Page 66 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Corfu & the Ionian Islands

64 ❯❯ Corfu and the Ionian Islands Area by Area

Palaio Frourio,
4 GERALD DURRELL
Corfu Town
Founded by the Byzantines in the When Durrell moved with his family
11th century, this mighty fortress to Corfu as a boy in 1935, he became
was rebuilt by the Venetians in the fascinated by the island’s flora and
14th century and further expanded fauna. The start of a life-long love of
by the British in the 19th century. animals, Durrell’s Corfiot years were
It contains stunning Byzantine, later recounted in his Corfu Trilogy –
My Family and Other Animals (1956),
medieval and colonial architecture Birds, Beasts, and Relatives (1969) and
and treasures, including churches, The Garden of the Gods (1978).
a museum with Byzantine art, a
library and military cannon. There
Mon Repos Estate,
are superb views of Corfu Town 6
and the mainland from its highest Corfu Town
point (see pp14–15). Created by the second Lord High
Commissioner of the Ionian Islands,
Sir Frederick Adam, this estate is
famous for once being the summer
home of the Greek royal family.
Within its grounds are the remains
of the ancient city of Palaeopolis.
Minutes away are the scenic resorts
of Kanóni and Pontikonisi (Mouse
Island), which are popular spots at
which to take photos (see pp16–17).
Mount Pantokrátor,
7
Cannon in Palaio Frourio, Corfu Town Corfu
MAP C2
Pórto Longós, Paxí
5 Dominating the skyline to the north,
the 900-m- (3,000-ft-) high Mount
MAP B5
The idyllic harbourside village of Pantokrátor is the tallest mountain
Pórto Longós lies on the east coast on Corfu. While its south-facing
of Paxí, to the north of Gäios. Here, slopes are carpeted with olive groves
fishing and leisure boats bob gently and pine forests, the northern slopes
in the water, tavernas selling fresh are rugged and barren. From its peak
fish line the long horseshoe-shaped you can see Albania on a clear day.
bay and charming houses dot the
lush terraced landscape. Pórto Longós’ pretty harbour, Paxí

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