How does the cruise port in Corfu work? Cruise port of Kerkyra (Corfu) Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary Kassopitra

One traveler I know said about Kerkyra: “This is the only place in Europe where you feel at home.” Probably, each of us has favorite places away from our homeland that we want to return to, but Kerkyra is really so hospitable, opens its arms so warmly that you feel a real kinship with this cozy and friendly city. The heart of Kerkyra is the temple of St. Spyridon of Trimythous and the temple of the Most Holy Theotokos Spiliotissa, where the relics of the holy queen Theodora, protector of icon veneration, are kept. These kind saints, beloved by the Russian people, protect Kerkyra, its calm, wise inhabitants and guests.

The Igoumenitsa - Corfu ferry schedule varies (about 10 ferries per day), depending on the time of year, so check this.

The fare is 11 EUR per person and 40–45 EUR (includes the cost of passenger travel and car transportation) if you are by car.

Conditional areas. Descriptions and features

Corfu is a small island (65 km long, 33 wide), if you cross it by car in the central part from west to east (from Paleokastritsa to Kerkyra), it will take no more than half an hour. Nevertheless, the island is divided into several tourist areas. Which one to choose depends, first of all, on what time you are going to relax and what you expect from your vacation. Options:

1. Settle in Kerkyra (the capital of the island) or in its surroundings (Kanoni, Perama).
   This option is suitable for lovers of urban, cultural recreation, shopping and nightlife. You can swim on city beaches, which, of course, are inferior in beauty to village beaches, but still attract many vacationers. In addition to the attractions, the city has a long promenade for walking, from which you can admire the old fortress, mill and bay. There are cafes and taverns along the embankment. They are, of course, also in the city center. There is a bus station in the town, from which buses run to all the remote villages of Corfu. You can choose a day and spend it on a village beach. The cost of a room in a 3* hotel for two in the average season (June, September) will be approximately 50–60 EUR (with breakfast), and during the season prices rise to 80–100 EUR, besides, it is quite easy to find accommodation in July and August in the center problematic, the demand is very high. Kanoni is considered one of the most expensive areas. This is explained by its special location near the airport and not far from the center. Tourists who have settled there can watch planes fly in and out of the island every day, and it is especially beautiful in the evening. It is recommended to make reservations for rooms or apartments as early as possible. Be sure to check for air conditioning. And yet, I would advise settling somewhere in a village by the sea: you can always go to the city, but it’s better to relax in nature. And one more recommendation: learn that the city has a port, which receives many ferries and several international liners every day in the summer. Hotels in the port area are cheaper than, for example, in the Old Town, but it is noisy and crowded.
   
2. Choose a hotel on the coast and relax surrounded by greenery in close proximity to the beach. This option is the most logical. However, in this case, you have a choice of coast. The price of a hotel directly depends on which side of Corfu it is located on.
   The most popular is the northeast coast. It is here (Gouvia, Dasia, Messonghi, Benitses) that there are large hotels that can accommodate up to 1000 people during the season, many villas and private apartments. One of the most beautiful places on the northeast coast is the village of Barbati. This is a spectacular place with a beautiful beach and good taverns, and is also not very far from Corfu. If you don’t live here, I advise you to visit at least once, swim or drink coffee. All villages are connected to the city by bus lines; you can also get around by taxi, although this is more expensive.
   
3. The north - Roda, Acharavi, Sidari - is famous for its shallow sandy beaches with warm water and proximity to the famous Canal De Amor (Lover's Canal). The channel is indeed interesting, but, in my opinion, it is better to swim on the beaches of the west and east coasts. Accommodation prices in the north of Corfu are approximately 10–15 EUR lower than in Kerkyra.
   
4. The northwestern part of the island is Paleokastritsa and the villages surrounding it. A very popular, beautiful tourist place.
   Paleokastritsa is literally surrounded by greenery. The sea here is a delicate blue-turquoise color, the water takes a long time to warm up and only by the second half of July it reaches a comfortable temperature (+25 degrees). Tourists joke that this feature is a price to pay for the beauty of the beaches and bays. In the center of Paleokastritsa, on a hill, there is a working monastery of the Virgin Mary of Paleokastritsa with two miraculous icons. From this coast you can clearly see a rock called the Ship of Odysseus (from a distance it resembles a frozen ship with a high stern). There is a small port in Paleokastritsa, from which small boats ply along the coastal bays (ticket costs 7 EUR). At the beginning of August, a theatrical and musical show on the water takes place here - Varcarola (the arrival of Odysseus on the island). If you are in Corfu at this time, be sure to attend the show, it features artists, singers and musicians. At the end of the evening there will be a noisy fireworks display.
   Not far from Paleokastritsa is Angelokastro (Fortress of the Angels), an ancient dilapidated fortress that used to be a strategic observation point for the Corfians. Its special atmosphere (the fortress seems to float above the clouds) will be remembered for a long time by everyone who visited it. In Paleokastritsa there are budget apartments and hotels, and there are luxury hotels for every taste and choice. In high season, apartments can be rented for 50–60 EUR, which is 20 EUR lower than housing in the city during the same period.
5. Ermones, Glyfada and Agios Gordis - picturesque villages on the west and south-west coast of Corfu - have lively beaches with many seaside cafes and children's attractions.
   From Ermones it is not far to Pelekas, the village in which the Kaiser had an observation post. From here you can clearly see the central part of the island, Kerkyra and the city port. Prices, in general, can be called affordable, the same as in Paleokastritsa. Glyfada is more expensive. But in Ermones, for example, there is an expensive hotel with an external elevator that takes you from the rooms to the dining area and to the beach.
   
6. Kavos is the southernmost point of Corfu. The beaches here are sandy and mixed, gently sloping. In the evening, Kavos is very noisy and fun, it is a place of constant parties. Quiet holiday destinations in the south are Levkimi and Agios Georgios.
   The disadvantages are that it is quite a long way to get to the center from here by car, more than an hour. But housing prices are correspondingly lower. In mid-June you can rent a room for 20 EUR.
   

What are the prices for holidays?

As we have already said, prices for housing and car rentals vary significantly from season to season. There are three seasons on the island:

1. high (July, August),
2. average (June, September),
3. low (May, October).

Hotels and apartments

In high season, the price of an apartment or double room in a hotel of at least 3* will cost from 60 EUR (often breakfast is already included in this price). As the hotel's star rating increases, the price also increases sharply (up to 100 EUR); if you rent a villa for several people, get ready to pay from 150–200 EUR per day.

In the average season, the minimum price for the same accommodation will fall by about 10 EUR and will be about 50 EUR per room.

In the low season, the minimum price for a room starts from 35–40 EUR for a double room in a hotel of at least 3* level.

I recommend renting an apartment. They are generally more comfortable and quieter than hotels. You can rent an apartment with a kitchen, in case you want to buy, for example, fresh fish at the market and cook according to your favorite recipes. By the way, the seasonings in Corfu are wonderful. If you are traveling with a child, it is better to take studio rooms or apartments with a kitchen: not all hotels can provide a children's menu. If you choose a hotel, then 3* is a decent and inexpensive option; often meals are already included in the price of your stay.

Car rent

The same can be said about car rental. The difference will vary by 10–20 EUR depending on the season. If in June you can find a good car with a manual transmission for 40 EUR per day, then in August the demand increases greatly, and the same car will cost from 60 EUR per day, and you will have to negotiate a rental in advance.

But at the same time, do not forget that driving in Corfu is quite difficult: the roads are winding and narrow, tourists drive hesitantly and often do not follow the rules, violating the speed limit. I highly recommend not driving at night: many roads in the mountains are not lit, and you risk, at a minimum, getting lost. And of course, be sure to check that the air conditioner in your car is working properly.

Taxi

Taxi prices do not depend significantly on the season. In general, taxis in Corfu can be called expensive transport. For example, the fare "airport - Paleokastritsa" costs 40 EUR. Sometimes, in the absence of buses (they run several times a day), you have to use a taxi. If you want to save money when going sightseeing or swimming on the beaches in another part of the island, I can recommend this option: try to find travel companions and split the total cost of the taxi between you.

Food and excursions

The cost of food and excursions also does not depend on what season you arrive. Food in the city, compared to, for example, good village taverns, costs 10–15 EUR more.

It’s hard to call excursions cheap (the simplest ones start from 35–40 EUR), so I would advise you to take your international license with you, rent a car and visit the places that you really want, and not those that are offered for groups. Although, for general information, a sightseeing tour of the city is quite interesting and eventful.

Clue:

What are the prices for holidays?

Accommodation

There are year-round hotels in the city, but there is almost no housing for rent on the coast in winter. In the city, both hotel rooms and apartments are available for rent (for example, in the Kanoni area, an expensive option), there are even villas.

The cost of housing in Kerkyra greatly depends on the month. And the availability of housing, by the way, too. Still, this is not a city with a population of one million, and hotels and apartments are overflowing with curious tourists in July and August. In the low season (winter, March, April, October) the average room price will be approximately 40 EUR (standard room for two, sometimes breakfast included). In the middle season - about 50-60 EUR, and in the high season the best option is to find accommodation up to 80 EUR. The cheapest area, as I already wrote, is Port, the most expensive is Kanoni.

Nutrition

If you eat in city taverns, you need to allocate at least 25-30 EUR per day per person, the price of a standard lunch (salad, main course and drink) is about 15 EUR (the cheapest option).

Getting around the city

The best way to get around Kerkyra is by bus. Traveling on it within the city will cost you about 1.5 EUR.

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Euro, € US Dollar, $ Russian Ruble, Rub

Despite the small size of Corfu, there is a lot to see here. I definitely recommend visiting the two main cathedrals of Kerkyra: the Church of St. Spyridon and the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Spiliotissa (Metropolis). One of the oldest churches in Corfu is the temple of the disciples of the Apostle Paul - Jason and Sosipater.

The highest point of the island is Mount Pantokrator. The feeling of climbing is unforgettable! There are no buses going there, but you can take a taxi or very carefully drive a rental car. The road is dangerous, serpentine.

The symbol of Corfu is Mouse Island and the Blachernae Monastery on Kanoni. There is also a wonderful viewing platform located next to the airport. Among the museums, the palace of Empress Sisi in Gastouri, the Maritime Museum in Benitses, and the Museum of Asian Art in Kerkyra are interesting. Be sure to visit the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Kassopitra in Figareto and the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Paleokastritsa.

Walking places in Kerkyra are Liston Street and Mon Repos Park, the People's Garden. In the immediate vicinity of Corfu (just a few hundred meters) there is the island of Vidos, where you can sail on small boats.

In Kerkyra itself, in the center, visit the museum-apartment of a wealthy citizen, Casa Parlante. The archaeological and historical monument of Kerkyra is the Old Fortress.

In the city center, especially if you are with children, you can take a ride on a train (6 EUR).

Museums on the island are not expensive, and you can be smart and get in on free visiting days. To do this, view information on the websites of Corfu museums (links to some of them will be given below). Entrance to churches and monasteries is, of course, free, but if the monastery is active, it may be closed at certain times of the day for prayer. In Paleokastritsa, for example, the monastery is closed from 13.00 to 15.00.

Top 5

Beaches. Which ones are better

There are a lot of beaches on the island. There are urban ones, and there are village ones - more beautiful and comfortable. Admission is free everywhere. You can rent a sun lounger and an umbrella for the whole day (the cost of such a set is 5–8 EUR). However, if you want to sunbathe on a towel (this is what I always do), no one will forbid you from doing so. If you like to swim in the evening and come to the beach after 16.00, you can take any sunbed and, most likely, you will not be asked to pay for it.

Most beaches are equipped with changing rooms and toilets, with the exception of the little-visited village beaches. On the island, in its southwestern part, there is a fresh lake. It’s interesting to go there, but swimming is not recommended because there are snakes near the fresh water.

West Coast

The beaches of Paleokastritsa Bay are pebble, sandy and mixed. There are those equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas, and there are wild ones, for example, Rovinha, Limni and Paradise. You can get there by boat taxi, which departs from the main bay of Paleokastritsa and runs along all the beaches in the area.

Beautiful beaches on the west coast - Ermones, Glyfada, Agios Gordios. There are always a lot of people in Glyfada, there are water rides and other activities. There is fine sand, pleasant waves, a gentle but deep entrance, a beautiful horizon line. The same can be said about Agios Gordios. Ermones is a cozy bay, on the tops of which there are hotels and apartments.

East Coast

On the eastern part of the island the sea is always a little warmer: on this side it is, as it were, covered by the mainland. I recommend choosing Messonghi, Agios Ioannis, Benitses, Dasia, Gouvia, Barbati for your holiday in the middle season, because in June and even in May the water here is already warming up well. On the east coast there are many cafes, bars, restaurants, shops, vibrant nightlife, and many views. The most interesting and beautiful of all the beaches is Barbati. There are also many attractions here, there is a coastal area planted with trees, where it is convenient to relax after swimming.

North coast

In the north of the island there are Roda, Acharavi and Sidari, where most often there are small sandy and sand-pebble beaches. Even small children swim in Roda - it’s so shallow here. There is an interesting tourist spot in Sidari, popular with young people, called Canal De Amor (canal of love). It is a water channel between two quaint rocky sand-colored shores, sharpened by water. Swimming in the canal itself is unsafe, but next to it there are two small equipped beaches.

South coast

As we have already said, the south of Corfu (Kavos area) is very popular with young people. Mostly the British vacation there. The beaches are sandy and mixed, there are attractions, many cafes and bars.

In any small village in Corfu you can find ancient churches, and each of them has its own amazing history. Therefore, it is simply impossible to list them all. I will name the most famous ones.

Temple of St. Spyridon

Corfu is called the island of St. Spyridon of Trimythous, whose relics rest in the very center of Kerkyra. During his life, the saint was a shepherd and was distinguished by his special hospitality and mercy. He is also known for the fact that at the First Ecumenical Council he entered into competition with the heretic Arius. The speech of Saint Spyridon turned out to be so wise and heartfelt that those around him understood: through him the Lord himself addressed people.

The relics of the saint are kept in a special shrine, which is opened twice a day - in the morning for 2 hours after the service (from 11 to 13) and in the evening from about 16 hours. The relics of Saint Spyridon are incorruptible, weigh 80 kilograms and are warm. The saint is wearing special velvet slippers, which wear out over time - this is evidence that the saint himself comes to the aid of the people of Kerkyra (and not only) in their needs.

Metropolitan

This is the main cathedral of Kerkyra, consecrated in honor of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos Spiliotissa (Cave), St. Blaise of Sebaste and Blessed Theodora. The righteous Queen Theodora restored the veneration of icons and established a holiday in honor of this event - the Triumph of Orthodoxy (celebrated on the first Sunday of Great Lent).

Temple of Jason and Sosipater

The oldest Christian church in Corfu is dedicated to the disciples of the Apostle Paul, Saints Jason and Sosipater (12th century), who brought the Christian faith to the island. This temple is the most important Byzantine monument.

Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary Kassopitra

Located in the Kanoni area (Figareto town). The monastery houses the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos Kassopitra, the icon with the relics of Saint Parthenios of Lampsaki (they were brought by the abbot of the monastery from Athos), in whose life there is a story about how he healed a woman suffering from a tumor, and many more holy particles of the relics of various saints. There are things that belonged to Saint Paisius the Svyatogorets.

Monastery of Our Lady of Paleokastritsa

One of the most famous monasteries outside of Kerkyra is the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Paleokastritsa. The monastery is active, male, open every day from morning to evening, but from 13.00 to 15.00 the doors of the monastery are closed - the monks pray alone.

The monastery contains two miraculous icons of the Most Holy Theotokos Paleokastritsa and the Life-Giving Spring icon. If you want to visit the monastery without fuss, to be here in silence, I advise you to arrive after 15.00, when the main tourist groups have already left.

Mistress Angelov

In the south of the island, near the village of Levkimi, there is the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mistress Angelov. Elder Anastasia lived and became involved in this monastery for 46 years (died in 1979).

During a period of unjust persecution, Mother Anastasia was evicted from her monastery cell, and then she found refuge in a large hollow of an olive tree (the branches of the olives were intricately intertwined and formed a space in which a person could hardly fit), there she lived and prayed until until the persecution stopped. Because of her fervent prayers, the tree glowed at night; now this hollow is called holy.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

Palace of Sisi (Achilleion)

One of the most important museums on the island of Corfu is located in the town of Gasturi in the southeast of the island. This is a royal residence, a palace built in the 19th century on the orders of the Austrian Empress Elisabeth (known as Sisi). Architecturally and sculpturally, the palace is undoubtedly the pearl of Corfu.

In addition, you will find many interesting exhibits here, for example, the so-called Sisi telephone, which works in Morse code. The entrance ticket costs 7 EUR.

Casa Parlante

The Casa Parlante Museum is located in the center of Corfu, near the Church of St. Spyridon, and is a museum-apartment - the house of a wealthy citizen. The exhibits in the museum are real, there are moving mannequins, family heirlooms, paintings and furniture. The museum has.

Old fortress

This is one of the most important buildings of the Byzantine and Venetian period in Corfu. The fortress is built on a natural rock with two peaks. Construction dates back to the beginning of the 6th century AD. The Venetians strengthened it and began to use it as a military base on the Adriatic and the center of trade routes throughout the Mediterranean. On the territory there is a Dorian-style church of St. George, the patron saint of warriors.

Museum of Asian Art

Created based on the private collection of Grigoris Manos. Now there are 10 thousand exhibits from various periods of history, starting with the Neolithic. A selection of Chinese and Japanese art is presented, as well as items from Tibetan, Indian, Thai, Korean, Pakistani and Nepalese culture. The museum is located in Kerkyra in the Palaia Anaktora area. The ticket costs 6 EUR. Museum website.

Maritime Museum

It is located in the village of Benitses on the east coast and is called the Shell museum (ocean museum). A collection of inhabitants of the deep seas of the southern seas was collected by Mr. Napoleon Sagias. He opened the Shell Museum, which was gradually enriched with new exhibits. There are sea shells, fossils, sea sponges, corals, mummified fish, sharks and their jaws, lobsters, crabs, sea urchins and snakes. Entrance costs 5 EUR. Museum website.

Parks

Mon Repo

In Kerkyra itself, in the Garitsa region, there is a cozy Mon Repos park (translated as My Rest), in the center of which is the palace of the Dukes of Edinburgh. The atmosphere there is simple and aristocratic. In the park there are ancient Byzantine and medieval ruins, the ruins of an ancient temple and a fountain made in Venetian traditions. The royal families used Mon Repos as a summer residence until 1967, when the Hellenic Republic was proclaimed. In 2002, the ex-king sued the Greek state and received compensation in the amount of 1% of the cost of the palace, and Mon Repos remained in use by the Greek state.

Now the palace is a city landmark, where interesting exhibits, portraits, personal belongings, and household items of its inhabitants have been preserved. On the second floor there is a small archaeological exhibition collected during excavations on the island. Entrance to the park is free, to the palace – 3 EUR.

Spianada

The largest area in the Balkans. It is located in the very center of Corfu, bordered on one side by Liston, on the other by the Old Fortress. On the north side there are the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. George, the Museum of Asian Art, and the People's Garden.

On the south side there is a stage where concerts and musical performances are held, and there is also a rotunda in the Romanesque style. Both locals and tourists love to walk along Spianada.

People's Garden (Bosqueto)

This mini-park is located on the left side of the Old Fortress. There are several sculptures, fountains, seating areas, benches, and magnolia trees in bloom.

It offers a beautiful view of the port, and there is a children's playground nearby. Just behind the park is a small church.

Tourist streets

The most famous and probably the most beautiful street of Kerkyra is Liston. It is located in the center of the city, to which small Corfian streets flow like streams.

Liston was built over 7 years at the beginning of the 19th century, modeled on the Parisian street of Rivoli. Previously, only members of aristocratic families had the right to walk here. According to one version, the name Liston comes from the English list, which contained the names of these happy aristocrats.

On one side of Liston there are two long houses with high arches on the ground floor. Local cafes have built their verandas in this open gallery of arches. These flying arches are considered a symbol of Liston and are responsible for its architectural appearance. In the evening, Liston is illuminated by arched lanterns and looks very warm and romantic. Opposite the galleries there is an open cricket field which currently hosts sports games and competitions. Liston is a favorite place for citizens and tourists who want to drink a cup of Greek coffee in the city center. From Liston to the Church of St. Spyridon of Trimythous is just a 2-minute walk.

What to see in 1 day

If you only have one day in Corfu, you can spend it as follows.

9:00–10:00 - Mon Repos (walk through the park, visiting the royal palace and archaeological exhibition);

10:00–11:00 - Old Fortress (sightseeing);

11:00–12:00 - Church of St. Spyridon (the saint’s shrine opens at 11 a.m. after the service);

12.00–14.00 - lunch in a tavern (for example, Rouvas, budget lunch, traditional Greek cuisine);

14.00–17.00 - trip to Paleokastritsa (visit to the monastery, excursion to the bays of the west coast, beach);

17.00–18.00 - snack at the Limani tavern (family tavern, you can try fresh seafood);

18.00–20.00 - Kanoni (Mouse Island, Blachernae Monastery), snack at the Kanoni cafe;

20.00–21.00 - walk around Liston;

Neighboring regions

Nearby Islands

Corfu is a border island. It has sea connections with the mainland (port of Igoumenitsa), from where you can reach Italian Bari (8 hours on an overnight ship), as well as Venice, Ancona and Brindisi.

From some points on the coast, the neighboring country of Albania, which is also included in excursion tours, can be seen with the naked eye. Two neighboring islands - Paxos and Antipaxos - are included in the traditional one-day cruise, which is very popular with travelers. These two smallest islands of the Ionian archipelago (Only 100 people live on Antipaxos, for example) are not inferior in beauty and uniqueness to Corfu itself. You can go on a cruise from the port of Kerkyra, opposite which there are mini-offices of travel agencies selling tickets to various destinations.

Let's not forget about Vidos Island and Mouse Island - they are located just a few hundred meters from Corfu. You can get to them by tourist boats (cost 2.5 EUR). Previously, Vidos was connected to Corfu by an underground tunnel and was of great strategic importance; now there is a monument to Serbian soldiers there. Mouse Island is the symbol of Corfu and the first thing tourists see from their porthole window when approaching Kerkyra.

There used to be a functioning monastery on Mouse Island, but it is now closed, but there is a church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker there.

Main attractions. What to see

Kerkyra is full of interesting places and attractions. I recommend starting your day by visiting three churches: St. Spyridon of Trimythous, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and Mitropoli (Virgin of Spiliotissa). They are all located in the center next to each other.

You should definitely visit Kanoni, look at the Mouse Island (the symbol of Kerkyra), the Ushakov cannon and the Blachernae Monastery.

Of the museums, the most interesting are Asian Art, Casa Parlante, Old and New Fortresses, which very well reflect all the historical events that took place in Kerkyra over several centuries.

A very beautiful place is the park and the Mon Repos Palace, which are located in the Garitsa region. And, of course, Liston Street is the second symbol of Corfu, a must-visit.

If you wish, you can go to the island of Vidos by boat. I'll tell you more about it below.

Top 5

Despite its size, Corfu is full of enticing places and attractions. Firstly, of course, this is the city of Spyridon of Trimifuntsky, which is why there are so many pilgrims here who come to ask the saint for help and advice. In addition to churches and monasteries, the city has museums, theaters, parks, and streets for walking - whatever you like. I think you should definitely visit these places:

Beaches. Which ones are better

Within the city there are several small beaches, which, frankly, are inferior in convenience and beauty to village beaches. After all, Kerkyra is a port city. And yet, you can also swim here:

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Kerkyra is full of beautiful Orthodox churches, among which there are some that are a must-see. Entrance to all churches and monasteries is free; usually in the summer they are open from 07:00 to 20:00 (21:00). Headscarves are optional for women and girls, but it is not good to enter church wearing miniskirts, shorts or bare shoulders. So, I advise you to pay attention to:

• Temple of Saint Spyridon of Trimifuntsky (Saint Spyridon church). On icons the saint is often depicted clutching a small brick or a shard in his palm in memory of how at the First Ecumenical Council he proved the Unity of the Holy Trinity and forced the Arians to renounce their false teaching. Its founder, the priest Arius, did not recognize the divine origin and pre-eternal birth of Christ and said that Christ is simply the highest creation of God. Arius drew many people into his false teaching, and no one could stop him and bring him to his senses. Then Constantine the Great (ruler of the Byzantine Empire) convened an Ecumenical Council so that the wisest and most authoritative clergy and theologians would pacify the heretic and stop the spread of heresy. Eulogius, a famous Greek sage who supported Arius, came to the Council. Eulogius turned out to be assertive, sophisticated in rhetoric and sophistry, and using all the verbal techniques known to him, he tried to ridicule the Orthodox faith. Saint Spyridon, who took part in the Ecumenical Council, asked to speak in order to reason with Eulogius, but the priests doubted: everyone knew that he had no theological education; since childhood, Saint Spyridon had been a shepherd. When he began to speak, the people became silent and froze. The words of the saint possessed some kind of unearthly, incredible power. He put the proud Eulogius to shame with a simple but wise speech, and at the end he squeezed the shard in his palm, and a miracle happened. A flame flared up above the palm, a stream of water spilled onto the ground, and the earth remained in the saint’s hand. By this Saint Spyridon proved that God is triune. So in a brick, three essences are combined into one. Eulogius was shocked and silent, instantly losing his eloquence. He bowed his head and could not find a single word to object to the elder. Finally, he turned to his followers and asked for forgiveness in order to renounce the Arian heresy and believe as this amazing man said.
  Saint Spyridon performed many miracles, he saved Kerkyra from the plague and the Turkish invasion, healed the sick and even raised the dead, and helped the islanders with everyday needs. The Corfinians dearly love their saint and name their children by his name: boys Spiros, girls Spiriduli. The whole island reveres him and reverently preserves his relics. The saint's shrine is carried in a religious procession around the city while standing. His relics weigh about eighty kilograms - this is the weight of a living person's body, and they are warm. Saint Spyridon is wearing velvet slippers. Church workers say that they periodically sew new shoes for the saint because the old ones wear out. This is evidence of a special miracle - Saint Spyridon truly goes to those who ask him for help. The ministers carefully cut the worn slippers into pieces and distribute them to the believers. How to get there: The temple is located in the very center of the city on Kalocheretou Street, a few meters from Liston. Opening hours: The temple is open every day from 7.00 to 20.00, the relics are opened after the morning service from 11:00 to 13:00 and before Vespers from approximately 16:30 to 17:30.
• Mitropolis(the main temple of the island), Church of Panagia Spiliotissa(Our Lady of the Cave). Cathedral chuch of Kerkyra. A very beautiful, majestic temple in which the relics of the holy Queen Theodora, protector of icon veneration, are kept. They are in a shrine, which is also open to pilgrims. You can write notes and read prayers in Russian (next to the shrine is the text of the prayer). The temple was built in the Baroque style and has a round star window above the entrance. The church has its own.
  
• Temple of Saints Jason and Sosipater(Church of St. Iasonas and Sosipatros) . This is one of the first Christian churches, dating back to the 12th century, dedicated to the disciples of the Apostle Paul, whom he even called his relatives. Jason and Sosipater preached the Gospel in Corfu in 63, built the first temple and baptized many people. They suffered persecution for the Christian faith from the emperor who ruled on the island, but his daughter named Kerkyra, seeing their steadfastness, also became a Christian. Soon the emperor died at sea, pursuing Christians who had fled to a neighboring island, he was replaced by a new ruler, who ordered Jason and Sosipater to be thrown into a cauldron of tar, but when he saw that the tar did not harm them, he was afraid and began to ask for forgiveness and mercy. The preachers were released and lived in Corfu until old age. How to get there and opening hours: You can check on the temple website.
• Church of St. Nicholas Gerondon and Archangel Michael. This is a very ancient church (XIV century), probably the first one dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kerkyra, which is why it is called Gerondon (the oldest). Several Christians who died in the Battle of Navpakto in the 16th century are buried in a special part of the temple. For a long time, during Venetian rule, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was the residence of the high priests. The church contains many shrines: part of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, part of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, St. Lazarus, Apostle Andrew, Saints Haralampios and Panteleimon. How to get there: located between the Church of St. Spyridon and the Virgin Mary of Spiliotissa (Metropoli), the town of Kambielo.
• Temple of Our Lady of Foreigners(Παναγία των Ξένων (Greek), Panagia ton Xenon). They say that the church was built by foreigners who came to live in Kerkyra. During Holy Week, on Holy Saturday, an earthquake occurs here; believers imitate it, as if noisily shaking the walls, in memory of the earthquake during which the stone from the Holy Sepulcher was rolled away. The icon of the Mother of God, patroness of foreigners, decorated with gifts from believers and flowers, is located to the right of the Royal Doors. How to get there: This very beautiful, cozy church is located next to the Church of St. Spyridon (the square from the second entrance). Opening hours: closes at 13:00 after morning service. Opens in the evening if there is an evening service.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

Old fortress (Old Fortress)

This is a significant part of the city, through which you can trace the entire history of the island. The fortress was built on a large rock; the first buildings date back to the 6th century AD. Once upon a time there were houses of local residents here (about 355), but then during the Venetian rule the fortress began to be used as a military facility, and people moved out. The Venetians strengthened and modernized the fortress and dug a contraforsa canal. At this time, the city that would later become modern Kerkyra begins to be rebuilt. The fortress fulfilled its defensive function: the island successfully fought off the Turks several times, while many cities and islands of Greece were unable to do this and found themselves under dominion.

In the 20th century, a military unit was based in the Old Fortress. Ordinary residents could enter here only on the holidays of Easter, the Nativity of Christ and on the Day of Remembrance of St. George, the patron saint of warriors (there is a large church in his honor on the territory).

Visit: the fortress is open to everyone from 08:30 to 16:00, entrance is by tickets, which cost 7 EUR per one. There is a small museum with frescoes and icons. You can find a map of the fortress and general information.

Asian Art Museum (Museum of Asian Art)

Located in the very center of Kerkyra, next to Liston, the Old Fortress and the Church of St. Spyridon. The museum building is located in the Palace of Saints Michael and George. The collection is considered unique; it is based on the private collection of Grigoris Manos. The exhibits (about 10,500) belong to objects of art and everyday life of Asian countries; literally all eras are represented, starting from the Stone Age. There are armor and weapons, musical instruments. , Japan, Tibet, Korea, Pakistan - you can get an idea of ​​these countries by visiting this museum.

Visit: the ticket costs 6 EUR. Website . Opening hours: in summer - from 08:00 to 20:00, closed on Monday.

Casa Parlante (Kasa Parlante)

This is a small but informative museum of Corfu, in which the apartment of an ordinary Corfu resident is reproduced with all household items, furniture, and family jewelry. Everything is real. An element of interactivity - moving mannequins.

Visit: The Casa Parlante Museum has details of the visit and exhibitions.

Parks

Mon Repo

The wonderful park and palace “Mon Repos” (translated as “my rest”) are located within the city limits of Kerkyra in the Garitsa district on Analipsi Hill. The palace offers a stunning sea view.

In 1921, Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II of England, was born in Mon Repos. Now, after long legal proceedings between the Dukes of Edinburgh and the Greek government, according to the decision of the Strasbourg European Court of Human Rights, Mon Repos has belonged to Greece since 2002.

I liked the palace itself because of its calm and homely, but at the same time aristocratic atmosphere. Everything here is as it was under the English dukes: furniture, household items, portraits, paintings, family heirlooms, a wonderful marble staircase to the second floor. And on the second floor there is an archaeological museum, which contains objects found during excavations in Kerkyra.

In the park we often saw people doing fitness, running, and gymnastics. Visit: Entry to the park is free, but entrance to the palace costs 3 EUR. Opening hours: the palace is from 08:30 to 15:00, the park is open until late in the evening.

Neighboring regions

There are several tourist routes that offer travelers who want to see the surrounding area of ​​Corfu. I would recommend Paxos and Antipaxos, Meteora and Bari. If you decide to travel to Meteora, I advise you to go to bed early the night before: there will be a long journey by bus and ferry.

Nearby Islands

From the port of Kerkyra there are ferries to the mainland (port of Igoumenitsa), to Italy (Bari), Venice, Albania (it can be seen from the island in good weather), as well as to the neighboring islands of Paxos and Antipaxos. Tickets can be purchased at tourist offices and ticket offices in the port. There is an electronic display at the box office.

Paxos and Antipaxos

These are very beautiful islands, the smallest of the Ionian Islands, which we did not regret visiting. There are only a hundred people living on Antipaxos!

The atmosphere of these places, the wonderful swimming from the ship, the excursion program in Russian - we really liked everything, I commend you. The tour cost about 45 EUR. The excursion lasts the whole day, and the sail to the islands takes about two hours.

Vidos and Pondikonissi

The closest islands to Kerkyra are Vidos (there is a monument to Serbian soldiers, a memorial) and Pondikonissi (Mouse Island), on which there used to be a monastery, but now there is a temple of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Free peacocks walk around the island. Pondikonissi can be seen from the airplane window as you approach the island.

How to get there: You can get to the first one on small boats for 2.5 EUR. It's a little more expensive to Vidos. In terms of time, it’s literally a few minutes (to Myshiny - 10, to Vidos - 15). They don’t stay overnight on the islands; they only go to see monuments and sights, and go to a temple.

Food. What to try

The cuisine of Corfu is a gastronomic mix of traditional Greek dishes with Venetian and Italian recipes. The Venetian doges, who ruled Corfu for many years, instilled in the islanders a love of pasta and confectionery.

• Excellent beer, Corfu beer, is also produced in Corfu. Depending on the strength, it differs in the color of the labels. Most consumed with red labels.
• Traditional Greek white wine is Retsina. This is a dry wine with a pronounced taste of pine resin. Served chilled. Sometimes locals dilute it with soda, but in this case you will not feel the special taste of retsina, so I recommend not to do this. Of the strong drinks, ouzo (grape vodka with anise) and chipuro are considered traditional. They are often diluted with water and ice.
• Among the non-alcoholic drinks in Corfu, the ginger drink gingerbeer is very popular (especially in the hot months). It is a non-alcoholic beer made from grated ginger, lemon juice and sugar.

Now a little about what is familiar to our taste buds and what you will not find in Corfu:

• If you are traveling with children and renting an apartment with a kitchen, take porridge (oatmeal, buckwheat) with you. These cereals are not on sale.
• If you are a tea lover, take it with you, because there is little of it here (mostly in bags) and it costs more. There is, however, local mountain tea, but it looks more like green tea and is consumed by local residents for medicinal purposes.

Markets and restaurants

If you are going to cook yourself, pay attention to the fact that in the center of Kerkyra there is a large market where you can find the freshest fish, vegetables, fruits, spices, olives and whatever your heart desires. Meat is sold in small shops that say Kreapolio (kreas - meat) and in large supermarkets such as Lidl and Diellas.

Drinking water in Corfu is consumed bottled. Drinking tap water is not recommended.

If you are against spending your holidays in the kitchen, be prepared for the fact that the average bill in a Corfu tavern will cost about 30 EUR per person (salad + drink + main course (meat or fish) + dessert). I advise you to look for family taverns and avoid dining in taverns located right next to attractions, as they tend to be more expensive.

Some taverns in Corfu host Greek evenings, to which a group of dancers in national costumes is invited. They introduce tourists to the culture of Greek dance and teach the basics. Greek dances are energetic, beautiful, the music is melodic, rich and catchy. Often taverns place an announcement at the entrance that a Greek night will be held on a certain day, so keep this in mind and come to admire and eat at the same time.

Prices for food on the coast can be called approximately the same. However, taverns near attractions and cafes in the center of Corfu (on Liston, for example) are more expensive. It is recommended to stay in family-run Greek taverns; they are noticeably better in quality and service.

Budget establishments:

• Tavern Rouvas,
• Tavern Xagiati,
• Tsipouradiko Corfu,
• Pane e Souvlaki.

Mid-level:

• Fish tavern Ouzeri,
• Bakalogatos,
• Taverna Stamatis,
• La Pergola,
• Elia.

• The Venetian Well
• PomoDoro Vine Restaurant,
• Scheria,
• Fish Taverna Gouvelis.

Food. What to try

Gastronomic traditions and dishes

The food in Kerkyra is amazing, the taste of the dishes is rich, the aroma is dizzying. This applies to meat, fish, and vegetable dishes. The main thing here is to choose a suitable tavern. The cuisine of Kerkyra was influenced by the Venetians, under whose rule Corfu was for several centuries - hence the love for pasta and sweets. If you pick up the menu of a family tavern, in addition to the main dishes traditional for Kerkyra, you will also find dishes from the chef, which will most likely be the embodiment of the family culinary recipe, the calling card of this particular tavern. Moreover, this could be a special salad, meat with a certain sauce, or an original appetizer (for example, eggplant).

For more information about what you won’t find in Greece from our usual products, read my about Corfu. In short, it’s buckwheat and oatmeal (hard to find), cottage cheese, which can easily be replaced with excellent Greek yogurt, and not much of the usual good stuff , in my opinion, tea.

Where to eat

LAIKI

In Greek, the market sounds like laiki (“likes”, emphasis on the second syllable). This is an obligatory attribute of any Mediterranean city, which can even be called a spontaneously formed attraction. Here you will see real Greek fishermen selling their morning catch, Corkyrean farmers loudly offering you fresh and organic vegetables and fruits. There are also brought products. There is a huge row with various pickled olives, nuts and dried fruits, there are eggs from domestic chickens, the prices are different, in my opinion, they are not much different from the store, but for the large selection, freshness and atmosphere it is worth shopping there at least once.

Supermarkets

There are also large stores in Kerkyra, groceries, household chemicals, vegetables, fruits, animal feed, and everything like that can be found in the stores “Lidl” (German), “Diellas” (Italian), “Dimitra” (Greek), etc. You will have to go there at least for water: in Kerkyra you need to drink purchased water from bottles, not from the tap.

Cafes and restaurants

There are many taverns, cafes and restaurants of different levels in Kerkyra, but I recommend traditional Greek taverns, family-run. You feel at home there, or like visiting your grandmother - the portions are large, the owners are hospitable, talkative, and friendly. The price of a full dinner with wine for two will not exceed 40 EUR, approximately. Look for quieter places, away from tourist crowds - they are guaranteed to be cheaper. You may also be lucky and get to see a performance by a folk group that will show you the choreographic skills of sirtaki and zorba (a very beautiful dance), although most often such Greek evenings are organized at a later time. Look for notices in taverns or ask locals when it will be Helliniko vrazi.

Holidays

The Greeks really love to celebrate Easter in Corfu, because here it is surprisingly solemn, in compliance with ancient traditions - the same way it was celebrated many years ago. The people of Corfu call Easter “Lambri Lambria” (“Shine of Lights”), emphasizing the bright joy of this happy day.

Holy Saturday begins with a long service and procession with Saint Spyridon. This is the earliest religious procession in existence. It was approved in memory of the miraculous salvation of the island's inhabitants from starvation.

Three merchant ships that were sailing to Italy suddenly changed course and landed at Corfu, bringing with them life-saving food. It was on Holy Saturday. The sailors said that they saw an old man in a cassock walking ahead of the sailing ships, as if showing the way. Several times they heard a strong voice: “Towards Kerkyra. People are starving there. You will be paid, you will be paid. Towards Kerkyra."

When the religious procession ends, the relics of St. Spyridon are left open next to the altar until Easter Tuesday - and on these three days a sea of ​​pilgrims rush to venerate their good saint and ask for help and intercession.

After the religious procession, everyone hurries to Liston Street - there the mass “destruction” of pots begins. Local residents open the windows, throw red satin towels with golden fringe over the window sills and wait for 11 am - exactly at this time, clay jugs filled with water will fly from the windows so that they beat louder and more merrily - right on the main street of the city - and the clink of broken dishes will be heard probably in all parts of the island.

The Sunday night service begins at 11 pm - it is small, but very solemn. People are waiting for the priest to shout: “Christ Anesti!” They are waiting for the arrival of the holy fire from Jerusalem. Before he is taken out of the altar, everything around goes dark and quiet. And then - the great joy of the holiday of Christ's Resurrection flares up.

The Metropolitan, city authorities, philharmonic orchestras and thousands of people take part in the Sunday religious procession. A fantastic and unique sight: all the windows and balconies of city houses are open, candles are burning on them, and in the main square thousands of lamps are trembling in the hands of believers who come to celebrate Easter in the largest square in Greece.

Holidays

The brightest holidays of Kerkyra:

• Easter, Resurrection of Christ - April or May;
• Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary - August;
• The days of remembrance of St. Spyridon are the first Sunday of November and December 12.

Easter is preceded by Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday. On this day, a solemn religious procession takes place, the longest in Kerkyra, it moves along the streets outlining the perimeter of the city as it existed in 1630. This religious procession was established in memory of the deliverance of the inhabitants of Kerkyra from the bubonic plague.

The religious procession is accompanied by 18 philharmonic orchestras (musical “bands”) from different villages of Corfu, all of them dressed in ceremonial uniforms of bright colors, playing classical compositions and marches. It is noteworthy that only some of the members of the groups are professional musicians, mostly people of different professions - taxi drivers, doctors, police officers, economists - who graduated from music school as children and now regularly get together for rehearsals and performances.

After Palm Sunday comes Holy Week. At this time, the Easter holidays begin in Greece, weekends when students and adults working in other cities slowly come to their homes in Corfu. Pilgrims and tourists join them. This adds another 70,000 to the island's permanent population of 130,000.

Despite the huge number of people, order and cleanliness, a friendly mood, hospitality and tranquility reign on the streets of the city. People experience the events of every day of Holy Week very deeply and try not to miss a single service.

On the morning of Good Friday, a service is held in churches, during which the Savior is removed from the Cross. Children bring flowers to the temples and the decoration of the Shroud begins. Usually young girls do the decoration. In the evening, “Epitaphios” - processions with Shrouds - take place throughout the island. Each procession has its own route. A village orchestra moves steadily ahead, followed by priests with the Shroud, followed by singers and parishioners with lighted candles. In the village twilight, this slow procession with trembling lights seems especially touching. Believers deeply experience the suffering of Christ and even cry secretly.

Amazing things happen in Corfu on Holy Saturday. Early in the morning, an earthquake occurs in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patroness of Foreigners. He is “portrayed” by the believers who come to the Liturgy in the morning. They try to shake the walls, stomp their feet, make noise - all in memory of the earthquake that happened on the morning of Holy Saturday and during which a huge stone fell away from the Holy Sepulcher. Then a religious procession begins with the relics of Saint Spyridon, established in memory of the salvation of Kerkyra from famine.

Then at 11:00 the townspeople living on Liston stage a whole performance: they throw clay pots filled with water out of the windows and balconies of their houses onto the pavement. Almost all Listonians do this. And a deafening roar begins, in general everything looks fun and exciting. The pots are usually red or red and blue and have Kalo Pasxa written on them! ("Happy easter!")

By this time, there is absolutely no free space on Liston, everything is filled with believers and tourists. Representatives of newspapers, television and other media with all the necessary equipment are also visible and invisible. At the same time, the street is not cordoned off - everything happens naturally and simply, as in the old days. When the roar ends and the clay dust settles a little, people arrange real excavations - looking among the shards for beautiful fragments and unbroken necks that they could take with them and save until next year.

This old tradition probably correlates with the biblical words about the breaking of the “scarce vessels”; there is also the following explanation: the myrrh-bearing women, not finding Christ in the Tomb, threw the vessels at the entrance to the cave, which they had brought with them, and the vessels broke. This action is also correlated with the Italian, or more precisely Venetian, tradition of throwing old things out of the window, which the Greeks modified “to suit themselves.” After all, as we already wrote, Corfu was under Venetian influence for a long time, almost 400 years (1401–1791). The Venetian style is most clearly expressed in the architecture of the central streets of Corfu.

At night, a festive Sunday service is held, so bright and long-awaited. This is a day of happiness and endless joy. On this night, everyone becomes family to each other, hugs and wishes for many years to come, greeting each other: Christ is risen! If Christ has not risen, our preaching and your faith are in vain!

Believers break their fast with colored eggs and sweet, rich bread called churek. It is often baked in the shape of a braid, with colored eggs inserted into the middle.

Corfu is considered a safe city, and the Greeks are hospitable, cultural and friendly people. They don’t cheat you in cafes and shops, and they don’t harass you on the streets. But we must remember that during the tourist season there are not only Greeks on the streets, so it is better to go for night walks in a group. Despite the fact that tourists are often asked not to leave bags with personal belongings and money on the beach, in my personal experience I have never heard of anyone being robbed. There is only one thing to beware of - the heat, which can really harm your health if you are not prepared for it.

On some beaches, mainly wild ones, there are sea urchins; if you are going to swim on such a beach, take rubber slippers with you.

Safety. What to watch out for

From my observations:

• Kerkyra is a safe and friendly city, but we must not forget that in any tourist places there are large concentrations of different people, and no one can vouch for each of them. Sometimes there are beggars, for example, at the Church of St. Spyridon, but they try not to let them inside the temple.
• We were never shortchanged in cafes and restaurants, the same thing in shops and at the market. One day, a friend bought a jacket and forgot it in a bag in another store, we only realized it an hour later and returned, the sellers gave the bag back and told us to be more careful.
• I don’t recommend walking around the city at night, only if in company and in more or less crowded places.
• Kerkyra is very hot in summer and windy in winter, so dress for the weather and don't forget your hats.

Things to do

If you are holidaying in Corfu in June or September, I recommend joining a Nordic walking group and walking a few kilometers around this beautiful island. This excellent anti-stress will help you both physically and mentally. Groups are usually formed at hotels. If you want to go on your own, first study the route and do not turn off the paths into the grove: there may be snakes there. Wear closed shoes and trousers. If you're traveling in hot weather, replace Nordic walking with a safari walk.

Shopping and shops

There are several interesting shopping spots in Corfu. First of all, the center.

• There are shops with European brands, for example, Mark&Spencer. Opposite is the Hondos Center. This is a rather expensive store, on the ground floor there are perfumes and cosmetics, on the rest - men's and women's clothing. The store on the ground floor is noteworthy: Greek cosmetics and related products are on sale there at average prices.
• On the way to the port (Limani) there is a clothing store Triandafilo. This is a very popular place: the products there are mainly of Greek origin, at low prices. There are Italian things. There is a good men's department on the ground floor, where you can buy jeans for only 10–12 EUR. I love this store and recommend checking it out.

On the streets of Kerkyra, white cotton items are sold in abundance at average prices. For example, a simple summer sundress can be bought for 15 EUR. There are many shops with products made from olive wood. It’s difficult to call them cheap; a small cutting board can be bought for 8–10 EUR.

In Kerkyra there are several shoe stores selling, among other things, Greek shoes. During the discount season you can buy Italian shoes at low prices. For example, men's boots made of genuine leather for the spring-autumn season will cost 40 EUR. There are no winter shoes for sale.

Of course, in Corfu there are fur shops that also sell leather items. Compared to Russian stores, Greek stores can be called cheap, things are of good quality, sellers offer good discounts (up to 30%), so you can bargain, but politely. I advise you to look into a fur shop near the Church of St. Spyridon: there is fur and leather at reasonable prices, very friendly owners, if a jacket or fur coat needs a little adjustment to your figure, they will do it in front of you (the store has its own studio).

Lots of jewelry shops. Greek gold is yellow, sunny in color, and costs more than Russian gold. But silver jewelry can be found inexpensively. Traditional Corfu jewelry consists of light-colored silver that does not fade over time (a special alloy), complemented by blue-green stone (the Greeks call it a type of opal).

In the area of ​​​​Kerkyra, which is called Fesi Katsimidi, there is a large Greek store for children - Jumbo. This is a chain store that has a huge number of toys, educational games, dolls, jewelry, children's clothing, sweets, etc. And on the ground floor there are goods for the home, garden, kitchen, and for animals. Jumbo is considered one of the cheapest stores for children.

Usually the time for discounts falls on the beginning of May and mid-August.

Bars. Where to go

The resort island, of course, has many bars on the coast. They are located directly on the beach or at the hotel. Such bars are open in the afternoon, from about 16.00 until one in the morning. They usually have a TV broadcasting the Greek football they love, and in the evenings there are a lot of spectators. The range of drinks is standard: beer, Greek wine, Metaxa, whiskey, Bacardi, vodka, gin, liqueurs, various cocktails, etc. Most popular places - Kavos, Messonghi, Glyfada, Benitses, Dasya, Gouvia, Ipsos, Paleokastritsa.

• There are several bars in Kerkyra, but compared to, for example, Kavos they are quieter and calmer. This Bristol, Cafe Central, Down Town Cafe-Bar, Josephine Cafe-Bar and etc.
• Popular in Gouvieux Corfu by night, Ekati, Esperies, national music is played here. There is also a Mexican themed bar Poco Loco.
• Bar in Paleokastritsa Acapulco And La Grotta. The latter is located in a rock gorge, food and drinks are brought to it by boat, and visitors, to get there, need to go down from the main road along a special staircase of 142 steps.
• There are a lot of bars in the youth and party town of Kavos, for example, Bonkers Bar And Buzz Bar.

Prices vary depending on the establishment, for example, in the Liapades Beach Hotel bar, Cricketer tavern(Liapades village, Paleokastritsa district) any cocktail costs 7 EUR, beer (one of the best in Europe Corfu beer) - 3.30 EUR for 400 ml, bottles are a little more expensive. Liquor – 5 EUR, baccardi and whiskey from 5 to 7 EUR. Greek wine on tap 250 ml – 2.20 EUR. The crowd that gathers everywhere varies depending on the area, mainly tourists.

Clubs and nightlife

Nightlife in Corfu is vibrant. All major tourist destinations - Gouvia, Dasya, Ipsos, Kavos, Messonghi, Paleokastritsa, Sidari, Acharavi - have several nightclubs. And, of course, there are nightclubs in Kerkyra.

• One of the most famous - "54" . The club is open on Friday and Saturday, opening at 12 at night and until the morning. During the tourist season, the clubs are open every day. They play Greek music and European dance music, and bars offer various alcoholic cocktails. A ticket to Club 54 costs 10 EUR and includes 1 drink. There is no face control. Greek popular singers are often invited to perform. In summer, the main visitors are tourists, but, of course, Greeks also visit the clubs on weekends. Prices for drinks vary, but no more than 8 EUR per drink.
• Kavos Clubs – Atlantis, Venue Club, SOS Nightclub, Kavos Summer Club. English DJs and singers often come here.
• Popular in Ipsos "B52" And "The Old Tree".
• In Acharavi - Sonic Cocktail Bar.

Extreme Sports

Tourists from Corfu bring:

• kumquat products (liqueurs, sweets, Turkish delight), Greek wine and ouzo (aniseed vodka) – from 3–5 EUR,
• crafts made from olives – from 5 euros,
• tablecloths with a national pattern (olive branch with berries) – from 10 EUR,
• silver jewelry – from 10 EUR,
• soap and natural cosmetics – from 2 EUR.

Alcohol is often poured into bottles shaped like the island of Corfu. Pilgrims bring icons and oil from the relics of St. Spyridon. Tourists often buy village olive oil from local residents. I highly recommend buying oil and, for example, an olive cutting board for your kitchen.

Things to do

Judging by the reviews, tourists really like sea excursions and boat trips with barbecues. This is quite logical: the bays and lagoons around the island of Corfu are not just beautiful, they are memorable for a lifetime. I heard several times from people not related to art how they regretted that they could not write a picture or poem about the nature that they saw on the island. Therefore, I recommend taking one of these boat trips, there are many offices offering boat tours around the port, for example, you can ask.

Extreme Sports

Extreme sports in Corfu include parachuting and diving. Before engaging in activities, you need to undergo training as a trainer; as a rule, trainer services are offered by large hotels.

There is a diving school in Paleokastritsa. Also on the beaches of Corfu there are water activities such as wakeboarding, parasailing and water skiing. There are suitable piers on the beaches of Gouvia, Barbati, Glyfada, Ipsos, Lefkimi, Petriti (south of Corfu). The village of Agios Georgios has the Corfu Windsurfing Center and the kitesurf stations Chalikuna Beach and Issos Beach. Instructors conduct training courses for beginner kiters; the simplest 10-hour course costs from 270 EUR. There is also equipment rental (kite, trapeze, board), per day 55 EUR.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Greece has everything, and Kerkyra, apparently, too, but the most “taken away” by tourists can be compiled into a list:

You can buy yourself or as a gift a bottle of good Greek wine, I like dry red, the simplest one, produced by the Goulis family, it costs from 2 EUR per bottle, that is, cheap. White wine lovers will really like retsina (dry white wine with a pine aroma).

How to get around the island

A standard trip from the airport to the city costs from 15 EUR, to distant corners depending on the distance (to Paleokastritsa, for example, 40 EUR). Taxis are metered, but there are predetermined fares. It's better to pay in cash. It is difficult to catch a taxi on the street; there are parking lots. Corfu taxi service phone number (+30) 266 1033811here), a scooter costs 15 EUR per day, an ATV 20-25 EUR. Take your international license with you. Gasoline in Corfu costs from 1.5 EUR per liter. Be sure to take out insurance and take office phone numbers when traveling.

How to get around the region

It is convenient to get around the city on foot (if it is not hot), by blue buses and by taxi. Travel around the city costs from 1.5 EUR. Only green buses go to the surrounding villages. There are no discounts or passes for tourists. From the port there is a tourist bus around the city (two floors, the second open, costs 5 EUR).

Taxi. What features exist

A standard trip from the airport to the city costs from 15 EUR, to distant corners depending on the distance (to Paleokastritsa, for example, 40 EUR). Taxis are metered, but there are predetermined fares. It's better to pay in cash. It is difficult to catch a taxi on the street; there are parking lots. Corfu taxi phone number (+30) 266 1033811

Public transport

It is convenient to use the bus in Corfu, the only drawback is that they do not run often, especially from remote villages. The center and the outskirts are connected by green buses. Schedules and ticket prices can be found at.

Blue buses run through the center. You can view the schedule, stops and prices

Transport rental

Renting cars, scooters, ATVs and bicycles in Corfu is very popular. There are local and international companies. Both of them do not cause any complaints, however, the car must be thoroughly inspected and checked before renting. For a car with a manual transmission, depending on the month, they charge from 40 to 60 EUR (you can see the option and compare prices), a scooter costs 15 EUR per day, an ATV 20-25 EUR. Take your international license with you. Gasoline in Corfu costs from 1.5 EUR per liter. Be sure to take out insurance and take office phone numbers when traveling.

When renting a car, do not forget to take your international license with you. Be sure to take insurance. It is not recommended to drive at night, especially far from the center: many roads have no lighting. Corfu has mountain roads with steep edges and serpentine roads. Check the brakes before picking up your car.

And sometimes, in the mountains, a herd of sheep or goats crosses the road.

Corfu - holidays with children

Corfu has two large Water Parks (AQUALAND in Agios Ioannis and Hydropolis in Acharavi), one small one (Sidari Water Park in Sidari), a Zoo (road - Paleokastritsa), an entertainment center in Kondokali "Aladdin" and an amusement park COREXPO (on the road from Kerkyra to Sisi's palace).

In addition, in Kerkyra there is a glass-bottomed ship, Calipso Star, which offers excursions to the island of Vidos, including an underwater show and a seal show. Large hotels organize animation programs for children, so they won’t get bored.

Kerkyra - holidays with children

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Benitses is an old fishing village located 12 kilometers from Corfu town, the capital of the island of the same name. If you move from Corfu along the island in a southerly direction, this will be the first resort area, which has recently become very popular among vacationers.

Previously, this area was called “Pinisse” (from the ancient Greek word “pinio” - river). The waters of the springs flowing from the Agi Deka and Stavros mountains form two small rivers, hence the name of the village. Until the mid-70s, the village lived a quiet provincial life. Fishing was the main occupation of the local men. The pier of the Old Port saw off and greeted fishermen with their catch every morning. Local residents and owners of nearby eateries came to the port to buy fresh fish. Fishing boats quietly rocked on the waves at the pier of the Old Port, and it seemed that it would always be like this.

However, with the development of the tourism business, the life of the local population has changed dramatically. The patriarchal structure was suddenly disrupted by the noise of night discos and beach parties. This was not to the liking of the local population, and young people eventually stopped coming here on vacation. Despite this, Benitses still remains a popular resort, but today it has a calm, almost family-like atmosphere. And in the Old Port, pleasure boats appeared next to simple fishing boats, and luxury yachts began to moor more and more often. With their appearance, the Old Port acquired a new life without losing its local flavor.

Greece is an amazing country. This is a country that has everything! As Pushkin said about Greece, probably everyone dreams of visiting the homeland of gods and heroes. Greece is a dream, a dream that must come true. Everyone should discover their own Greece!

In the Greek port of Kerkyra, the capital of the island of Corfu, we moored next to Costa. The docking time is from 13-00 to 19-00, everyone on board at 18-30. The ship berths in the new cruise port, 30-40 minutes walk to the city center. You can use the ship shuttle that runs from the ship to the city center every 20 minutes, the price is 8.9 euros per person, or by city bus from the gate of the cruise terminal to the city center, the price of one trip is 5 euros per person. This bus is specially prepared for cruisers and it starts from a stop located on the territory of the port.

Where to go

The first thing that comes to mind is to take a walking tour of Kerkyra with a mandatory visit to the medieval part of the city.
You can go on a boat cruise around the island of Corfu along the emerald sea with stops in the most stunningly beautiful coastal recreation areas.

Climb Mount Pandocrator. Mount Pantokrator is the highest point of the island, located in the northeast of Corfu. Its height is 906 meters. Climbing to its top along a steep and narrow path, you can see the entire island in full view, from here you can see Albania, separated from Corfu by a narrow strait, and in good weather even Italy.

Go to the Kanoni Peninsula, located in the south of the city of Corfu. The name of the peninsula comes from the name of an artillery piece and is translated as “cannon”. You can get to Kanoni by taxi, or by bus, or you can walk, the distance is only five kilometers. There, in a bay near the airport on a small island, there is the Vlacherna Monastery, considered the symbol of Corfu. It can be reached via a narrow bridge. Take a boat to the islet of Pontikonisi or mouse island, the highest point of which rises only 2 meters above sea level. On the island stands the ancient monastery of Pantokrator from the 12th century. From a distance, the white stone staircase descending from the monastery to the water resembles a long thin mouse tail, which is what the island owes its name to. A very beautiful legend belongs to this place. They say that Poseidon himself once turned this island into stone, and previously it belonged to Odysseus, it was his ship!

Or go to the Achillion Palace, located 20 km from Kerkyra. The palace is dedicated to Achilles. The Palace has exquisite interiors, decorated with works of art and fancy furniture, and there is an amazing chair of the German Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Palace has a wonderful park with terraces going down to the sea. The park has a huge number of statues, most of which depict the ancient Greek hero Achilles.
Due to the lack of sufficient time for long trips, we set off to explore Kerkyra. We are not looking for easy ways; traveling by bus is not included in our plans. First, we photograph our ship in all its glory and then continue to the New Fortress, exploring the city along the way. From the gate of the cruise terminal we turn left and along the fence enclosing the port, we move towards our goal. Flowering bushes grow along the road, emitting a breathtaking aroma and attacked by a swarm of bees. It's Spring in Kerkyra!!!

Having seen shops on the opposite side of the road, we headed out to investigate. Souvenir shops are nothing special, the assortment is ordinary, selected for tourists - magnets, plates and all sorts of rubbish, all made in China. Inspecting one souvenir shop after another, we lost our route and ended up having to get lost through the streets of Kerkyra. I would have asked where to go, but these streets were empty, no one, no people, no animals.

It was difficult to find the entrance to the New Fortress. We entered the fortress from the back. And the first to greet us were lovely creatures - lizards. We arranged a photo shoot for one of them.

The new fortress (Neo Frurio) has several names. Sometimes it is called St. Mark's Fortress or Sea Fortress. The fortress was built by an Italian architect on the hill of St. Mark. The internal structures of the fortress were completed by the French and British. The fortress was an important part of the defensive structures of Corfu and was a miracle of defensive architecture of those years. The fortress consists of two large identical bastions. The space of the fortress is divided into three parts, and the bastions look both towards the island and towards the city. Two rows of walls are connected to each other by a whole system of passages and corridors. On the walls of the bastions there are images of lions with Venetian inscriptions. The fortress hosts exhibitions, concerts and other events, and has a bar and gallery where you can buy prints, postcards, guides and maps. From the height of the fortress there is a wonderful view of the surrounding area. You should definitely climb to the top platform of the Sette Venti bastion.

From the height of the upper platform of the bastion there is a stunning view of the sea and the city in the center, dominated by the Cathedral of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt and the Cathedral. Saint Spyridon of Trimythous is considered the patron saint of Corfu; if history is to be believed, he saved the islanders from hunger, Turkish invaders and plague. The cathedral houses the relics of St. Spyridon. The bell tower of the Cathedral is the tallest building in the city.

Entrance to the fortress was free, but climbing to the central part of the bastion costs 4 euros per person. At first we were embarrassed, there was a very strange cashier and a cash register installed on an old stool, but the appearance of the “menacing” red-haired security guard did not leave us any chance of getting a free pass, we had to fork out the cash. Leaving the fortress, we finally found the main entrance. A small area on which there is a cash register kiosk, sales tents and several benches, there is devastation, garbage and lizards all around, apparently they are now the owners of this island of the fortress.

Along the narrow streets of the old city, through the “New Fortress” square along the territory of the naval base, we went to the “Old Pier” square and further to the old seaport, sat in a cafe, admired the views of the New Fortress, the sea and the old city.

We continue our way along the coastline to the Old Fortress. On the way, we stop at the observation deck of the Venetian harbor, from where amazingly beautiful landscapes open up, the Old Fortress and the turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea, here it is shallow and crystal clear, with a translucent stone bottom.

Through the gates of the Palace of Saints George and Michael we exit onto the palace square. The Palace of Saints George and Michael was built by the British and was intended as the residence of the High Commissioner Sir Thomas Maitland. The building consists of three floors and is divided into two parts, one named after St. George, the second in honor of St. Michael. The covered galleries have two exits: to the Venetian harbor and to the palace park. Within the Palace is the Museum of Asian Art, which houses a collection of more than 10 thousand exhibits. On the territory of the Palace there is a public library, the archives of the Ionian Senate and the Inspectorate of Classical Antiquities.

Next we walk along a small grove located next to the entrance to the Old Fortress. The grove contains busts and statues of writers and philhellenes who lived on the island, and there are two small pools with goldfish.

And here it is, the goal of our journey - the Old Fortress (Paleo-Frurio). At the entrance to the fortress there is a ticket booth, on which there is an announcement that the fortress is open until 15:00, the ticket price is 4 euros. We look at the clock - 14:45. There is no cashier in the booth, but the fortress gates are open and everyone can freely enter the fortress territory, so off we go.

The old fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fortifications witnessed the rule of the Byzantines, who in the 7th century began to build defensive walls to protect themselves from the attacks of conquerors. Gradually the buildings grew and turned into a real fortress. The eastern part of the fortress is closed, work is underway to strengthen it, since it is this part that is exposed to the destructive effects of waves.

On the territory of the fortress there is the Church of St. George. It was built as an Anglican church in 1840 and converted into an Orthodox church in 1865.

215 years ago, on March 3, 1799, the Russian-Turkish fleet under the command of Admiral Fyodor Fedorovich Ushakov captured the impregnable fortresses of Corfu. The capture of Corfu completed the liberation of the Ionian Islands from French rule. On the liberated islands, under the temporary protectorate of Russia and Turkey, the Republic of the Seven Islands was created, which for several years served as a support base for the Russian Mediterranean squadron.

We only managed to walk around the lower part of the fortress. The gate through which you can go to the top of the fortress and its Tower was closed in front of our noses by two young ladies and kept repeating - finish, finish.

The Old Fortress hosts various special events, holidays and festivals. From the walls of the fortress there are beautiful views of the city, the crystal clear Ionian Sea, the harbor, and a windmill in the distance.

We leave the Old Fortress and enter the Esplanade or Spianada Square, the largest and most popular square in the city, as well as the second largest square in Europe. It is located between the Old Fortress and the city.

The square contains monuments to Ioannis Kapodistrias, who was the first President of Greece, and Thomas Maitland, the first British High Commissioner to the island. Near the fountain there is a marble monument on which symbols of all the Ionian islands are carved.
In the center of the square is a square planted with beautiful vegetation. The park has attractions, benches, shops with food and drinks, souvenir shops, restaurants and bars. And there are so many fur shops, just a paradise for fur lovers.

After sitting in a cafe on the square, we headed back through the narrow streets of the old city. But all the streets always lead to the main tourist “trail” - a pedestrian promenade with numerous shops. The shops are all closed - siesta.

Kerkyra can be roughly divided into an old and a new city. The Old Town is a large medieval complex. It is protected by the state. The layout of the streets is chaotic, and the picturesque, narrow "kantuna" streets, navigable only on foot, lead to monuments, Byzantine churches, Venetian staircases and stone-clad springs and fountains. The new city smoothly merges into the old one, in such a way that alongside the cramped narrow streets there are wide streets with spacious squares.

Various conquerors had a positive influence on the architectural style of the city. We walked among the narrow streets of the city and saw something new every time. Small courtyards, stone staircases, small decorated balconies and elaborate window frames all give Corfu its unique charm.

Our time is up, it's time to go conquer new cities.

To the island of Corfu we say: “Goodbye, you have won our hearts.”

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Corfu is an island piece of land, so the presence of a marine terminal here is not at all surprising. Surrounded on all sides by the waters of the Ionian Sea, Corfu provides tourists with the opportunity to enjoy boat trips.

Old Port

There are enough villages on the island with small harbors where boats, yachts and small vessels moor. One such place is the old port of Corfu. It is located in the village of Benitses, 12 km from the capital Kerkyra.

Previously, heavy fishing vessels departed from here, thanks to the saturation of the coastline with water from several mountain rivers. Today, fresh water from the rivers has entered the island's water supply system, and the old harbor has become a playground for pleasure boats, private yachts and small fishing boats. The old port still serves tourists and some excursions and tours around the island can be taken from here.

Corfu resort port

New port

The new marina was built with great capabilities and is located in the capital of the island, Kerkyra. Here you can see both passenger ferries, sailing ships, and small boats and yachts. The port infrastructure is sufficiently developed, but sophisticated tourists may lack shops and a large-scale transport interchange. But this disadvantage is easily compensated for if you leave the sea harbor directly into the city.

Route message

Corfu Cruise Port operates daily sailings in the following categories:

1. International flights. From here you can travel to Italy to the cities of Bari, Bridzi, Ancona or land on the Albanian coast of the city of Saranda;
2. Mainland flights. From the port of Kerkyra there are routes to such islands as: Pankos, Zankif, Kefalonia. Also from here you can reach mainland Greece and the ports of Igoumenitsa and Patras;
3. Inland flights. Various excursion programs and boat trips are available to tourists from the pier of the new pier.

A variety of port ferry routes are available only during the holiday season. The rest of the time the port delivers passengers only to Igoumenitsa.

Types of transport and travel conditions

Ferries plying between the islands and operating international routes are equipped with cabins and lounges with airplane seats for the comfort of passengers. You can also travel with your own vehicle. Many sightseeing tours are carried out using buses that board the ferry and move along the sea with tourists.

High-speed hovercraft are also popular here. The Corfinians affectionately call them “flying dolphins.” These ships mainly ply between the islands and play the role of transport over not very long distances.

Main carriers

Corfu Marine Station is served by up to a dozen companies, the main ones are:

• Anek Superfast. The company provides transportation to Italy. There are departures to the port of Baria 3 times a week, ferries to the port of Ancona twice a week;
• European Seaways. Ferries from this company take tourists to the city of Brindisi 5 times a week;
• Liberty Lines. The carrier provides transport for trips to Albania 6 times a week.

Ferry schedules may vary depending on time and holiday season. Therefore, when planning a trip, it is better to check the departure time of transport at the port or at the hotel reception.

Read also:

How does Corfu Airport work?
How to get from Corfu to Italy?
How do tourists get from Athens to Corfu? How can you get from Athens and Thessaloniki to Corfu?
What is the best way to get from Moscow to Corfu?
When is the best time to buy flights to Corfu? How can you get to Corfu?
Brief description of the island of Corfu