The lush and verdant island of Corfu lies in the Ionian Sea, midway between Greece and Italy. The island has a long and colorful history. First colonized by the city-state of Corinth, Corfu has been ruled by the Romans, the Venetians, the French and the English. Corfu Town boasts fortresses bearing the insignia of the Venetian Republic, an esplanade lavishly planted by the French during the Napoleonic Wars, and an English cricket pitch. The island also offers some of the finest coastal scenery in the entire Mediterranean.
Corfu's old town is a mixture of the medieval and the modern. The Esplanade, planted with palms and eucalyptus by the French, leads to the English cricket pitch.
Corfu Town / Old FortressA maze of cobblestone streets full of old tavernas, cafes and shops, with a 15th-century fortress as its backdrop, Corfu is one of the most intriguing cities in Greece.
St. Spyridon ChurchThis 16th-century church, with its prominent bell tower and jewel-adorned silver sarcophagus, is the final resting place of the patron saint of the island.
Paleokastrista View PointOlive, lemon and cypress groves line the small coves nestled in the rugged coastline of this small seaside village.
Monastery of Virgin MaryLocated above Paleokastritsa is this ancient cloister, enveloped by lemon trees, a flower garden and breathtaking views. Inside, the chapel offers a museum of Byzantine and ecclesiastical art.
Achilleion PalaceThis neo-classical palace was built as a summer retreat for Empress Elizabeth of Austria. Gardens filled with flowers, trees and statues in the Italian style, make this a mythical setting.
Koum Kouat DistilleryThe "Koum Kouat" citrus fruit, a variety of which only grows in Greece's Corfu, is made into one of the island's most famous products - a liqueur with the same name as well as fruit-preserved sweets.
Mon Repos EstateJust above Corfu Town sits the Mon Repos villa. Its palace, tiered and pillared with pink highlights and traditional Corfiot green shutters, was the birthplace of Prince Philip and Duke of Edinburgh.
Mouse Island & Vlaherna ViewThis idyllic landscape is perhaps the most photographed in all of Greece. The 17th-century Vlacherna Monastery sits at the southern end of the Kanoni peninsula, and Mouse Island just beyond.