Corfu City tour

After a short drive we arrive in the pretty village of Gastouri. On the crown of the hill nearby is Corfu’s most famous building, the Achilleon Palace, constructed in 1892 for the Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Wander around a wonderful garden decorated by beautiful statues representing characters of Greek mythology and discover the different rooms of the Palace, with documents, paintings, antique furniture and the nice little chapel. Also the view from the beautiful gardens over the sea and Corfu town is magnificent.

Pontikonissi (mouse island)

Via the curly road, we proceed till the end of Kanoni, where you can admire the famous Pontikonissi (Mouse Island), which according to the legend was formed when the ship, which was taking Odysseus to Ithaki, was turned to stone by Poseidon. On the tiny island in the foreground of Pontikonissi, is the attractive monastery of Vlacherna linked to the island by a causeway. We drive along the roads towards a site of ancient Kerkyra, called Kanoni, where the gate of “Mon Repos” park lays, with the summer residence of the ex-Greek Royal Family and its wild-natural park. Opposite the Mon Repos gate lays the ruin of Paleopolis Church, the oldest one still in existence in Corfu.

Old town

Leaving this royal world, we drive, on the way back to the old town, along the sweep of Garitsa bay, admiring the important part of the island defence against the numerous invasions, the old Venetian Fortress. We stop in the old town for a pleasant walk in the shopping centre, one of the biggest squares in Europe, the famous Esplanade and the elegant Liston, which access in the past was only allowed to the aristocracy of Corfu, written down in the “Libro d’Oro”. You will discover all the interesting sites like the Saint Spyridon church, protector of the island, the interesting municipality and the charming narrow alleyways of the Old Venetian Town.