Corfu

The cosmopolitan island of Corfu is probably the most well known island of the Ionian complex and one of the most popular in the whole Mediterranean. It is a pole of attraction for hundreds of thousands visitors every year as well as source of inspiration for all kinds of art, carrying a huge cultural heritage and disposing special splendor which combined with its natural beauty, marvelous climate, beaches and interesting sights, makes the island one of the top destinations for Greek and foreign travelers. Its area covers a surface of 591 km2 and its coasts stretch 217 km.
Corfu (Kerkira) was named after a woman. According to mythology, Poseidon fell in love with the daughter of Aesopos, Korkira, and brought her to this island naming it after her. The offspring of this love was a little boy, named Faiakas. He was to establish later the Kingdom of Faiakes, which according to Homer was the last stop of Ulysses before he returned to Ithaca.

The international name of Corfu was given to the island due to the two citadels (perched on two different tops) which can be found in the town of Corfu. Another ancient name that we can meet is Drepanon (scythe), which was attributed to the island because of its shape.

This is a photo from Lake Koryssia, the largest one of the magnificent island of Corfu

Corfu defines the Hellenic sea borders with Italy and Albania. This strategic position is responsible for the many conquests the island has undergone, influencing its culture, mores and customs. The Venetians, the French and the English passed on to the island many strong cultural elements resulting in the integration of the western culture to the Greek identity. Corfu joined Greece in 1864. The island has made a significant contribution to education, literature, arts and politics. The first governor of modern Greece, Ioannis Kapodistrias, the authors Andreas Moustoksidis and Iakovos Polilas, Nikolaos Mantzaros, who wrote the music for the Greek National Anthem, and the Theotokis family, which gave birth to many significant politicians and authors, come from Corfu. In 1824 the first Greek university known as Ionian Academy, was founded on the island. In 1840 the first philharmonic orchestra of Greece was established. It is not an accidental fact that today Corfu numbers 18 philharmonic orchestras.

The island's population is the one third of the total of the whole Corfu prefecture – nearly 30,000 residents (Corfu, Paxoi, Adipaxoi, Othoni, Ereikoussa and Mathraki). It is divided to the old town (Ksopoli, as it is named by the locals, between the old and the new fort) and to three new suburbs: Madouki at the northwest, Sarroco situated between the hills Avrami and Sotiros, and Garitsa, which starts from the Douglas Column at the southern seaside. The historical centre is situated in the old town, where the surrounding walls did not allow the extension of the town, resulting in a special architecture, with high multi-store buildings, narrow roads (kadounia) with hanging laundry and small squares. It is the biggest preserved medieval town in Greece and one of the most beautiful in the whole Mediterranean.