Corfu Port City
Corfu Island has a very long and brilliant history. As early as the Mycenaean civilization, Corfu had a resident population. In Homer's epic, Corfu is referred to as "Phæacia," the last island Odysseus reached before returning to his homeland of Ithaca.
Corfu is notably different from the well-known Greece in terms of its cultural atmosphere and architecture. Due to nearly four centuries of rule by the Venetian Republic during the medieval period, walking in Corfu, one can see Italian architectural styles everywhere.
Streets of Corfu
For the once-mighty Venetian Republic, Corfu was proudly known as the "Gateway to Venice." During these centuries, the pagan Ottoman Empire repeatedly attacked Corfu, and each time they were defeated, making Corfu a bastion of Western civilization against invasion. The two existing Venetian-era fortresses, the Old Fortress and the New Fortress (renovated by the British), are a splendid reflection of this period.
Venetian-era Fortresses
Entering the 19th century, Corfu was briefly ruled by the French and Russians, and then governed by the British as a protectorate for half a century. During this time, the British governors built the Palace of St. Michael and St. George, which served as the residence and workplace for successive British governors. One of the governors built a suburban residence (Mon Repos) as a living space, which was later used for a long time by the Greek kings. This residence later became the birthplace of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the husband of the current Queen of the United Kingdom. Corfu returned to Greece in 1864.
Palace of St. Michael and St. George
Corfu has historically been a favorite destination for countless royal nobles. The famous Achilleion Palace was built by Empress Elisabeth of Austria for her beloved Greek hero Achilles. Empress Elisabeth was fascinated by Greek culture, and her Greek was more fluent than that of the Greek princesses of her time.
The Achilleion Palace is filled with paintings and sculptures depicting Achilles and scenes from the Trojan War, featuring Pompeian architectural style, and has many similarities with the Livadia Palace in Crimea, Russia. In the royal gardens at the top of the hill, one can see the surrounding green hills and valleys as well as the magnificent views of the Ionian Sea. After the death of Empress Elisabeth, the Achilleion Palace was taken over by German Emperor Wilhelm II until the outbreak of World War I. Today, it is a popular historical and cultural museum for tourists.
Corfu's coastal scenery is enchanting and is one of the favorite vacation spots for British and German tourists in the summer. In addition to the Danish princess and the Duke of Edinburgh, many famous Greek politicians and artists were also born in Corfu.
Metropolitan Museum
Corfu has very convenient transportation; in addition to having an international airport, there are also two Greek national roads (GR24 and GR25) on the island. Traditional ferries and high-speed ferries connect to Patras and several cities in neighboring Albania, making it very convenient to visit Corfu.