Having Corfu as your base, you can do trips to some awesome Greek islands near Corfu. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The second-largest town on Corfu, Lefkimmi is probably one of the most traditional and picturesque villages on the island. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Exports include olive oil, fruit, grain, and wine; Corfu’s manufactures include soap and textiles. Corfu incident, (1923) brief occupation of the Greek island of Corfu by Italian forces. In August 1923 Italians forming part of an international boundary delegation were murdered on Greek soil, leading Benito Mussolini to order a naval bombardment of Corfu. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/event/Corfu-incident, History Ireland - Ireland and the Corfu Crisis, 1923. 20 décembre 1963 : Naufrage du Corfu Islands à l'Étang-du-Nord. In 1962 a palace built (1890–91) for Elizabeth, empress of Austria, was converted to use as a casino. Omissions? Corfu incident, (1923) brief occupation of the Greek island of Corfu by Italian forces. Rome2rio makes travelling from Corfu to Navagio easy. In the heart of the Adriatic Sea is Corfu, one of the Ionian Islands. Discover the best things to do in Corfu, fantastic beaches, top hotels, and restaurants, as well as a wide selection of breathtaking photos!. In succession it fell to Goths, Lombards, Saracens, and Normans and was fought over by the kings of Sicily and the Italian city-states of Genoa and Venice. Corfu TOP EXCURSIONS. The island’s favourable position between Greece and Italy attracted powers from east and west. Vidos Island. In 1923 Italian forces bombarded and held Corfu briefly, following the murder of an Italian boundary delegation. Its northeastern protrusion, close to the Albanian coast, trends east-west and reaches a peak in Pantokrator Mountain (2,972 feet [906 metres]); the other range, in the island’s centre, is lower. Fun Fact #2 The longest influence in Corfu was the Venetians, which left their mark making it feel more like an Italian town. Many Corfu beaches are organized and lined up with hotels, seaside restaurants, water sports centers, and beach bars. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 8. The island is well watered, fertile, and reputed to have the most attractive countryside of the Greek islands. Corfu, Modern Greek Kérkyra, ancient (Latin) Corcyra, island in the Ionian Sea (Modern Greek: Ióvio Pélagos), with adjacent small islands making up the dímos (municipality) and pereferiakí enótita (regional unit) of Kérkyra (also called Corfu), Ionian Islands (Iónia Nisiá) periféreia (region), western Greece. A Corinthian colony established about 734 bce supplanted a settlement of Eretrians from Euboea. Corfu is studded with whitewashed houses, Byzantine churches, and the remains of Venetian fortresses and Greek temples. Upon the dismemberment of the Venetian republic (1797), Corfu was assigned to France, but the French garrison soon was expelled by a Russo-Turkish fleet. From simply irresistible emerald beaches to traditional little villages, these islands tick all the boxes! Many of its buildings and other landmarks were destroyed in the fighting of 1943, but the Royal Palace (1816), a former residence of British governors and now a museum, escaped the destruction. In 2007 the Old Town of Kérkyra was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Olive and cypress trees against the mountainous background of northern Corfu (Kérkyra), Greece. Corfu is believed to be the island of Schera in Homer's Odyssey. Corfu is a large mountainous island in the Ionian Sea on the west side of the Greek mainland, right at the border of Albania. Pop. Seized in 229 bce by the Illyrians, it was delivered by the Romans, who retained it as a naval station and made it a free state. Is one of the most popular destinations and one of the first islands to open to tourism. Wander the ancient streets of the Roman village of Kassiopi or explore the central Esplanade of the eponymous Corfu Town. One 4th-century Athenian orator actually dropped a casual remark to the effect…. Diapondia islands Placed few kilometers far from the north-west coast of Corfu island, the Diapontia islands represent a Mediterranean Paradise still far from massive tourism. The second-largest Ionian Island has seen the Byzantines, Venetians, French and British come and go over the last 1,000 years, and all these cultures have left something behind. Sitting in the North of the Ionian Sea, Corfu in Greece is strongly influenced by the Venetians, the French and the English and for this reason has a cosmopolitan, multicultural charm. The Corfu Trail is an epic 93-mile (150-kilometer) trek starting from the south of the island and ending on the northern tip. The Greek island of Corfu, also known as Kerkyra, has been under the control of many different cultures and nations, giving it a cultured and fascinating history. Corfu Cruise Port. Visit Corfu Town. You will find below a list of the best beaches in Corfu island. Today this reputation has led to parts of the island being defiled by mass tourism, but despite this, the Corfu of literature does still exist. In World War II the city was again bombed by the Italians and occupied in succession (1941–44) by Italians and Germans. In 31 bce Octavian (later the emperor Augustus) used it as a base against Mark Antony, but his foundation of Nicopolis Actia on the site of his victory caused Corfu to lose a great deal of its prestige. Modern Kérkyra (Corfu), the chief city, port, and capital of the dímos, lies on a peninsula on the east coast. "The clearest waters in Corfu island, the best beach bars and restaurants and of course the best place to relax and enjoy your holidays!!" According to legend, the island was Scheria, home of the Phaeacians in Homeric epic. The island of Corfu is Greece's large, green Ionian Island. After the Greeks appealed to the League of Nations, the Italians were ordered to evacuate but Greece was forced to pay Italy an indemnity. Vidos Island lies at the mouth of the Port of Corfu and is most famous for its quarantine of Serbian soldiers during World War I. Corfu as an island sheltered many Serbian soldiers and civilians following their retreat from the Austro-Hungarian forces, although they kept many of the dying and sick on Vido to prevent outbreaks. (2001) city, 30,140; island, 107,879; mun., 111,081; (2011) city, 24,838; mun., 102,071. Corrections? It’s a fairly easy hike, with lots of signage, and you’ll weave your way through hills, mountains, lakes, lagoons, monasteries, and tiny towns. Lying just off the coast of Epirus (Ípeiros), it is about 36 miles (58 km) long, while its greatest breadth is about 17 miles (27 km) and its area 229 square miles (593 square km). Proudly independent and even hostile to its mother city of Corinth, the new colony was reduced (c. 600 bce) by the Corinthian tyrant Periander, but later it regained independence and devoted itself to commerce. Corfu (Kerkyra) is one of the most important and beautiful islands in Greece, perhaps the greenest island with dense vegetation, unmatched in natural beauty with dozens of sightseeing, beautiful beaches, and a very dense road network From the writings of Gerald and Lawrence Durrell to the place where the shipwrecked Odysseus was soothed and sent on his way home, Corfu has been portrayed as an idyll for centuries. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Corrections? The island was restored to Greece in 1944. 2. (Thucydides does not let his readers entirely lose sight of two other causes much discussed at the time—the Megarian decrees and the complaints of Aegina about its loss of autonomy. British administration displeased the inhabitants, however, and in 1864 Corfu was ceded, with the other Ionian Islands (Iónia Nisiá), to Greece. 1st stop: Paxi. After 303 the island changed hands several times for a quarter century. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. Corfu, Modern Greek Kérkyra, ancient (Latin) Corcyra, island in the Ionian Sea (Modern Greek: Ióvio Pélagos), with adjacent small islands making up the dímos (municipality) and pereferiakí enótita (regional unit) of Kérkyra (also called Corfu), Ionian Islands (Iónia Nisiá) periféreia (region), western Greece. the Ancona or Bari to Corfu - Igoumenitsa – Patras crossings. Voici une entrevue tenue le 9 décembre 2008 à Radio-Canada avec Georges Gaudet, scénariste et coréalisateur, avec Luc Fontaine, d'un documentaire Omissions? What are the islands of the Maldives made of? In 1923 the League revealed its impotence by dodging action in the Corfu crisis, in which Italian troops...…, Corfu, island in the Ionian Sea (Modern Greek: Ióvio Pélagos), with adjacent small islands...…, Benito Mussolini, Italian prime minister (1922–43) and the first of 20th-century Europe’s...…. Don’t let the size of this Greek island fool you! Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Unique in many ways, Corfu has it all to impress: beautiful nature, mix of architecture styles due to its vibrant history, culture and wonderful Mediterranean hospitality. ANEK LINES connects the port of Corfu with the ports of Ancona and Bari, with regular itineraries during the high season, offering top quality services and authentic Cretan philoxenia on board. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. A Variety of Choices. If you need a place to begin, try the World Heritage Old Town of Corfu City, which is guarded by two mighty Venetian fortresses that withstood everything that the Ottoman Empire could throw at them. For a DIY spa experience, lather yourself in mineral mud on the shore of the Canal D’Amour. The Greek island of Corfu (also known as Kerkyra) in the Ionian Sea, off the west coast of Greece, is one of the most beautiful island destinations in Greece. Of limestone structure, the island is mountainous in the north and low in the south. Here’s how to find the best of Corfu … The main cruise port on the island is located within walking distance of the town of Corfu. Corfu Hotel Deals: Find great deals from hundreds of websites, and book the right hotel using Tripadvisor's 458,952 reviews of Corfu hotels. The name Corfu is an Italian corruption of the Greek koryphai (“crests”) and is often a more familiar moniker to visitors than the Modern Greek name. Updates? Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The island of Corfu is an intermediate port on the Italy- Greece route, i.e. Venetian sovereignty was restored in 1401. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. So, let the exploration begin! Warning: Get ready for some jaw-to-the-floor moments! Corfu TOP EXCURSIONS. A Variety of Choices. …Thucydides’ first, introductory book concern Corcyra and Potidaea. Diapontia islands consist of 3 small islets with a distance between 2 and 7 marine miles from the coast of Corfu. This UNESCO listed town is absolutely beautiful. It attracts millions of tourists every year that visit the island for its elegant architecture, its greenery, the traditional villages and the wonderful beaches around the island. In August 1923 Italians forming part of an international boundary delegation were murdered on Greek soil, leading Benito Mussolini to order a naval bombardment of Corfu. Corfu is believed to be the island of Schera in Homer's Odyssey.