Page 76 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

11 12 " 1908, only to be seized in 1919
by Greece as war reparations.
Marathiás Achílleion Palace It is famous as the location
Μαραθιάς Αχίλλειον used for the casino scenes in
the James Bond film For Your
⌂ 33 km (20 miles) SE of ⌂ 19 km (12 miles) SW of Eyes Only.
Corfu town Corfu town @ # 8:30am– There have been numerous
7pm daily ∑ achillion-
These two adjacent beaches, corfu.gr attempts to describe the
separated only by a small
Achílleion’s architectural style,
EXPERIENCEC The Ionian Islands coast of Corfu, looking out Palace was built in 1890–91 by declared it “a monstrous
A popular day trip from any of
stream, are among the best
ranging from Neo-Classical to
Corfu’s resorts, the Achílleion
Teutonic. Lawrence Durrell
of several on the southwest
the Italian architect Raphael
to neighbouring Paxí (p78).
building” while Henry Miller
derided it as the “worst piece
Carita for Empress Elisabeth
The sand is packed rather
than soft, but the water
of Austria (1837–98), formerly
of gimcrackery I have ever laid
offshore is delightful for
Elisabeth of Bavaria and best
eyes on”. Indeed, the empress
wading, if sometimes choppy
was not particularly pleased
known as Princess Sisi. She
with the finished building, but
used it as a personal retreat
by afternoon. Both beaches
her fondness for Corfu made
from her problems at the
are well signposted from the
main island road and have
The palace contains a
Archduke Rudolph, had
tavernas just inland. They
number of interesting arti-
attract a mixed clientele, from
committed suicide at
families and couples at Habsburg court: her only son, her decide to stay.
Mayerling and the court’s
facts. Inside, some original
Marathiás to the occasional pomp and ceremony was furniture is on display and on
naturist at the remoter end of notoriously stifling. After the the walls there are a few
the cliff-backed Agía Varvára. empress was assassinated by paintings of Achilles, who was
an Italian anarchist in 1898, the empress’s favourite Greek
the palace lay empty for a mythological hero, and after
decade, until it was bought by whom the palace is named.
German Kaiser Wilhelm II in Another exhibit is the strange
saddle-seat that was used by
Kaiser Wilhelm II whenever he
was writing at his desk.
The grand wrought-iron After touring the palace,
staircase of the Achílleion visitors can drop in to the
Palace (inset) Vassilakis Tastery, opposite

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