Travel in Greece. Corfu Island

The green Corfu island, known as the "Queen of the Ionian Islands", is located opposite Albanian coast. Its beauty and the hospitality of the inhabitants kept Odysseus here, captivated Shakespeare with the green olive groves he described in The Tempest, and inspired Darrell with the "delightful landscapes" to which he dedicated the book. The rulers also appreciated it. Napoleon, Empress Sisi, Wilhelm II rested here, and in recent years Prince Charles often comes here to play cricket here.

Experienced travelers prefer to book a hotel in Greece in advance online, compare prices, ratings and reviews. For example, in Corfu you can book Aeolos Beach Resort from 145 euros per night.

The wonderful climate, lush vegetation and the special attitude of the locals make it one of the most visited places in Greece. The island and its resorts have all the tourist amenities - golf courses, beautiful beaches, picturesque bays, azure sea, many souvenirs of the rich history of the region, a water park and charming seaside towns.

The influence of the peoples who ruled here is noticeable on the island. This is especially evident in architecture that did not suffer during the wars of the 20th century. The Venetians left behind elegant buildings with balconies and shutters characteristic of the Italian style, the British erected many monuments, public buildings and created playgrounds for playing cricket. The fortress, towering over the capital of the island, reminds of the times when the island was defending itself from the Turkish invasion.

The capital of Corfu, bearing the same name as the island, is a charming place where among the ancient narrow streets, palaces and lanes you can enjoy the fleeting atmosphere of the city. There are many small shops, jewelry and woodworking workshops, and the measured life of the inhabitants enhances the feeling of a festive idyll.

Corfu Town - the most beautiful city of the island, also known as Corfu, was built mainly by the Venetians in the 14th century, but there are also many influences from other peoples. The historic center with its amazing atmosphere, narrow cobbled streets, arches and historic buildings is listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The City Hall, the Royal Palace of the 19th century, the Venetian castle of the 14th century and the three-hundred-year-old Church of St. Spyridon with priceless icons deserve attention. The city's capital is also a great place for shopping.

Aqualand is one of the largest and best organized water parks in the Mediterranean. It offers many water slides for both adults and children, turbulent rivers, water tubes, hot tubs and many sports and leisure pools.

The northern part of the island is considered the "resort coast", as there are many resorts along the main road. The most popular are Kassiop and Siadari with a developed hotel infrastructure, as well as quiet and charming villages such as Kalami. One of the most beautiful places is Paleokastritsa. These are beautiful pebble beaches, azure sea and many bays surrounded by high cliffs and accessible only from the sea. Another attraction of the region is Mount Pantokrator, towering over the surrounding area.

The south of Corfu is less mountainous and has several resorts. If you're looking for a vibrant nightlife, Benitses is a good choice where you can party until dawn and laze on the beach during the day. This part of the island is also home to Mirtiotissa, which was once considered the most beautiful beach in the world.

Corfu is a place for adherents and fans to have an active rest, because here you can practice almost any sport and everyone will find something for themselves. The coast offers excellent conditions for sailing, windsurfing, diving, snorkeling. Rental shops near the beaches offer not only sports equipment, but also scooters and water bikes. The best places for water sports enthusiasts are Kontokali Bay, Grecotel Dolphina, Ermones Beach and Corcyra.
Other recreational activities on the island include tennis courts, squash courts, stables, golf courses and cricket grounds.

Kitchen

Corfu cuisine is characterized by a combination of many Italian and Greek dishes and local delicacies. The sea, rich in fish and seafood, provided the menu with such dishes as, for example, Bianco - fish in lemon sauce cooked with garlic, and Burdeto - meat cooked with garlic, with lots of red pepper and hot spices, served with tomato sauce. Also worth a try: sofrit - beef fried in a wine sauce with parsley and herbs, pastitsada - chicken cooked in a pan with tomato sauce, onions, garlic, cloves and herbs, usually served with spaghetti, kleftiko - lamb with vegetables or a typical village salad - choriatics.