About
Corfu island
Corfu island
Achillion Palace
The Achillion Palace is located in the picturesque village of Gastouni. Empress Elizabeth of Austria-Hungary, also known as Sissy, decided to build her palace there in 1890, in an effort to escape from the Austrian court and find consolation after her son Rudolph’s suicide. The palace was named after the mythical hero Achilles and reflects her love for Greek mythology and culture. Its elegant architectural design was intended to represent an ancient Phaeacian palace and is renowned for its classical features. It has luxurious rooms decorated with exquisite paintings, numerous magnificent statues and lavish gardens, which create an absolutely magical setting with the Ionian Sea in the background. After Elizabeth’s assassination in Geneva, the palace was bought by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, who used it as a summer residence. In World War I, the palace was turned into a military hospital, whereas in World War II, it was used as a military headquarters for the Axis Powers.
Corfu island
The Old Town of Corfu
Corfu’s historic centre has been declared as a world heritage site by Unesco. It is a beautifully preserved medieval town surrounded by fortresses, whose unique architecture is a blend of Venetian, French and English architectural styles. Imposing state buildings, impressive mansions, wonderful squares and innumerable narrow cobbled streets with vaulted passages, the so-called “kantounia”, give to the Old Town of Corfu a distinctive charm and character. Stroll around the square of the Esplanade (also called Spianada), the largest square in the Balkans, which was designed according to the French garden architecture and today is one of the most central and popular sites of the city, and admire various elegant buildings, such as the Ionian Academy founded in 1824 by Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Governor of the New Greek Independent State, and the Palace of Saints Michael and George, also known as the City Palace, which was first used as the official residence of the commissioner and today houses the Museum of Asian Art. Other interesting monuments and sights in town include Liston, the city’s trademark with the characteristic arcades, which was once a meeting place for the aristocrats and now houses some of the most elegant cafes and restaurants in town, the majestic Old and the New Venetian Fortresses, the Ionian Parliament, the Town Hall, the church of Saint Spyridon, the island’s patron Saint, the Byzantine Museum and Dionysios Solomos Museum.
Corfu island
Angelokastro & Palaiokastritsa
Angelokastro, or Angel’s Castle, is a Byzantine castle located at the top of the highest peak on the island. It is considered to be one of the most important fortresses of Corfu, which was strategically built there to monitor the entire West coast and successfully repel pirate attacks or hostile neighbours’ invasions. The church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel built on the site of an Early Christian three-aisled church and a tiny cave-like chapel decorated with 18th century frescoes are two of the main attractions in the castle. Angelokastro offers breathtaking views of Palaiokastritsa, one of the most picturesque and popular beach resorts on the island, which is located at a close distance. There is a great number of hotels, traditional taverns, restaurants, cafes and shops stretching along a beautiful coastal road. Paleokastritsa, which literally means old fortress, also has a famous monastery housing a wonderful collection of post-Byzantine books and artefacts.
