Corfu Holidays

Things To Do on Corfu Holidays

If you are planning holidays in Corfu you'll be delighted to know that there is something for everyone; from chilled out beaches to bustling shopping districts. Corfu Town, Kerkyra to the locals, is a captivating blend of European influences. Spend your Corfu holiday wandering through Venetian-style alleyways, drink coffee at a cafe in the Parisian-style Liston Arcade, or watch a match at the British-built cricket ground. The Palace of St Michael and St George was once home to Greek royalty, and today houses a museum. Other interesting sites in the town include the Municipal Art Gallery, Archaeological Museum and distinctive Agios Spyridon church.

In the south is the 13th Century Gardiki Castle, and fortresses from the same era can be explored at Angelokasrto and Palaiokastrista. A glimpse of traditional Greek life can be seen at the charming hill village of Vatos in the west. A great day trip destination is the historic Achellieon Palace and gardens. The Austrian Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria built the palace in the late 19th Century.

Naturally the sea and sand are big attractions: visitors can take boat trips to explore the crystal clear sea and dazzling coast, enjoy a multitude of water sports, or simply relax in the sun on the beaches of Dassia or Perama.

Culture

The island is steeped in history and often features in Greek Mythology. Corinthians colonised the island in the 8th Century BC, and during the Roman era it became established as a holiday destination. Corfu was then ruled by a succession of empires: Byzantine; Venetian; French; British during the 19th Century, and finally became part of Greece in 1864. The architectural mixture of Corfu Town is evidence of this colourful past. The island was occupied by Italy during WW2, but since peace returned became one of Europe's favourite holiday spots.

Corfu Town is home to traditional marching bands, Philarmonikes, who play regular weekend promenade performances during the summer, and during Holy Week. Over the Easter weekend bands lead processions through the town, culminating in the spectacular ritual of smashing large pots on the streets in anticipation of Jesus' return. The town's Venetian-style Ta Karnavalia during the February carnival season is a highlight, always ending with dancing and partying.

Throughout the summer most of Corfu's villages hold local festivals - paniyiris. The village of Loustri has an annual pie festival on September 1st, well worth visiting to sample the local food. Corfu's cuisine is influenced by its multicultural past, and visiting meat eaters should try sofrito (meat, garlic, vinegar and parsley), pastitsada (beef and macaroni in red sauce) and bourdeto (spicy fish casserole). Vegetarians are catered for with a range of speciality mezedes. You'll certainly never go hungry on holiday in Corfu!