Corfu island is a one of
Greece's top destinations and attracts thousands of visitors every year. It is mountainous and located at the entrance of the Adriatic Sea. It has much to offer to the visitor: impressive landscapes, dense vegetation, many golden sandy beaches, an elegant capital, traditional villages, many Byzantine churches, museums, Venetians ruins and attractive resorts all over the island.
Corfu was
one of the first islands in Greece to open itself to tourism and, due to a long experience, offers well organised services.
Corfu lies to the north of the Ionian sea at the entrance of Adriatic. It is the second largest island in the group known as the Seven Islands, or Eptanisa. Together with the small island of Paxi and others that are still smaller (Antipaxi, Othoni, Erikoussa, Mathraki),
Corfu constitutes a separate prefecture. It has an area of 592 sq. km, a coastline of 217 km and a population of over 100,000 making it the largest Ionian island in terms of population. Approximately 65% of the surface of the island is under cultivation and 59% of this area is covered with olives, cypress trees, citrus fruit trees, fruit trees and vineyards.
Olive oil is the chief product of the island which is considered to be among the
best in Greece. The island also grows cumquat, the very small orange of Chinese derivation which is made into a sweet or a liquer. It's taste and aroma have made it a symbol of the island for tourists and is produced only in
Corfu and nowhere else in
Europe. Its dense vegetation exists thanks to the
mild climate of Corfu and to what is by Greek standards the high level of humidity. The summer heat is moderated by the humidity and the winters are mild.
Corfu island can be reached by air from Athens (daily service from Athens airport and more than six flights a day during peak periods) or Europe. Ships go from Patras (132 nautical miles), Igoumenitsa (18 nautical miles) or Sagiada as well as from
Italy (Bari, Brindizi, Ancona, Otranto) and the former Yugoslavia (Bar, Dubrovnik, Split). By road you can go from
Athens or
Thessaloniki by way of Igoumenitsa.
Corfu, is the most popular of the
Ionian islands. It is a very green island and a mixture of the civilizations that have passed through at various times. The town impresses and charms the visitor with its two forts, narrow streets, tall houses, arcades, Venetian-built Town Hall, church to Saint Spyridon, the island's patron saint, flower-filled gardens, and balconies with their superb wrought-iron fences. Flooded with sights,
Corfu is a small paradise on Earth. from Paleokastritsa to Kanoni, from the Achillion to Pontikonissi, from Sidari to Kavos and the northern coast, one will find crystal clear water, scenic coves, greenery and vegetation that 'sinks' into the deep blue sea. On this cosmopolitan island it is easy to combine relaxation with intense nightlife
