Greece City: Kerkira (Corfu)

Capital of Kerkira Island – Kerkyra City (Kerkyra) – Isxtari is considered one of the most elegant provincial centers of all Greece.

It is believed that he was founded in the VIII century to n. NS. Colonists from Corinth, although modern excavations show that people lived at this place in the days of late Neolithic. Linding in the center of the Eastern Coast, just 40 minutes by ferry from the mainland Igumeenitz, he stretched out with a wide stripe along the entire coast from the mouth of the Patamos River in the north to the throat of the big lagoon Kovalon in the south.

The old core of the city is compactly located on Cape Sideros between two forts and an old port. The oldest quarter – Campiello (Campiello) – lies on the hill slopes over the harbor, Cofinaeta (Kofineta) stretches along Esplanada Spianadha, Ayia Apostoli (Ayii Apostoli) lies west of Metropolis Cathedral, and Neo Frurio, or TenedHos (Neo Frurio, Tenedhos) covers the old Jewish quarter. These areas form the historical core of the city, and their narrow alley hide the most beautiful architectural samples on the island. Lying outside the old port of the Manduki Quarter (Mandouki) is considered the main commercial area and a sleeping area for the port, so little affect tourism and very authentic.

sights

The most obvious sights of the city – Forts Paleo-Frurio and Neo-Frurio Frame the harbor on both sides. "Old Fort" was founded by Byzantines in the middle of the XII century, that is, just a hundred years before the Venetians began working on the new Citadel. They were repeatedly rebuilt – the last contribution was made by the British, built in the 1840s neoclassical Saint George Temple right in the center of Paleo Frurio. Towering over the old port of Neo-Frurio (open daily, in the summer – from 8.00 to 19.30, in winter – up to 15.00; 2 euros) is still more interesting architecturally. The entrance in the rear of the fort gives access to the basements, dwarfs and gear walls, which offer an excellent view of the city and the bay; as well as a small gallery and cafe at the very top. Paleo-Frurio (open on the same schedule; 4 euros) is much more modest, but it has an interesting Byzantine Museum In the gate and as stunning panoramas from the central tower.

To the west of Paleo-Frurio stretch Street Liston, built during the French dominion in the image and similarity of Rue de Rivoli in Paris, as well as the Green Spianadha (Esplanade) – the true center of urban life.

Here you can see Rotunda Maitland (built in honor of the first British High Commissioner Kerkira and Ionical Islands), the statue of the first president of the country (and the our Minister of Foreign Affairs!) Joanis Capodastries, Palace of Saints Mikhail and George (Residence of the British High Commissioner, later used as a place of residence of the Greek Monarch), Asian Museum (open from Thursday to Sunday from 8.00 to 19.thirty; 3 euros) and adjacent Modern art gallery (daily from 9.00 to 17.00; 1.5 Euro). Very picturesquely lying behind the palace of gardens and a small cafe located in them, as well as Museum of Dionisios Solomosa – The most famous Greek poet of the XIX century (open from Monday to Saturday from 9.30 to 14.00; 1 euro) and Byzantine Museum (Thursday – Sunday with 9.00 to 15.00; 2 euros) in carefully restored Panayia-Andivunotis Church On Arseniou Street (also behind the palace).

Just in the quarter behind Liston Street, down spyridhonos, rises Hyos-Spiridon Church (XVI B., Open daily from 8.00 to 21.00) whose dome-shaped bell tower dominates the city. Here is stored covered with silver coffin of St. Spiridon – the patron saint of the islands, whose name wears at least a quarter of the male population Kerkira. From the walls of the Church, the most important of the city councils is well distinguished – Orthodox Metropolis (1577 g.) lying on the Square of the same name from the opposite side of the old port. Here are Grave of Holy Theodora (Fedora) – Wives of the Emperor Theofilos (IX in.) and famous iconostasis with a beautiful icon "Holy George, damaging a dragon" Artist of the Cretan School Mikhail Damaskinosa (XVI in.).

City Archaeological Museum (Thursday – Sunday from 8.30 to 15.00; 3 euros) is located in the southern part of the coastal quarter and is considered the best in the archipelago. It is here that most of the items found during the excavations of the famous temple of Artemis (beginning VI in. to N. e) in Paleopleopolis, as well as a large collection of neolithic weapons, coins and kitchen utensils of the period, when the island was the colony of ancient Corinth. And south of the Platia Saroko Square, at the intersection of Methodhiou and Kolokotroni, spread British cemetery – A quiet green place, interesting not only by many old tombstones, but also all year round with fragrant flowers, including exotic orchids.

Tourist office

The new tourist office is located opposite the Town Hall, on Evangelistrias, and open from April to October daily from 9.00 to 21.00, in winter – daily from 8.00 to 14.00; Phones: 26-610 and 37-520.

Around the city

The south of the urban zone, between the Rotond, the Archaeological Museum and the Beach, the repairs are the region of Mont-repo (from 8.00 to 19.thirty; free entrance) – the most affordable archaeological zone on the island, also known as Paleopolis. This wooded area hides two Doric Temple – Hera and Poseidon, early Christian Basilica (Thursday – Sunday from 8.30 to 15.00; Entrance free), Temple of Artemis (several hundred meters west from the main zone), Church of Ayi-Jason (XI in.) and the neoclassical palace of the rehistrict (1824 g.) in which is now located Museum of Paleopolis (Open daily from 8.30 to 19.thirty; 3 euros). From here you can go on an excursion to Oral islaver (Vlaherna) with a tiny white female monastery – one of the most beautiful on Kerkira, Pondiconisi (Pondikonissi, 3 km south of the city) and Vidos (Vidhos), as well as on the Kanoni Hill with his lonely old cannon and picturesque panoramas.

4 km south, for the resort of Perama stretching on the shore, there was a palace (rather – Villa) Achileon (daily from 8.00 to 19.00, in winter – up to 16.00; 7 euros), built in combination of ancient Germann and neoclassical styles in 1890 by the Austrian Empress Elizabeth Bavarian. Henry Miller somehow called him "the worst model of all that he ever saw", However, in general, both the palace himself, and the gardens surrounding him with the statue of the dying Achilla are quite interesting for themselves, besides, there is also a chapel dedicated to Heinrich Heine.

And finally, only 6 km deep in the islands spread out one of the most popular and high-tech water parks of Greece – Aqualand (Summer is open daily from 10.00 to 18.00; 22 Euro) associated with the capital of the island of its own bus line.

Reviews and studies of trips

Corfu (Kerkira), where the foot of the tour operator did not go

In the footsteps of visiting.Corfu slightly about the places where you will not take exactly the tour operator. And the place, I must say, there are very attractive. Read more →

N COLONEL | Summer 2016

Corfu – Walk around the capital

I propose to make a fascinating walk along the capital Corfu – Kerkira. Enjoy the local flavor, feel the rhythm of the life of the Greek and try to plunge into the atmosphere of the city. Read more →

Alkopona | Spring 2016

Corfu or all the same Kerkira?

It is known that it is urged Corfu or Kerkira. And which of these names is true? And what keeps each of these names? Let’s deal with this question. Read more →