The island of Corfu, or as the Greeks call it Kerkyra, is located at the very “entrance” to the Adriatic Sea and has historically been of great interest to all countries competing in this region. Therefore, it is not surprising that in different eras it was owned by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, French and British. The latter transferred Corfu to Greece in 1864, of which it has been a part ever since. True, during the Second World War, Corfu was occupied first by the Italians and then by the Germans, but the period of occupation lasted only three years, after which the Greek flag was again raised over the island.
Despite the fact that Corfu has been inhabited by the Greeks since ancient times, the strongest mark, especially in architecture, was left by the Venetians, who owned the island for more than four hundred years. And the local Greek language is noticeably different from the language used on the Greek mainland, as it contains a lot of Italian words and figures of speech. And if you find yourself in the historical center of the island’s capital, Kerkyra, you will get the impression that you are in Genoa or Verona. Massive fortress walls, narrow streets paved with stone slabs with laundry traditionally drying between the houses and typical Italian architecture.
Corfu Island: photos
Corfu Island: where is it located?
The island stretches parallel to the coast of the mainland for 65 km. The northern part of the island is located off the coast of Saranda, Albania, from which it is separated by a strait 3 to 23 km wide, and the southern part of the island is located opposite the coast of Thesprotia, Greece. The northern, wider part is mountainous (Cretaceous and Jurassic systems), the highest point is 906 m (Mount Pantokrator), the southern part is a narrow, low, hilly strip (Tertiary sediment).
The island is the main part of the Kerkyra region. The administrative center is also called Kerkyra (Corfu).
What is Corfu Island famous for? Features of local beaches, resorts and hotels. What's good about a holiday in Corfu, what to do, what to see. Photos and reviews.
Corfu is a picturesque Greek island in the Ionian Sea, a small piece of land in the shape of a sickle, which is distinguished by a variety of flora. Mediterranean pines, mighty oaks, oleanders, orange trees and olive groves are found everywhere here. Thanks to the life-giving greenery, Kerkyra (the second name of the island of Corfu) seems like a fabulous emerald island. Centuries of rich, sometimes dramatic, history have left indelible traces, forever frozen in the stones of ancient temples, in the polished cobblestones of the pavement, in the walls of fortresses, palaces and mansions.
Corfu island on the map of Greece
Corfu Island - history
The corner of paradise continually haunted all the “superpowers” of the past. In ancient times, the Peloponnesian War began between Sparta and Corfu over the island of Corfu. Then the island became part of the Roman Empire. Cicero visited here twice, and Emperor Nero danced in honor of Zeus. At the beginning of the 14th century. The Venetians came to Corfu and ruled the island for 400 years, giving it magnificent architecture. The Most Serene Republic saved Kerkyra from the attack of the Ottomans, so today Corfu is the only Greek territory that has never known Turkish oppression.
Venetian architecture on the island. Corfu
Venice was ousted from the island by Napoleon's troops, the French burned the list of noble families and declared Kerkyra a territory.
But Bonaparte's reign was short-lived. The Russian fleet of General Ushakov drove out the French, and the Ionian Republic was soon created. Thus, for the first time since the fall of the Byzantine Empire, Greek statehood was restored. During the British protectorate, a network of roads, an aqueduct and many public buildings were built in Corfu.
Where to stay in Corfu
Most of the island's hotels are located on the seashore and have their own piece of the beach. If you do not plan to swim in sea water for one reason or another, you can stay in a hotel with a swimming pool in Corfu. For children, most hotel complexes have playgrounds.
All that remains is to choose your hotel among the huge number of offers on the island of Corfu. Our recommendations for the season2019:
Resorts and beaches of Corfu island
The entire 200-kilometer coastline of the island is a series of beautiful pebble and sandy beaches with cozy bays in which bungalows and villas are located:
- Greek resort Ipsos- a great place to have an inexpensive holiday in Corfu and be able to comfortably travel around the island. The resort has a good selection of inexpensive hotels, a long sandy beach and convenient transportation;
- One of the best resorts in Corfu - a fishing village Benitses 12 km from the capital;
- - one of the most famous resorts on the island of Corfu, because it is there that the “Canal of Love” is located. Tourists necessarily strive to get to Sidari at least for a day to soak up the soft sand and enjoy the pristine beauty of this corner of the coast;
- In the western part of Corfu there is a town Paleokastritsa, surrounded by bizarre rocks. Popular among our compatriots;
- IN Dassia many large hotels, taverns and restaurants and a long pebble beach;
- Resort Rhoda- a quiet place for a family holiday on the northern coast of the island. The pride of this Corfu resort is its long sandy beaches and warm sea with a gentle entry into the water;
- - a paradise for connoisseurs of small villages. On the coast, instead of multi-storey hotels, there are small hotels and bungalows, where guests know each other by sight. All around are mountain landscapes, greenery, the smell of myrtle and orange trees. Acharavi beach is considered one of the longest in Corfu;
- Golden sand resort Condocalion families with children were chosen;
- Nissaki is a green resort at the foot of the Pantokrator mountain range on the north-eastern coast of Corfu. The place is famous for its intimate bays. The beaches of this Corfu resort are covered with snow-white pebbles, the water off the coast is clean and clear. The picture is complemented by a special microclimate and mountain air;
- Resort Gouvia is located in the eastern part of the island of Corfu, near its administrative capital. A small cozy village is surrounded by greenery and offers tourists a beach holiday on the coast of a picturesque bay;
- Southern Resort Agios Georgios will appeal to lovers of peace and quiet;
- The richest guests relax in the town Komeno.
It should be noted that the island is considered an elite resort with a long bohemian tradition, and many Corfu hotels have a luxury category. Even the famous Queen Elizabeth of Austria loved to vacation in Corfu. In 1890, she built the Achilleion Palace, a masterpiece of classical Greek architecture, near the capital. Later the mansion was bought by the German Emperor Wilhelm I, he grew roses in the garden and conducted archaeological excavations in Agia Theodora.
Attractions of Corfu
What sights of Corfu are worth seeing, where to look for them on the island and what to pay attention to:
- In the capital of Corfu - Kerkyra - she left a piece of her heart. During Venetian rule it was rebuilt Old fortress, created by the Byzantines on the site of the ancient acropolis. New fortress built to protect against the troops of Suleiman the Magnificent. Nowadays there is a yacht mooring under the mighty fortresses. Exhibitions, concerts, as well as Greek folk dance performances and light shows are organized.
- In 1799, Admiral Ushakov, commander of the Russian-Turkish squadron, drove the French out of the island of Corfu. Therefore, today Russian tourists have the opportunity to amuse their national pride by walking around monument to F. Ushakov, established by the Greek government in 2002.
- At the beginning of the 19th century. French architect Lespes created on the main square of Corfu Liston gallery, the prototype of which was the Parisian shopping arcade on Rivoli Street. Now it houses the most popular cafes and restaurants in Corfu.
- The decoration of Spinada Square is Palace of Saints Michael and George in neoclassical style. The building belongs to the Museum of Asian Art. A collection of 10,000 exhibits was donated to the island by Greek diplomats working in India and China.
Here is a detailed map of the island of Corfu with the names of cities and towns in Russian. Move the map while holding it with the left mouse button. You can move around the map by clicking on one of the four arrows in the upper left corner. You can change the scale using the scale on the right side of the map or turning the mouse wheel.
What country is Corfu Island in?
The island of Corfu is located in Greece. This is a wonderful, beautiful place, with its own history and traditions. Corfu island coordinates: north latitude and east longitude (show on large map).
Virtual walk
The “man” figurine above the scale will help you take a virtual walk through the cities of the island of Corfu. By clicking and holding the left mouse button, drag it to any place on the map and you will go for a walk, while inscriptions with the approximate address of the area will appear in the upper left corner. Select the direction of movement by clicking on the arrows in the center of the screen. The “Satellite” option at the top left allows you to see a relief image of the surface. In the "Map" mode you will have the opportunity to get acquainted in detail with the roads of the island of Corfu and the main attractions.
Corfu Island or Kerkyra is a Greek island located in the group of Ionian islands in the middle of the sea of the same name. This is the largest island of the group, its area is almost 600 sq. km. Its northern part is covered with mountains, the central part is flatter, and the southern part is lowland, but the entire territory is covered by a network of good roads.
Agriculture is developed and is aimed at growing fruits, olives from which olive oil is produced, and grapes for local wine. The unification with Greece took place in the middle of the 19th century. Before this, the island was the only territory that was never captured by the Ottoman Empire. It also has the glory of being the first island to open its doors to tourists.
The average temperature throughout the year varies from +20 degrees to +26 degrees. The period from October to March is marked by heavy rainfall. However, this does not stop tourists from visiting Corfu in other months, enjoying the warm sea and beautiful beach.
Tourism is the main economic sector that generates the largest portion of the island's income. Along with developed cities and resorts, there are also “wild”, hard-to-reach places that are favored by those who prefer a quiet holiday away from people.
In addition, Corfu is a place of pilgrimage for many Orthodox and Catholic believers who seek to venerate the relics of saints preserved on the island. There are also several museums on the island, including the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Art, the Serbian Museum dedicated to the Serbs who fought in the First World War, and the Public Library.
Corfu island on the map of Greece
Detailed map of Corfu island
Corfu Map
Corfu is one of the Ionian islands belonging to Greece. The second largest (593 square kilometers) among the Ionian Islands, Corfu is their administrative center. The capital of the island is the city of the same name, Corfu (or Kerkyra in Greek).
The map of Corfu shows a crescent-shaped piece of land washed by the sea. The Greek island is located in the northwestern part of the Ionian Sea, it stretches from north to south for 65 kilometers parallel to the coast of the mainland. The map of Corfu gives an idea of the position of the island relative to other territories: in the north the island is located off the coast of Albania, from which it is separated by a strait ranging from 3 to 23 kilometers wide, and in the south - opposite the coast of Greek Thesprotia. The length of the coastline is 217 kilometers.
The northern part of the island is extremely mountainous: it is crossed by an ancient rock formation that includes Corfu's highest point, Mount Pantokrator (917 meters). The central zone is hilly and the southern zone is lowland.
A detailed map of Corfu will help you decide on the choice of resort, which in most cases are located in picturesque, colorful towns and villages.
Corfu Map with sights located in the map tab, in the places section. This service will help you navigate the area while traveling.
