also became famous because important persons already in the 19th. century spent holiday here. Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also called Sissy, converted the Villa Braila in Gastouri to the Achilleion. Today it is a museum and also for official causes e.g. the European Commission.

In the year 1907 the German emperor Wilhelm II acquired the Achilleion.

Korfu Town

Approaching Korfu from the sea, the town seems  to be a Fata Morgana. The capital of the Island is dominated by two fortresses, which has been built by the Byzantine and extended again and again during Venetian, French and British rule.

 

The old part of Korfu Town with numerous Venetian buildings fascinates by the lively markets and lanes.

Corfu - always worth a trip!