Page 67 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Corfu & the Ionian Islands

Corfu, Paxí and Antipaxí ❮❮ 65

Korisíon Lagoon, Corfu
8 A DAY TRIP FROM CORFU TOWN
TO PAXÍ
Corfu’s Korisíon Lagoon is
home to several species of wildlife. Lákka Corfu Town
(60 km)
Egrets and sandpipers, for example, Pórto
Longós
can be seen around the 5-km-
(3-mile-) long freshwater lake.
Located on the southern coastline Magazia
of Corfu island, Korisíon Lagoon is Ferry
boarding point
separated from the Ionian Sea by Paxí Gäios
a solid stretch of sand dunes and
beaches, and can be reached from Otzia
Mesongí (see pp20–21).
MORNING
Start your day by heading to
the New Port at Corfu Old Town
(see p63). Kamelia Lines operates
ferries and hydrofoils between
Corfu and Gäios, on Paxos. The
fastest crossing takes 55 minutes.
Timetables change monthly, with
more frequent departures in
June, July and August, so check
the ferry information on www.
paxos-thalassatravel.com for
up-to-date schedules. Once you
have disembarked, hire a car for
a few hours or take a taxi around
the island. Start by heading
north along the coastal road to
Grand interior of the Achílleion Palace the village of Pórto Longós,
where you can explore the
Achílleion Palace, Corfu
9 lively harbour side and enjoy a
delicious lunch at Taverna
Located along the coast en
route to Benítses, this elegant palace Pratigos (see p71), one of several
excellent restaurants that can be
was the whim of Empress Elisabeth found along the waterfront here.
of Austria, also known as Sissi, who
adored ancient Greek mythology. The AFTERNOON
palace and grounds are dotted with
sta tues of Apollo, Hera, Achilles and After having lunch take the road
Artemis. After Elisabeth’s assassina- signposted to Lákka (see p63).
tion the palace remained vacant until Spend time in the village and on
nearby beaches with their clear
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany bought turquoise water before driving
it in 1907 (see pp18–19). south past the tiny hamlets of
Magazia and Otzia (see p67), on
Gäios, Paxí
0 the way back to Gäios. While the
distance is less than 10 km
MAP B6
Located on the east coast of Paxí, the (6 miles) and does not take long
small, pretty town of Gäios is the main to drive, it is worth taking your
time to stop to admire the great
port and commer cial centre of the views. Back at Gäios, visit the
island. Traditional Greek houses and Venetian square and enjoy a meal
tavernas line the tiny winding streets at any of the nearby restaurants,
and pictur esque harbour side here. such as Taka Taka (see p73) or
The harbour is popular with leisure Taverna Vassilis (see p71).
sailors because the water is so calm – Afterwards, head to the harbour
an offshore island, Agios Nikólaos and hop back on the hydro foil for
(see p66), sits at the harbour entrance the return journey to Corfu.
acting as a natural breakwater.
See map on pp62–3
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