15 facts about Corfu

Corfu floats proudly in the glistening Ionian Sea luring in enthusiastic travellers to explore and discover all that it hides. Corfu is old, Corfu is new, Corfu is charming and captivating as well as trendy and hip! Corfu is an all-in-one holiday destination that everybody must experience at least once.

So, did you know that…

• The island has two names? Corfu is also called Kerkyra!
• According to mythology, Corfu was named after the daughter of Asopos, who was named Kerkyra, a nymph who the Greek God Zeus fell in love with and brought to Corfu.
• Corfu is the only destination in Greece during the last 100 years where cricket is played?
• Corfu pioneered and opened the first Philharmonic Orchestra and the School of Fine Arts in Greece as well as being the first in Greece to open a University?
• Corfu is home to 115 beaches?
• Corfu’s Old Town is a UNESCO Heritage site and one of the most well-preserved medieval towns in the world?
• Corfu’s famous Spianada Square, is not only one of the largest-sized squares in the Balkans?
• The Achilleion Palace was inspired by the Greek hero Achilles and was named after him?
• Mon Repos Palace is believed to have been built right on top of Corfu’s ancient city kingdom?
• Corfu’s Old Castle has not one but two peaks soaring in to the sky?
• On the highest mountain peak of the island, lays the most impressive byzantine fortress named the Angelokastro (the Castle of Angels)?
• It took the French Royalty 7 years to complete Liston, a fabulous copy of Rue de Rivoli in Paris?
• The locals throw pots out of their windows and balconies smashing them into the streets in order to celebrate Christ’s resurrection every Easter?
• The Byzantine basilica of Corfu’s Paleopolis was built before 450 A.D.?
• “Corfu is Venice and Naples, a touch of France and more than a dash of England, apart of course from being Greek,” as Countess Flamburiari so well pointed out?

Corfu is all the above and more so! Stay tuned for more on fabulous Corfu next time.