Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Corfu
Dangling between the heel of Italy and the west coast of mainland Greece, green,
mountainous
CORFU (Kérkyra)
was one of the first Greek islands to attract mass tourism
in the 1960s. Indiscriminate exploitation turned parts into eyesores but a surprising
amount of the island still consists of olive groves, mountains or woodland. The
majority of package holidays are based in the most developed resorts and unspoilt
terrain is often only a few minutes' walk away.
Corfu is thought to have been the model for Prospero and Miranda's place of exile in
Shakespeare's
he Tempest
, and was certainly known to writers such as Spenser, Milton
and - more recently - Edward Lear and Henry Miller, as well as Gerald and Lawrence
Durrell. Lawrence Durrell's
Prospero's Cell
evokes the island's “delectable landscape” still
evident in some of its beaches, the best of the whole archipelago.
The staggering amount of accommodation on the island means that competition
keeps prices down even in high season, at least in many resorts outside of Corfu
Town. Prices at restaurants and in shops also tend to be a little lower than average for
the Ionians.
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ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
CORFU
By plane
Corfu receives seasonal charter flights from all
over northern Europe but only has year-round scheduled
services to Athens (4-6 daily; 1hr).
By ferry
The vast majority of domestic services and all
those to Italy run from Corfu Town, although there are a
few boats to the mainland from Lefkímmi. Most of the ferry
offices are on the main road opposite the New Port; ferries
to Italy or south towards Pátra become very busy in
summer and booking is advisable. The port authority
(domestic
T
26610 32655, international
T
26610 30481)
can advise on services. There are buses that board the ferry
from the island capital to Greece's two largest cities, Athens
(3 daily; 9-10hr) and Thessaloníki (2 daily; 8-9hr);
schedules are year-round. For the additional destinations
below, frequencies given are for the summer season and
are greatly reduced in winter.
Corfu Town
to: Ancona (1-2 daily; 14hr); Bari (2-3 daily;
11hr); Brindisi (3-5 daily; 4-9hr); Eríkoussa/Mathráki/Othoní
(3 weekly; 2-4hr); Igoumenítsa (every 10-45min; 1hr
15min); Pátra (6-10 daily; 6-9hr); Venice (3-4 weekly; 25hr).
By hydrofoil
Services run from Corfu Town to Gáïos (Paxí;
May-Oct 1-3 daily; 50min).
GETTING AROUND
By bus
Corfu's bus service radiates from the capital.
Islandwide services stop operating between 6 and 9pm,
suburban ones at between 9 and 10.30pm. Printed English
timetables are available for both and can be picked up at
the respective terminals.
By car or motorbike
Many people rent vehicles to get
around the island and there are numerous international
and local companies in the capital (see p.712) and around
the resorts.
Corfu Town
The capital,
CORFU TOWN
, has been one of the most elegant island capitals in the whole
of Greece since it was spruced up for the EU summit in 1994. Although many of its
finest buildings were destroyed by Nazi bombers in World War II, two massive forts,
the sixteenth-century church of Áyios Spyrídhon and some buildings dating from
French and British administrations remain intact. As the island's major port of entry by
ferry or plane, Corfu Town can get packed in summer.
Corfu Town comprises a number of distinct areas. The
Historic Centre
, the area
enclosed by the Old Port and the two forts, consists of several smaller districts:
Campiello
, the oldest, sits on the hill above the harbour;
Kofinéta
stretches towards
the Spianádha (Esplanade);
Áyii Apóstoli
runs west of the Mitrópolis (Orthodox
cathedral); while tucked in beside the Néo Froúrio is what remains of the old
Jewish
quarter
. These districts and their tall, narrow alleys conceal some of Corfu's most
beautiful architecture. The
New Town
comprises all the areas that surround the
Historic Centre.
