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By Anastasia Paphitis
Described by Homer as a ‘rich and beautiful land’, the Greek Ionian island of Corfu has delighted the senses of its inhabitants and visitors for centuries. With a rich history deeply entwined in ancient Greek mythology and later subject to numerous battling civilisations, the island has been left with a conglomerate presence of stunning village architecture, fortresses, museums, temples and churches built in turn by the Corinthians, the Romans, the Venetians, the Byzantines, the French and the British. In ancient mythology, Poseidon, the god of the sea, fell in love with and abducted the beautiful nymph Korkyra to Corfu. Today the main town, Kerkyra, still carries her name.
The island of Corfu offers so much more than the 18-30’s image that may immediately come to mind. After all, this beautiful island was the birthplace of Prince Phillip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth, in 1921 at the Villa Mon Repos. It is also the capital of cricket in Greece, with an oval and full scale cricket ground in the centre of Kerkyra square.
At night, the town is a magical sight of amber-lit Venetian architecture, the Saint Spyridon church tower and many monuments. The shops, restaurants, tavernas and bars buzz until well past midnight with people of all ages from children to grandparents, making for a lively, chaotic yet intimate atmosphere. The locals are friendly and the restaurant owners welcome tourists from all over the world. A must see is the breathtaking and intoxicating, uninterrupted view over the sea front, the Old Fortress, port and the old town experienced on the rooftop bar and restaurant of the Cavalieri Hotel. Succulent local dishes and fresh seafood are offered and can be enjoyed with a glass of your favourite local wine. The chocolate cake dessert completes the divine experience.
Moving away from the town, the rest of the island contains traditional and quaint fishing villages, boutique hotels, private and exclusive wealthy Villas, intimate bed and breakfasts, sun-drenched beaches, wide fertile plains, towering flora- covered mountains and a huge diversity of local fauna. There are over 600 species of wild flowers and an abundance of olive trees all over the island. There are also a number of scuba diving facilities that enable underwater exploration of the surrounding waters.
Corfu is one of the most inspiring and beautiful Greek islands to visit.
Trivia: Corfu inspired the famous autobiographical trilogy by naturalist Gerald Durrell, including My Family and Other Animals. Corfu provides the backdrop for many of the scenes in the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only". The Achillion Palace was built between the years 1890 and 1892 by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria and was later purchased by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1907.
Where to Stay: Corfu Town Cavalieri Hotel, Rooftop bar and Restaurant - Hotel manager Mr. Elias Capodistrias has been managing the hotel for 18 years and takes great pride in its appearance, the comfort of guests, hygiene and cleanliness of the facilities and the service provided on the rooftop restaurant and bar. This is an elegant and relaxing hotel offering rooms with flat-screen televisions and sea-front views over the Old Fortress. Contact details:www.cavalieri-hotel-corfu-town.com ph: +30 26610 39336 Bella Venezia Boutique Hotel - Set in a restored neo-classical mansion, this 3-star hotel provides much more with restored, traditional decor combined with modern amenities, attention to detail and cleanliness with excellent, friendly service throughout. Breakfast is served in the lovely garden offering a carefully chosen variety of local products and providing a very enjoyable start of the day for guests. The Bridal room offers include complimentary bottle of sparkling wine and a bouquet of roses. ph: +30 26610 46500 Agios Stefanos
Delfino Blu Boutique Hotel - Located on the north-west coast in Agios Stefanos, Avliotes, this exceptional hotel provides a truly wonderful experience for guests from arrival to check-out. Manager, Mr. Kostas Papanikolaou, takes great pride in his hotel and goes above and beyond to ensure a truly memorable stay deserving of the No.1 spot on Trip Advisor. Well-trained staff provide excellent service with a friendly smile. Each open-plan suite offers a private balcony or verandah overlooking the garden or the pool and beach below with views of the gorgeous, romantic sunset in the late afternoon. The hotel provides laptops for guests and Mr. Papanikolaou goes to great lengths to use eco-friendly cleaning products and provide clean, reverse-osmosis water. Lunch can be enjoyed at the pool bar or overlooking the beach at the Mango beach bar. Supper is offered in the Kohili terrace restaurant, which provides an extensive menu of traditional cuisine. The facilities include a brand new, fully-equipped gym and sauna. The beach below is an exquisite sandy expanse of clear water with deck chairs and umbrellas provided by the hotel. Contact details: www.delfinoblu.gr ph: +30 26630 51629 Reservations manager, Yvette email: [email protected]
Exclusive Private Villas
The Rou Estate - Set on an elevated mountain in the north-east of Corfu and with original stone walls dating back over 200 years ago, each of the 12 Villas have been renovated by architect Dominic Skinner to a high luxury standard with all modern comforts. The landscaped gardens are a delightful array of hibiscus, geraniums, local herbs, citrus trees, olive trees, fragrant eucalyptus trees and cacti.The Rou estate provides an uber-exclusive, quiet and secluded sanctuary where guests can choose to either enjoy the privacy within their Villas, equipped with private plunge pools, terraces and barbeque areas; or walk through the connecting wild flora lined walkways, stone steps and landscaped gardens to a shared sauna, steam room, hydrotherapy tub, gym, health spa, yoga platform and spacious infinity swimming pool overlooking the green mountains of Albania and the Ionian channel.Contact details: www.rouestate.co.uk Dominic Skinner +30 6977084501. Manager, David Geensen. Bookings for 2012 through www.simpsontravel.com +44 2083925878
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