Wednesday, 19 January 2005     ÅëëçíéêÝò óåëßäåò
Area index : Useful information : Transportation : Marinas-Yachting : Coming to Greece? Home page Add to favorites Contact Site map  
 A whole new outlook!
Panoramic images of hotels

Holidayshop.gr offers a panoramic tour of hotels and entertainment venues

 The real deal!
GREVENA WITH €48
PELION WITH €45
ELATI WITH €50
KASTORIA WITH €25
 Best of the best
Archaeological Sites
Beaches
Monuments
Museums
Sightseeing
 Let’s get extreme!
Scuba diving
Ski Centers
Wind Surfing
 Photo-Wallpapers
Choose amazing wallpapers from the holidayshop.gr collection
 Arrivals – Departures
Athens International Airport – Eleftherios Venizelos
 Better check the weather...
National Observatory of Athens
Poseidon
Ntua.gr
Accuweather
Weather Underground
 
 Home Page > Sightseeing > Kerkyra or Corfu
 Kerkyra or Corfu Print this page e-mail this page 

One of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean Sea. The old part of the city lies between two venetian fortresses. Corfu, which is Latin for Kerkira, is a variation of its old place-name Korifo, inspired by the two korifes (peaks in Greek) of the Old Fortress which surrounded the city. The magnificent and grandiose Kerkira owes all its splendor to its european influences, having been the crossroads between many different civilizations. Its cultural identity is the result of the creative combination of various characteristics.  The outcome is a harmonious sense of rhythm and culture which goes beyond the traditional greek flavor and charms the visitor with its uniqueness, taking him into a different european dimension.


DON’T FORGET TO VISIT
• The Liston, an impressive building complex northwest of the central square Spianada (Esplanade), which was constructed during the French period, combining both french and venetian architecture (similar buildings of the same style and era can be found in Paris, e.g. in Rue Rivoli). It's worth mentioning that the Liston got its name from the famous list Libro d’Oro, which included many noblemen of the time. They had the privilege of being the only ones allowed free access to the area.
• The square Spianada itself, constructed similarly to the Royal Gardens of Europe. It is the biggest square in the Balkans and one of the most impressive ones in the whole continent. It features venetian fountains, an ancient aqueduct and a beautiful pavilion that hosts the activities of the local philharmonic bands during the summer.
• The Old Fortress, built around 100 meters east of the Spianada, right on a small peninsula. It was constructed during the Venetian Occupation in mid 16th century and was cut off from the shore by an artificial dike, called Contra Fossa. This is where the local army managed to check the enemy advances of the muslin forces under the command of Scholemburg (there is a statue in his honor at the entrance of the Old Fortress). It symbolizes the salvation of Europe from the Ottomans. The most important edifices inside the Fortress are the old english barracks and the church of Agios Georgios (Saint George), also built by the English, which happens to be the only orthodox church in the world built in Dorian order.
• The New Fortress, which dominates the western part of the old harbor, built between 1586 and 1589 by the Venetians. Its walls are decorated with engravings of the emblem of the Venetian Democracy: a lion of Saint Marcus holding the Gospel and seven arrows, which symbolize the Eptanisa (the seven Ionian islands).
• The mansion of Agios Michail (Saint Michael) and Agios Georgios (Saint George), which used to host the homonymous monastic order as well as the English Commissioner’s headquarters. It was built between 1818 and 1823. In front of the palace gardens there is a statue of Adams, the Commissioner who built the irrigation and drainage systems, according to the english prototypes. Not only does his system survive to this day but it is still in use, proving how valuable his contribution was and explaining why the square in front of the palace is named after him.
• The church of Panagia tis Mandrakinas (Virgin Mary of Mandrakina), next to the Boschetto Park.
• The Kato Platia (that’s how the northern part of the Spianada is called) where you can find what is considered to be the most picturesque cricket field in the world, with the Liston looming above it on one side and the Old Fortress on the other. Kerkira is the only place in Greece where cricket is played.
• The Boschetto Park is a true gem, brilliantly green, brimming with flowers and fountains. In this beautiful garden, among the many decorative busts you can easily spot the English Commissioner Guilford, one of the most important personalities in the history of Kerkira. He was the man who founded the Ionian Academy in co-operation with Ioannis Kapodistrias. It was later going to become the first University in Greece (unfortunately it was transferred to Athens leaving Kerkira bare of its cultural heritage).
• The building of the Ionian Academy, of venetian architecture, which is situated in the Spianada square. It was bombed by the Germans in 1943 and part of it was reconstructed and renovated in 1995. In front of the Ionian Academy, in the middle of a small park, looms the statue of the first governor of Greece, Ioannis Kapodistrias.
• The Town Hall square, with its many magnificent buildings like the Town Hall itself.
• Easter in Kerkira is a unique experience. You can watch the procession of the metropolitan epitaph at 9 p.m. with all the philharmonic bands ands choirs of the city in full swing. The resurrection (Saturday at 10 p.m.) is also very impressive, with people throwing ceramic jugs off their balconies in the old part of the city.



Chania | Chios | Idra (Hydra) | Karpathos, Olympos | Kastoria | Mithimna or Molivos | Monemvasia | Nafplio | Rodos (Rhodes) | Santorini | Spetses
 
New Central Macedonia - Naousa - Imathia - Hotel Anthemia

New Thessaly-Trikala-Elati-Koziakas

New Central Macedonia-Imathia-Naousa-Hotel Vermion

New West Macedonia-Grevena-Alatopetra-Tymfea Hotel

New Central Macedonia-Imathia-Naousa-Esperides Hotel

NewWest Macedonia-Grevena-Alatopetra-Amadryades Hotel

New Thessaly - Trikala - Elati - Katafygio Hotel

New Thessaly - Trikala - Elati - Giamandes Hotel

New Central Greece-Evrytania-Karpenisi-Voutiro-Villa Virginia



New Central Greece-Evrytania-Karpenisi-Avaris Hotel



New Central Greece-Evrytania-Karpenisi-Neo Mikro Chorio-Gonia

Peloponnese - Lakonia - Archagelos - Palazzo Hotel

Peloponnese - Achaia - Kalavrita - Filoxenia Hotel

Peloponnese - Achaia - Kalavrita - Georgios V

Peloponnese - Lakonia - Karavostasi - Itilo - Mani - Porto Vitilo

Peloponnese - Dimitsana - Arkadia - Dimitsana Hotel

Peloponnese - Lakonia - Gerolimenas - Mani - Kyrimai Hotel

Peloponnese - Lakonia - Stavri - Mani - Tsitsilis Castle

 Peloponnese - Lakonia - Areopoli - Mani - Kastro Maini

Peloponnese - Lakonia - Areopoli - Mani - Hotel Mani

Peloponnese - Lakonia - Monemvasia - Topalti Village

Peloponnese - Lakonia - Monemvasia - Belessis House

Peloponnese - Lakonia - Monemvasia - Pramataris Hotel

 Crete - Agios Nikolaos - Kalo Chorio - Elpida Hotel

Peloponnese-Lakonia-Monemvasia-Panorama Hotel

West Macedonia - Kastoria - Anastasiou Hotel

Central  Macedonia - Edessa - Xenia Hotel Edessa

Central Macedonia - Kastoria - Anastassiou Keletron

 Epirus - Konitsa - Grand Hotel Dentro

West Macedonia - Kastoria - Argos Orestiko - Batselas Hotel

West Macedonia - Florina - Agios Germanos -Varnous Hotel

West Macedonia - Florina - Sklithro - Agonari

West Macedonia - Florina (capital) - Philippion Hotel

West Macedonia - Kastoria - Galaxy Hotel

West Macedonia - Kastoria - Filippos

West Macedonia - Nymfeo - Florina - Enterne

West Macedonia - Kastoria - Hotel Petra



Epirus - Zagorochoria - Papigo - Papaevagelou Hotel



Epirus - Zagorochoria - Monodendri - Monodendri Hotel

Epirus - Zagorochoria - Vitsa - Mpeloi Hotel

Epirus - Zagorochoria - Vitsa - Troas

Epirus - Zagorochoria - Vitsa - En chora Bezitsa

Magnesia - Pelion - Tsagarada - Philoxenia



Magnesia - Pelion - Tsagarada - Dolphins Studios



Magnesia - Pelio - Tsagarada - Aglaida Apartments

Magnesia - Pelio - Tsagarada - Diogenis Hotel



Magnesia - Pelion - Tsagarada - Villa Georgie

Last Updates 13/1/2005

Send us your e-mail and we’ll keep you up to date with holidayshop.gr
 
© 2003-2005 holidayshop.gr - Created, Developed & Hosted by Hellas Internet
Terms of Use : Contact us : Site map