Page 472 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

470  IT AL Y AND GREECE

a Corfu and the Ionian Islands

The Ionian Islands are the greenest and most fertile of all the Corfu
island groups. Lying off the west coast of mainland Greece, • Corfu town
they have been greatly influenced by Western Europe. Periods
of rule by the Venetians, French, and British have left their
mark on many of the islands, especially in the mixed Kefalloniá
architecture of places like Corfu town. The Ionians first became Athens
a holiday destination during the Roman era, and today their Zákynthos
beaches remain one of their most popular attractions.

Locator Map
The Palace of St. Michael
and St. George was built
by the British between Also worth seeing are the
1819 and 1824 to serve Town Hall – a grand Venetian
as the residence of a high building located in the Plateía
commissioner. Used for a Dimarcheíou – the Byzantine
short time by the Greek Museum, and the fascinating
royal family after the British Archaeological Museum. The
left the island, the palace is latter’s centerpiece is a stunning
now home to the eclectic Gorgon frieze.
Museum of Asiatic Art. On the town’s eastern side
The palace overlooks the stands the 16th-century
Esplanade, or Spianáda, a Venetian-built Old Fortress,
mixture of park and town which affords magnificent views
square, and the site of the over the town and along the
cricket ground. Once a island’s east coast. The New
The elegant parade of cafés known as the Venetian firing range, the Fortress was built shortly after
Liston in Corfu town cricket pitch was developed the old one to strengthen the
by the British, though it is no town’s defenses.
Corfu longer in use. Nearby, the Enosis
* 104,000. k 3 km (1.5 miles) S of Monument commemorates the P Palace of St. Michael
Corfu town. g Xenofóntos Stratigoú, 1864 union of the Ionian Islands and St. George
Corfu town. @ n Plateía Saróko. with the rest of Greece. The Palaia Anaktora. Tel 26610-30443.
Liston, a parade of cafés that Open 8am–8pm (to 3pm in winter)
Corfu offers the diverse was built in 1807 as a copy of the Tue–Sun. Closed main public hols.
attractions of secluded coves, Rue de Rivoli in Paris, lines one
bustling resorts, and traditional side of the square. Northern Corfu
hill villages. Between 229 BC Another of the town’s most Northern Corfu, in particular
and AD 337 it was part of the famous sights, the distinctive the northeast coast, is a busy
Roman empire. It remained red-domed belfry of Agios vacation destination, which
under Byzantine rule until the Spyrídon is the tallest belfry on boasts a whole host of popular
14th century, when the Corfu. The church was built in resorts and beaches. Set around
Venetians took control. French 1589 and dedicated to the a fishing harbor, Kassiópi has
and British occupation followed, island’s patron saint. retained its character in spite
before unification with Greece
in 1864. Though the island is
most popular for its beaches,
inland there are many places
where you can still observe
the traditional lifestyle of the
Corfiot people.
Corfu Town
The checkered history of the
island is reflected in Corfu
town’s varied architecture.
With its grand French-style
colonnades, elegant Italianate
buildings, and famous cricket
pitch, the town is a delightful
blend of European influences. The multiple picturesque bays of Palaiokastrítsa in northern Corfu
For hotels and restaurants see pp484–6 and pp487–9

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