Last month I had the opportunity to visit Corfu in the Ionian Islands for work. It’s been more than 10 years since I last visited so I had some catching up to do!
A little bit of history
The first thing that you notice upon arriving in the city is how Italian it looks (I also got that comment on Instagram). That comes as no surprise since Corfu was under Venetian rule from 1386 since 1797. During that time the Ottomans attempted to siege the island on a number of occasions and most notably in 1537 and 1716. All these attempts were repulsed, so Corfu never fell under the Ottoman rule. During the last siege of 1716, the Venetians and Corfiots where under the leadership of Count Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg. He was honored with a statue in the entrance of the Old Fortress.
In 1797 the Venetians ceded the island to the French and in 1809 a British fleet besieged Corfu . It remained under the British rule until 1864 and was then united with Greece along with the other Ionian Islands.
Things to see in Corfu Town
I’ll start with my favorite one: Liston, an arched colonnade lined with cafes and restaurants on the west side of Spianada (Esplanade). Spianada is Greece’s largest square/ open area. Liston resembles uncannily Rue de Rivoli in Paris, albeit with a Mediterranean flair.
On the east side of Spianada lays the Old Fortress of Corfu, which was built by the Venetians. Inside the citadel you’ll find St George’s church, the Ionian University and you can walk up to the lookout which provides a beautiful view towards the city.
What impressed me the most was the Museum of Asian Art. It sounds like an odd suggestion for a Greek island but I haven’t met such a rich collection of Asian art in Greece before. The museum is housed in the former Palace of St. Michael and St. George, and you can get a glimpse of its former use as a palace in the throne room. It was established back in 1928 thanks to the donation of George Manos collection of Chinese and Japanese art. Then in 1973 Nikolaos Chatzivasiliou donated 400 works of art from India, Pakistan, Thibet, Thailand and SE Asia.
A visit in Corfu town isn’t complete without walking along the narrow streets of the Old Town, also known as kantounia. They are maze like and trust me Google Maps doesn’t help a lot. Unless you want to get to a specific place/restaurant, just go with the flow and enjoy it!
Corfu island
Of course I didn’t have time to venture outside the city, but the island offers many places of interest and of course beaches! A few kilometers outside the city lays the palace of Mon Repos which initially was the residence of the British High Commissioner in the island and was later owned by the Greek Royal Family. Several royal births have taken place at the villa, including those of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on 10 June 1921. Today the palace houses the Museum of Palaiopolis.
Another notable palace in the island is Achilleion, which was built by Empress Elizabeth of Austria as a summer residence. The name comes after mythical hero Achilles and the palace is decorated with paintings and sculptures of Achilles.
Since Corfu is located in northern Greece, the sea is cooler than the rest of the islands. For me the ideal period to visit would be late August. Most notable beaches are Sidari (and Canal d’ Amour) and Palaiokastritsa. You will find a full list of beaches in Corfu on the Discover Greece website. You can also take a boat from Kavos and visit Paxoi islands.
Have you visited Corfu?
If not, then deffinitely add it to your list!
Related: Which Greek Island is ideal for you?, The essential guide to Lefkada
I'm Anna and this is my lifestyle and travel blog! 
I’ve never been to Corfu, but I notice the same thing about a lot of European cities – they have a similar grounding I guess. I know that in Malta, where my dad was born, there are places similar to Italy, and others similar to other places where the Ottomans ruled. Plus it was pretty much ruled by everyone over its history so there’s that.
Corfu looks like a great place to relax though! #WanderfulWednesday
Indeed there rulers affected the places they conquered! I’d love to visit Malta one day, heard reave reviews about it!
It’s so wonderful to see this side of Corfu, as it’s stunning! Sadly I always associate it with cheap package holidays from the UK! Thank you for showing me the reality 🙂
I know that people from the UK usually frequent Cavos in the southern part of the island. The same happens with other islands as well (Zakynthos and Rhodes pop to mind), but there is much more to see in these islands than beaches and bars! Glad you liked my post!
It really does look Italian! I had no idea that Corfu town was so beautiful, it’s great to see another side to Corfu – stunning architecture, beautiful views and by the looks of it great food! #WanderfulWednesday
It’s very pretty and unique (thanks to the Venetians)! The food is amazing too!
yes; I spent a week on Corfu and of course spent some time too in lovely Corfu town:)
Hope you liked Corfu!
What a unique island with so many different cultural influences! I agree it definitely looks italian.
Its very pretty indeed! Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve never visited Corfu (actually never even heard of it …). Looks beautiful though and full of culture. Your pictures look like they should be in a brochure advertising this city! Simply gorgeous 😀
ah thank you! I always do my best when taking photos!
Just going to join in and say yes it does look very Italian indeed! In Croatia the Venetians built towns using their traditional ‘fishbone’ layout of streets, is that the same here? Lovely photos!
Thank you! Hmm, I’d say yes (although I’m not really sure how such a layout looks). There are many narrow streets though and the there are parts of the city that feel like a maze.
I’ve never been anywhere near Corfu but your pictures are gorgeous and make me wish that spring in Norway was anything like this! 😉
Judging from the temperatures I see for Tromso in Accuweather, spring in Norway (temperature wise) is like winter in Athens, so I totally get you! I hope you’ll get to visit Corfu one day!
I’ve never been to Corfu but it is certainly on my list! Your pictures look lovely and has definitely piqued my interest again! 🙂 #WanderfulWednesday
Thank you! It’s a beautiful island, both the city and the beaches!
Great post…. As always Anna! Thank you for making me travel with you everytime! Corfu looks really beautiful and I loved to read more about its history. Have a great week end!
Amy
Thank you, Amy! Corfu is indeed beautiful (I wish I had time to explore more) and has a rich history!
Your photos are enough to convince me to go! I love seaside cities where you can mix history and relaxation!
Those places, where you can mix history with relaxation are the best. We have a lot of them in Greece!
I haven’t been but would love to go. You pictures have given me a real taste for exploring those beautiful Old Town streets and exploring the different historical sites. Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes
It’s a very beautiful city (and island), you would love it!
Oh such beautiful pictures, we aim to visit Corfu at some stage next year and this has made me really excited. I love all the windy streets and high buildings x