The Palace of St. Michael and St George | Mon Repos | St Spiridon Church | The Byzantine Musem | The Solomos Museum | Archeological Museum | The Corfu Shell Museum | Achillion Palace | Mount Pantokrator | Paleokastritsa Monastery | Angelokastro | Mouse Island | The Liston | Fortresses Old & New | Paxos & Antipaxos | Vidos Island | Koum Quat Distillery

Located on the north side of the Liston, at the far end of the famous Cricket Pitch.  Built between 1819 and 1824 by the British Commissioner Sir Thomas Maitland and was the official seat of the British Protectorate for 50 years, and used as a residence it is considered an important monument of the British period and one of the first Neoclassic Buildings to be built on Corfu.  Within the entrance are portals of St. Michael and St. George.  Anaglyphic allegoric pictures of the Ionion islands.  The interior is decorated with many sculptures and paintings.   It also holds the museum of Asian Art, and its rich Chinese and Japanese collection given to Greece in 1926 by Grigoris Manos, and plays host to many cultural events and periodic exhibitions. Surrounding the Palace are attractive gardens with colourful shrubs and plants and an on-site Café Bar serving a variety of refreshments.

Mon Repos

Spanning an area of 285sq.m and situated in the area of Analypsis the site of the ancient town of Corfu, 3km from the centre of new Corfu.

Built in 1824 by the English commissioner Frederic Adam, as his summer house and going on to be the residence for all following commissioners during the English protectorate on Corfu, finally been handed to King Constantine of Greece, who regularly used the Palace as his summer home until his abolition.  Now the Palace is a museum open daily in summer to the public. 

During the unification of the 7 Ionion Islands with Greece the house was offered in gratuity to King George 1st.  The present Duke of Edinburgh, husband of the present Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip Mountbatten was born in Mon Repos.

Saint Spiridon Church

Saint Spiridon is the patron Saint of Corfu.  Corfiots adore and worship the legends and miracles he has said to have performed.  To this day Corfiots regularly visit his remains located by the alter in the main church hall and prey for hope, miracles and forgiveness for any wrong doings.

One legend says that the Saint managed to save the Island from Turkish Rule, appearing from the sea through a thunder and lightening storm, causing major catastrophe and the sinking of the Turkish Fleet, advancing on Corfu to claim the island as theirs. 
During the 17th Century, during Easter, the islanders who were experiencing famine and hunger spotted a ship sailing close to the shore laden with wheat, on route to Italy.  Suddenly the Captain of the ship saw an elderly man appearing to lead him to the shore.  The ship anchored and the Saint called the Islanders to share the wheat.

The church has been built on the ruin of a previous church, completed in 1589 with much help and contribution from the Corfiot people.  Built simply in Basilica style, many icons decorate its’ interior, copies from the Greek Painter P. Doxaras.

The mortal remains are enclosed in an enclosed glass casket made especially in Venice in 1867.

The Saint Spiridon liturgies are celebrated four times a year and processions, parades and festivals are held, in Corfu Town where the remains of the Saint in his casket are paraded through the streets, accompanied by the many regional Corfiot Philharmonic Orchestras. 

The Byzantine Museum

Housed within the church of the Panayia Antivouniotissa, it holds a rich exhibition of around 90 Icons ranging between the 13th Century to the 17th Century The Church is beautifully decorated inside and can be found by walking through the road arch at the left of the Palace of St. Michael and St. George and following the road around passing the “Faliraki “area on the “Mourayia” (The Sea Wall) area where there are two restaurants “Pizza Pete” and “Antranik”

The Solomos Museum

Just a short walk further on you will come to the Solomos Museum, dedicated to the life of the poet Dionisis Solomos, situated in the house where the poet lived and died in 1857.  Solomos was the first to introduce poetry to the masses, being the first to also write in “demotic greek” rather than the complex form used in literature.  Memorabilia includes the desk where he wrote, portraits and old maps and a fragment of an original manuscript in the poets’ own hand.

Every Greek will know at least one of Solomos’ poems; he also provided the words, later put to music to provide the Greeks with their National Anthem.

Archeological Museum

The Corfu Shell Museum

Achillion Palace

Of 19th Century design, conceived by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria as a tribute to her spiritual hero “Achilles”.   Later in time it was bought by Kaiser Willhelm 11 after Elizabeths’ assassination. Its modest museum comprises a Byzantine Chapel, a monumental Fresco, a Renaissance-style Dining Room and classic Frescoed Columns and a room dedicated to Kaiser Willhelm. The gardens surrounding the Palace contain numerous copies of ancient statues including” Wounded Achilles” a bronzed statue by German Sculptor Herter.  An open pavilion houses the statue of “Sissi” Empress Elizabeth.  The gardens are also awash with many colourful flowers, shrubs and plants.

Elizabeth created the Catholic chapel which contains important works of art, the fresco “Judgement of Jesus” and objects donated personally by Pope Pious 1X.  In the main hall above the magnificent staircase is the work “The Four Seasons” the true identity of the painter still lies a mystery as the work was created under the pseudonym “Calliope”

The magnificent Mount Pantokrator, North of the Island: Corfu’s highest mountain boasts unrivalled panoramic views of the island, just check that you choose a clear day to visit or your visibility will be marred as you will be above the clouds!, visit the tiny monastery at the summit and stop for a cool drink or coffee in the small mountaintop coffee bar.  A cemented road takes you right to the top but it is advisable to park up en-route and enjoy the breathtaking views as you meander up to the top.  It is known to be a bird watchers paradise as in summer is home to a host of wild visitors from hawks and birds of prey to colourful finches, buntings and flycatchers.

Paleokastritsa Monastery

North West of the Island: the islands famous beauty spot, a cluster of bays with crystal clear waters, a working 18th century monastery and a chance to hire a small motor boat to explore the bays and admire the scenery.

Mouse Island

Corfu’s most photographed sight, this tiny islet lays in a bay off Corfu Town very close to the airport and is home to  a small convent,  the Vlacherna Convent 13th century.  It is known in Greek as Pontikonissi and according to legend was the name of the ship which carried Odysseus back from the Trojan wars and was said to have been turned to stone by the god of the sea Poseidon.

The Liston

The elegant arcaded street of Café Bars loyally frequented by Corfiots both young and old, definitely “the place to be seen in”, Situated facing the former cricket pitch in the centre of Corfu Town.  Do as locals do and sit and watch the world go by with a delicious ice cream or coffee and become part of the smart set.

The Old Fort was built in the 6th Century and played a major role in resisting the Turkish invasion of 1796. It then became the home of the entire population and thus remained so for another seven centuries. Climbing up to the twin peaks you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Capital and explore the military barracks and the chapel where Prince Philip was baptised. 

The New Fort was built in the 16th Century, the outer walls were built by the Venetians and later the British added a labyrinth of tunnels, vaults and walkways, one of which is said to stretch beneath the water to the island of Vidos, visible from the Harbour front, on the island itself, ruins of the Venetian rule remain, although overgrown and covered in foliage.
Part of the Fort is now a Base for the Greek Naval Authorities but a large part of the Fort is open to the public, facilities have improved and a Café Bar and a small exhibition centre museum have been added.  The entrance to the Fort is just alongside the small Roman Catholic church of Tenedos.
 

The sparkling jewels in the Ionion Sea where the silvery beaches and enchanting coves harmonise with the vivid turquoise waters and the lush green of the pine and olive groves.
Paxos and Anti-Paxos are the two islands located south of Corfu, just 7miles by 3, islands still rich in culture and tradition.
The islands share a similar history to Corfu, both fought for their independence.  The Venetians were the first to occupy Paxos, and then came the Russian-Turks.  In 1817 Paxos fell under the British Protectorate and finally in 1804 Paxos was re-united with Greece.  There are known to be over 60 churches on the island all with traditional architecture, wood carvings and painted frescoes.

Gaios
The main port and harbour town of Paxos, a mass of tiny fishermen’s cottages sea front cafes and tiny boats awash with colours greet you along the harbour front.  Behind the harbour a host of small shops crammed with anything from exquisite jewellery to hand made pottery and rugs are waiting to be discovered.  A must is the “Dionysos Mini Market” selling tablets of soap made from Olive Oil and scented with natural herbs and spices, Paxiot Olive Oil and other hand made items.  The Gaios Museum shows a glimpse of the past with reconstructed rooms of a Paxiot house and items and curios uncovered from the past.  The pretty paved village square is home to small shops and café bars and is bustling with life.
Small boats can be hired from the harbour and a glass bottom boat offers trips to Anti-Paxos or just a little further along past the harbour are two small coves with emerald green waters and soft shingle,  perfect to while away an hour swimming and sunbathing.

Lakka
Lakka is the second largest village on Paxos and again is a small fishing port.  It is very popular with yachters and often sailing boats can be seen moored in the traditional harbour.  Its lighthouse can be reached by steep winding track and boasts a panoramic view of the area.  The cliffs of “Erimitis” situated just outside of Lakka are near the small hamlet of Voikatika are known to change colours at twilight and form a beautiful contrast against the sparking sea.

Loggos
Is renowned for its cuisine and boasts some of the best fish restaurants on Paxos.  The small quayside has a few pretty tavernas and café bars along with a couple of gift shops.  Many locals reap the benefits of the sulphur springs at the harbour beach but just outside of Loggos port are two quieter beaches “Levrehio” and Monodendri.

Anti-Paxos
Just a mile south of Paxos lies Anti-Paxos, 2 km in total and with only 2 villages Ano and Kato Horio, upper and lower village!  The clear shimmering emerald waters and golden sandy coves have been compared to the Caribbean.  The lush green Pine and Olive groves and pretty painted hillside villas make Anti-Paxos one of the most beautiful islands of the Mediterranean.  Small motor boats can be hired from Gaios and a regular Glass Bottom Boat Taxi operates between Gaios and Anti-Paxos.

Spend the day on Vidos an island with unspoilt silvery sand/shingle beaches and surrounded by nature, Pheasants, Partridge and Rabbits dart across the sand paths that wind around the island. Enjoy the spectacular views to Corfu Town and the Greek Mainland; uncover the few ruined villas remaining hidden by dense foliage and look out for many unusual plants and trees planted years ago by the Protectorate.  The restaurant in the tiny harbour serves daily specials, coffees and snacks

A water taxi operates a daily service to Vidos Island with boats leaving on the hour, a number of sandpaths wind around the island, you may also disturb en route the odd pheasant or hare, Vidos is home to a number of wild fowl and animals, and also has a few beautiful unspoilt sandy coves, excellent for bathing.  There is also a restaurant at the harbour front serving freshly cooked dishes daily.

Koum Quat Distillery

Situated on the Paleokastritsa road, this distillery will take you through the process of producing the Corfiot Liqueur, Koum Quat, made from fruit similar to tiny oranges but with a taste of their own. The On-site shop is crammed with many Koum Quat products from Marmalade to Fruit steeped in Brandy and Liquers and of course the Koum Quat Liqueur itself in many decorative bottles, excellent for a special present from Corfu.