CORFU OLD TOWN DISCOVER CORFU’S PRIDE AND JOY
The Greek island of Corfu is an absolute gem. Picture yourself stepping into a romantic film set: medieval fortresses, cobblestone alleys, colorful houses overlooking the serene Ionian sea. The seventh largest Greek island, the fortified port town of Corfu – known as Kerkyra in Greek – was one of the first to welcome tourists and VIPs in the mid-’60s. Besides its rich 3,000-year-old history, charming villages and beautiful beaches, the town of Corfu exudes a fairytale-like aura no doubt created by the lasting Byzantine, Venetian, British and French influences.
It’s no wonder picture-perfect Corfu and its Pontikonisi islet are so often depicted in posters, photos, Instagram stories and on the silver screen.Your Corfu experience should begin from Kerkyra town: its history and architecture, music, and food. The best way to explore the city is on foot, but you can also take a lovely horse and carriage ride at sunset.
There are dozens of things to see and do in Corfu: first and foremost wander through the medieval Old Town and its cantons. Dating back to the 8th century BC, the Old Town of Corfu is an UNESCO World Heritage site. Pastel-colored neoclassical houses and tiny squares hold vivid traces of 400 years of Venetian rule. Look up and you’ll even see freshly washed laundry hanging out to dry from one balcony to the other… straight out of an Italian Cinecittà film.
The town’s three forts were also designed by Venetian engineers giving Kerkyra town a sense of grandeur.
Walk down the narrow ‘kantounia’ that lead to the largest square in Greece and the best place to see and be seen. Welcome to the Spianada located in front of the Old Fortress. A visit to Corfu town wouldn’t be complete without a stroll along the Liston with its famous vibrantly lit arches. The popular pedestrian walkway on the western edge of Spianada was designed by the French as a smaller Rue de Rivoli and exudes nobility and luxury. It is also the main entrance to Corfu’s Old Town and it is here that the island’s bands meet during celebrations such as Easter or Carnival to perform the famous ‘kantades’ (serenades).
Don’t be surprised by the grassy pitch opposite Spianada as British rule left behind a local love for cricket.
Make sure to visit Saint Spyridon Church dedicated to the island’s patron saint. You can’t miss its bright red 40-meter-high bell tower and blue clock visible from any part of town. From there head west to the ‘New’ Fortress and its maze of underground tunnels. And of course to the Old Venetian Fortress built on top of a rocky outcrop and offering spectacular panoramic views of the town and the Ionian Sea.
You should also definitely visit the Casa Parlante – the Living History Museum, Boschetto Garden also known as the “Durrell Garden”, the elegant Palace of St Michael and St George, and the first modern Greek university which opened in 1823 – the Ionian Academy.
